The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-28
A LONG ISLAND HORROR.
An Insane Father Kills His Child in
a Brutal Manner.
A TERRIBLE STORY
The Father Deliberately Confesses
the Dreadful Deed.
EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONER


shocked the residents OF Queens and Suffolk counties
murder Of Miuns Gorgen. ~ Bresau, on Sunday
last.
For several years past Michael Gorgen and his wife
Sophie, with thoir children, have spent the summer
months Gleste's HOTEL NJ Breslau. In July, 1875,
Gorgen, while at Bresau, was sunstruck, the pshap
almost proving fatal and necessltating the giving up
OF his ousncss--that OF blacksmith Shortly alter
ward mis- wife received 81 900 through the death Of
relative in Assoc, oil which sum she spent $500 IN
vain endeavor to restore hts health His physician
then advised him 10 take q trip to Europe,
at the same time telling his wife that the trip would
either benefit him make his condition Sic
accordingly paid his passage, gave him sufficient money
TO maintain b IN while there and enough 10 return to
this country leaving considerable surplus 10 him for
spending money During MS absence, instead Of using
the money she still had remaining, snc maintained
hersci. children Dy taking Ia washing and sewing
At her Residence, Nc. 2+7 W4Iaoout street, Brooklyn
On the 10Th oi the present month, as had been her
previous custom, sue hor three children, Minne
the murdered child, ana halt years OLD, Amelia
two hai!, and John, SIX and
half went TO Gles,e's Hotel 10 spend a lew days.
On Thursday last Mr. Ruler residing in
walaDout street, in the house with MIRA Gorgen, was
informed that Mr.. Gorgsn was II Castle Garaen. hav-
ing arrived from Europe on board the steamship
Pereire four days previously. Gong there IN COM
pany with friend he found Gor.en locked up IN
da.k hole, bis eyes baokened aud his body badly
bruised Inquiries made a. Castle Garden and
board ship 70 how this happened, when It WAS
ascertalncd that when within days. sail Of New
York he had shown signs OF insanity and had badly
chokcd passenger on deck for which he had been
confined on board until arrival at Castle Garden,
when he was transferred to the place in which
he was found, and would doubtless soon have
been sent TO Blackwes Island by the Emigration
Commissioners, as no lGorgen was apparently unable
to give any account OF himself An English emigrant
in the Garden, however, taking pity him. and being
unable otherwise gain tho desired inlormaton, pro-
cured pencil aud paper for him, and Gorgen wrote
the name OF person in New York, with whom no
had worked tor several years, and subsequently he
gave the Engshman the names OF friends N Williams
burg and the latter went and gave them information
OF Gorgens Whereabouts and condition.
ROBBED AND MALrREArKD.
When the friends went Tor the unfortunate they
found HIM most aDjrct condition. He had not only
badly beaten and otherwise aDuse but his watch
and chain, well Rs hts remaining money and odd
things, had been taken from him He was conveyed
to Williamsburg, where he taken BARRIERS shop
and oleaued up aud Otherwise properly cared tor aud
on FRIDAY taken TO bresiau where his wife and
children still remained. On arrival there he Tor time
recognize his family or irencs and talked IN
an inartculatc manner. suddenly he exhibited extra
ordinary affection his chdren and dislike his
wife; but BOON aiterward appeared 70 recover his
memory, anu expressed his JOY a. seeing all his old
friends and fanny once more.
ON Saturday morning Mrs- Gorgen went to New York
Tor the purpose OF learning, il possible, what had be-
come OF hcr husbands money, watch and clothing,
anu Why he had been much maltreated board
lie vessel and ar Castle Gardcu but MAS unsuccesstui
Iii either CASE While IN the CITY on Saturday she
ceivsd letter that had been written by her husband
ON day previous 70 MS sailing tor n0mc IN which he
stated he would sail IN the French tho
9TH of June from HAvre, ana hoping that she
friends would meet him. He said-"I hope to have u
lively journey ana quick one. have no re 10 say
now 6ut will tell you ali when reach home.n The
letter shows that the man was evidently sane
when he wrote Il, and his friends now believe that
his evident ilLtreatmept on board tho vesse and
Castle Garden will account Tor his sudden ANA fatal Ut
Of Asan,y Az all events, had tle vile received TINS
requested, and dreadful tragedy might have besn
avoided.
Before leaving Breslau on Saturday, Mrs Gorgen,
noticing that her husband again acting In Q
strange manner requested Mr. and Mrs. Gieste keep
= watch on the c1lldren--hsr son ami little Anime
she taking the youngest with her to New York
On Monday morning, while N New York, she
once and thought immediately struck her that her
husband murdered inc children. II appears that
on sunday morning. about eleven O'Clock, Gorg took
the two children up into his room, washed and
dressed them neatly, and started out with them unob
served for a walk. Between ono and two O'Clock he
was seen walking alonga road carrying tho little girl
In his arms and reqcenty kissing her, while the boy
Was running behind. About TWO o'cock the hoy 70
was met ~ Mr. Glcste's son. without the little grl,
waking coward the bay Young Gicste persuaded him
10 return the hotel where u erLained that
tho girl was missing Suspicion Was NJ hrst natural
that the child had wandered away from him, he
her An active search was At once instituted by tue
inmates of the hotel and tue ncghbors, which lasted
until midnizht-Gorgen taking IN active parl-but
SUSPECTED OF MURDER
On Monday morning Jusiice Capon, OF Amityvilc,
was informed Of the renee and repairing to
place with several continued the search through
out that day. Gorgen being with them and
the child's draw ers had been found banging on
bash and this fact together with the contradictory
stories 1919 oy Gorgen. induced rne yusce 70 issue
officer receiving orders 70 give him some liberty,
with the idea that no might make attempts 10 moro
eectuaiy conceal the body and thus lead to It's dis
ia Tuesday the search was continued, the school
children beng given holiday that they might give
aid The swanps were dragged to no purpose, and It
not until ABOUT two O'Clock In the afternoon that
Dir. F. 7. Hook passing through the brush,
hotel, observing offensive odor, and think.
Of The lost child ~ s,u. .Srn s back and
hand touched her hair and horrible sight mo. his
lace and head and blackened features Decomposition
bad set in and Tar advanced Mr. Hook immc.
diatey went 10 the hotel aA informed the people OF
bis discovery.
Gorgeu had several times previous to finding the
body been taken TO she woods but could not or would
not toll where he had secretod II After the body was
found he was again taken 10 the woods and made TO
look upon the corpse aud touch H. He appeared ndil
ferent, nung his head In sullen manner and
asked by Justice Capen, do you know that body ~
replied, s'Ycsn Whose Is ~" any childish"
''Did you Kill herfn Yes" s'Why did you Kill
her" To the latter question he made response,
simply struggling his shoulders and gazing vacaully at
the corpse. Mrs. Gorgen, VINO was present, tainted
away, aud taken 10 the hotel where her lanenta.
tons could be heard at great distance.
Coroner Preston, Of Amltyvle, was called, and
taking possession Of the uody cmpanelied jury,
! commenced the inquest at once Tho testimony
elected established the facts above enumerated with
addition OF that given oy Henry OF Sag Harbor,
| who said that ne had boon In consultation with
Gorgen for the past two days. and 10 VIII CHI Gorgen
confessed that he took the child into the woods and
cbokcd u. alter which he covered u with brush he
srangIed II IN the highway and then carried II into
| the wooJs II was not dead when ho put the brush
1t, and he then choked 1t again Hy asked hm
he did not Kill the child with KNIFE, and Gorgen de-
MED Il; LYMAN told min about the cuts the head,
and that n was better that he should tell ALL when Cor
gen said hc cut her the head wilh knife and then
threw the KNIFE away; no told me, continued Lyman,
that he knew whore the rody was went 10 the woods
with him and Xalkad tor WlhuuI