The New York herald., 1877-09-04
Details Of the Philadelphia
Elm Station Tragedy.
RESULTS OF A DETECTIVES PERSEVERANCE.
Arrest of the Murderer and His
Accomplice.
THE APPROACHING TRIAL

Probably no crime ever committed IN this
country which seemed shroudcd in such mpenetrabe
mystery as the Centennial murder" and which
gave such little hope OF The mystery ever being
ravslled and yet the has been skully worked
MP by Detective Abrams OF this city, that everything
promise TO brought 10 light in connection with the
tragedy in q few days on Monday next, September
10, Heinrich wahlcn will be tired for the murder OF
Max Hugo Hoehne, and there seems at present to be
but little doubt that he is the perpetrator OF the
deed which has so long mystihcd the public, and
the history OF which Is as follows
HISTORY OF THE MURDER.
In February OF this the arm OF human being
was accde tally discovered protrudng from mound
OF earth near Elm station, the Pennsylvania Rail-
road. short distance from the Centennial Exhibits on
grounds at Philadelphia, and adjacent to THE large
hotel known as the Grangers' Encampment The
earth and leaves being cut away the form oil a man
discovered, still in good state OF preservation,
Notwithstanding the fact that II had evidently lam
there long time, beng surmiscd that the man had
been murdered before the close OF the Exhibition
probably in october or November The COLI weather
during the time intervening between the preparation
q the doed and the discovery had prevented decom.
position and allowed of tolerably good photograph
beng taken. and description being made.
which was as follows:-
Age, about thirty years. height five feet seven
Inches; weight, lao pounds; complex on hair, mus
tache and chin whlskers light. When found the body
had on good muslin Shirt with embroidered BOSOM
aud linen undershirt, having mOre the appearance
OF undershirt, upon which worked Ia red cot
ton q letter "H' in old English STYLE There also
Pccadiy collar and a narrow black necktie.
The body finely formed, with small and dcli-
cate hands and feet The right side Of the skull was
crushed in as if from a blow from the butt end Of
hammer or hatche. No letters, memoranda or any
description of writing discovered to give an
mixing OF who tho person was, and for a long time
the matter was deep and complete mystery
DISCOVERY MURDERER
Rewards were offered and photographs and descrip
tions circulated this country and elsewhere. Among
those VINO read an account OF the discovery ana The
ue crlpton given of the murdered maa was Frederick
W. Hoehpe, OF Berlin. Germany, whose son, Max
inls country in September 1875, aud had not 6ecn
heard from after one letter received from Liverpool
Dir. Hoehne fearing that the murdered man was bis
son, communicated with the authorities here He
subsequently received letter from New York. pur
porting 10 be from nis son, IN which there was re.
quest tor money This he also communicated to the
officials here and Detective Abrams proceeded To
New York and discovered that the letter received by
Nr. Hoehne had been written by German named
Heinrich Wanen, who vas then serving term in the
Kings County Jail. having been sentenced for bur.
The detective satisfied himself that wahlen the
murderer oi Hoehne aud through Governor Robinson
obtained pardon Tor hin on the char2e oil burglary
and Immediately had him rearrcsted TOR murder and
brought here. The points which seemed TO implicate
him were his denals a, first OF any knowledge what
ever the dead until confronted with proofs to
the contrary, aud the improbsbiy that shrewd el-
low, such he undoubtedly is, would have played the
impersonation game unless he know oil the death OF
The man whose name be took and used. In pursuing
his Investigations Detective Abrams heard OF former
sssociate of Wahien's. named Adolf Strepocky, and
lie had him arrested and held as possible witncss
Amer ne was arrested the detective visited
Sirepocky's boarding house IN Philadelphia, At
No. 531 North Filth street, and IN his room
tound u trunk, which, upon being searched was found
landkerchiefs, a razor strop and other articles
These upon being brought here identined as at
time the property OF Hoehne by Carl Thompson,
former associate. The pants which Sirepolcky woro
IN prison found to be OF the same pattern IN
aud said to have belonged TO Hoennc The detective
coat and pants to StrepoicAys cell and
handed them to him with tue remark
''Herc's change Of clothes for you "
Recognizing them the prisoner appeared greatly
startled. and finding that some evidence OF his guilt
had been discovered, said that be desired TO make
confession of what he knew concerning Hoehne's
death, the confession being substantially as folows-
CONFESSION OF THE AccoMrLlcE
On u o l7lh OF october, nearly he recollccts,
Hoehne, Wahlcn and himself lett a saloon IN West
phia and walked out 10 point the Pennsyl
vania Railroad, about quarter OF a milo from tho
Grsngers' Encampment at Elm Station, arriving there
Wahlen were sober whIlo Hoehne was drunk, wahlen
having him all the beer nc could drink, both at
the saloon where they had spent several hours and
on the way out When they reached the point men,
toned, which was cut, with banks on either side,
the three sat down to rest hoehpe and Srepolcky be-
side each other, Wahen Immediately behind Hoehne.
Wahien had hammer which belonged to Sire
polcky. About ten O'Clock as train was
"
to his feet and struck Hoehne blow on the head with
The hammer Hoehne fell over with groan, and,
being only stunned, attemp ed TO risa His assaiant
then struck him three mole murdcrous blows, remark
ing TO is companion. with hepdish cooiness, as the
last blow was administered
81 guess have gwen hun enough"
Wanlen then lifted the dead mau by tho hair Of his
head aud he was stripped OF his clothes and hs pockets
rled the coniederat securing 81 all the money tney
conta!led The murdered mans pody was
allowed to remain no,, where s tho re-
ing 10 neighDorng cornueld, where they
slept until morning, wnen they went back TO tue
murdered man. and with the AID OF the hammer, aug
4 nole threw The body INTO II, and covered II
best they could with dir stones and brush. with tne
dead mans clothing tney proceeded to a wood near
by W ere there was a stream OF water and washed
the blood of 0f themselves and the clothing. Not
sscceedlng to their entire salis act on they next
10 another washing Finally succeeding In ooliterAt-
Ing all teIl-.ale marks, together they went Into
Philadelphia and pawned some OF the clothes
Shortly aiiorward Wahen went 10 New York and
pa~ned some more oi the clothing, having, with
trung obtained his personal effects. Wahen's oDcct
to personate Hochne ior the purpose OF craving
mouey from the dead mans ather, IN Berlip, Hoehne
having Informed him mat he was going 10 send nome
for come He did write to Mr. Hoehne but IN the
meantime arrested in Brooklyn Tor breaking into
strepoc9y is a dark-iaced Hessan, of unprcpossess-
Ing appearance, being about twenty-five years OF age,
short and tnck set About all he made out OF the
murder was portion of the dead mans cloning and
small part OF the money. Since the crime he has
been wandering about tho country ~ tramp STYLE oc
casionally dong odd jots OF WORK He CLAIMS that be
had nothing to DO with the murder urther than That
he committed, did nothing TO prevent IL and
helped TO conceal H. He makes no explanation oil the
business which took the party 10 Elm station. how
Whulcn came to have his hammer lie admits that
both were very much disappointed when they searched
Hochnes pockets and found only s.. Since nc has
been IN jai strcpolcky has seen aud identified Wahen
~ his companion on the night OF the MURDER
FATHER THE VICTIM
Last week the iatDer OF tue murdered man arrived
hore, District Attorney Gotwalts having telegraphed
him 10 and testify against Wahen with to
the letter received from he accused Mr. y. W Huehoo
s OF about sixty years OF age, TAIL straight and
slender, with something OF military bearing, hav-
Ing served in the Prussnn army, and with deep
on forehead, the result OF wound received tho
Frauco-Prussan war lie Is hotel keeper IN Berlin,
and was assisted IN his business by the who.
ever showed dislncinaton TO the calling ol publ
can restive aud amng disposition. The ather
10 easy circumstances and has SIX children living
He ts very rcticent and will have nothing
portsrs, He speaks English, ana his German Is
easily understood by tho Pennsylvania Dutch Of TINS