The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-15
An Awful Tragedy at East
Williamsburg.
A SALOON KEEPER KILLED.
Murdered by the Side Of Ills
Sleeping Wife.
ARREST OF THE ALLEGED ASSASSIN

terday morning, disturbed by horrible and brutal
murder On Metropolitan avenue tho Fresh
pond junction of the Long Island Railroad are two
lager bcor saloons each side Of The road and
II was in that. occupied by John Gunser and known
as East Williamsburg Hail. that the tragedy occurred.
About len O'Clock Sunday night the saloon
closed for the day, shortly afterward Mr. and Mrs.
Gunscr retired Tor the night About half an hour alter
midnight Mrs. Gunscr says that she man in her
room, it being their custom - keep lamp burning
while They slept. She called to her husband but she
unable TO awake him. She then into the
kitchen and the man followed her. striking her on the
head with an airgun he had found Ia the
room and innictipg very dangerous wounds,
which may possibly prove fatal She called out
10 LOGGER who was sleeping in tho floor above,
"Adam!" "Adam!" and, hearing the approach OF the
!odgcr, her assaant rushed back to tho barroom
pulled down tho inacr shade and broke tho glass
OF tho window aud jumped the road. He made
his escape before the odger could stop him. the
attention Of tho household directed tho
condition Of Gunscr who found to have received
wound OF from four to five inches inches in length
the lett ear, and that life quite extinct.
DETAILS. THE MURDER.
The first door OF the house laid In three
II faces TO the south, the barroom front occupying
twothirds OF the and extending the entire width
OF tho building. This room is about twenty-five feet
by twenty-five, is mainly occupied by tables and
chairs in German fashion, The east end OF the room
is used for a bar The beer being stored in the cellar
brought up through q small trap door at the end
OF the bar IN tho northeast OF the room. Tho
northern portion of the house is occupied by bed
room the west, in which the tragedy
took place, the kitchen adjoining, and the
hall ana stairway the east end
doors iron, all these rooms lead TO the barroom they
also communicate with each other by doors, aud the
hall kitchen also have doors into tho yard. The
cellar, the full Of the house. is entered from the
rear and from tho southwest corner OF the house on
Metropolitan avenue. This latter entrance was used
by tho assassin, who opened the door and descended
the steps; then making his way along the wall around
the inside he reached tho weighted platform OF tho
trap and thus easily obtained admission to the bar
room. On the soft mould Of the cellar floor he lett
clear impressions of his No 10 pedal coverings ana
also one or his boots Knowing well what he wanted
and without striking light he stepped
carefully behind the bar and took down
heavy air gun used for firing feath-
cred darts in short range and outdoor galleries.
Then crossing over he entered the bedroom OF tho
sleeping husband and wife, No conjunction evidently
his mind the couple calmly reposng,
dreaming perhaps OF tho duties plea suros OF the
morrow No hesitation marrod tho execution Of the
first portion Of his plan, but cooy measuring his dis
lance and trying his weapon to mako Of his ann,
he seized the gun by the muzzle and brought 1t down
with crushing force tho deencclcss head OF Gunser
Tho blow only crushed in the skull just above and
back OF the loft car, but broke the piece OF the
small Of tho butt and also the air chamber of at its
junction with the barrel Then quickly with the barrel
no struck Mrs. Gunser a similar blow, but tho weapon
had only weight enough, and he having to reach
SO FAR only leverage enough to wake her up and pro-
duce flow Of blood from an ugly wound on the lore
head. She called her husband and jumped up, but
the murderer, placing hand her mouth to pre-
her crying OUT dragged her into tho Kitchen and
there attempted to beat her brains with the barrel
He struck her several times tho head, but she
threw up her arms and moved around SO that Le only
inflicted several injuries to her head and
lcgs Her cries OF "Adem ADAM" meaning the
workngman, aroused him and tho children, and the
murderer hearing their movements became alarmed
and therefore, made dash Tor the southwest window
Of tho barroom, knocked out four large Aancs OF
glass in the lower sash, capcd through the
hole aud made hts way down metropolitan avenue
Mrs Gunscr, still crying "Adam!' was met by him
the OF the stairs jast the fugitive flew through
the window. Hc assisted her to a char. and then
looked alter Gunser, but finding HIM dead rushed out
and aroused two OF the ncIghbors named Eckert and
Schreier, who obtancd medical assistance Dr.
CDar'cs J. stanl, Of Throop avenue and Wallabout
ing Gunscr dead when they reached the house, at
aooLt three A. N. Mrs. Gunscr's injuries were very
III
recover.
THE INQUEST.
Coroner John Carroll arrived soon after the doctors
and at once took steps 10 discover and capture the
murderer II possible. Inquiry among the neighbo.s
nnd members tho family directed suspicion nrst TO
George M lcnaei, "a barber living in tho house,
but lie proved that he mad been in bed until hali.past
five A. NJ, wncn alter beng informed Of Tue murder
no reused M some Others OF Tho neignbors and hur
ricd into Gunscrs house. lie released lew min.
after capture. Next hearing that Gunser had
stopped quarrel between Two men on SUNDAY alter
I'm ah thu nt nnn nj fllAm
sers, who had spoken bitterly Of his interference.
wcssers was held but no one in the vicinity suspects
him Of any completely III the horrid affair.
During tho morning Mrs Guuser very crit
zeal condition. and seemed 10 be iang and at times
dclrious, but at Two O'clock =. NJ DIR. Srih re-
ported her quc,cr and in such condition 10 make
antcnortem statement, VIII Gu Coroner Carroll took as
ioows:--
Mrs. Apolonia Guuser IL twenty mine years
old and will be thirty next month"; was born In Ger
many; think am nortaily wounded ana that shall
recover place shut up at hali-la ten
O'Clock last evening" about the time shut III there
present but who went crntchcs;
when woke up the night saw IN my room
| called my husband 10 help me- but he lay rs n
asleep, but did not answer; ! got up and the blood
run on Of me; ran into the kitchen; | could not
SEQ the very distinctly, bat believe he nad on
black coat; he was u tall big man; aid not rccog-
nzo the man as having seen him 10 the saloon during
the day. know OF no one who has made threats
against me or my husband; William Schmidt, VINO
drives a lager beer wagon, III the saloon during
the day; nc went away about ha.f-past ninc L. d.
Schmdt aud my husband were Oh friendly terms; my
husband had had n" quarrel with any man that Know
Of; our domestic affairs were comfortable; my hus-
band and myself lived happny together; once
bad person living with US who would answer
the description Of tbs man saw in my
room last night; his name was Frederick
HillmaD nc and my husband not good terms
they quarrclcd about reviewers, ana he has not been
my house since; there was another man who lived
with US named Peter; when john Wcsscr struck his
brothcr-iL-law yeserd y. my husband went out aud
stopped MINI there is man VINO owed my husband
$780, who lives In tie yard and in the habit OF COM
ing into the saloon he was not good terms with my
husband; his name Is Jacob Farley.
Coroner Carroll then requested all these who had
been summoned on the jury TO step up and view the
body which being done he swore them ia and was
about TO commence taking testimony when DR..
Stahl reported Mrs. Gunser's condition such that he
could permit no moro talsng on the premises. The
inquest was therefore commenced the other side OF
the avenue, In Metropolitan Hall
Adam Martin was the only witncss examined HIS
testimony was that he was carpenter, In tho employ
Of John Gunser, twcntysx years Of age and resided IN
the same house ana cat AZ the same table with de-