The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-26
MASSOTH, THE HUNCHBACK.

MASSOTH, THE HUNCHBACK.
DEATH OF jacob MAssoTH REVEALED YES
rERDAY.
OF the people frequently mot with in the streets
whose eccentricty OF manner dctormity OF person
mark them objects Of curiosity pity, VINO
for past sort Of bugbear for children
yesterday figured in tragcal scene that will hide
him from the public gaze forever HIS name
jacob Massoth, and he q knife grinder By
trade. All over the side OF the city he could DO
met with curious old man. hunchbacked and squat
OF figure, with dark, wrinklod face from which
pair Of Dyes looked that had malicious twinkle in
them. He was active, though, and strongly built
for all his deormity, and no carried
about his wheel and utensils with an
case not to be looked for IN man
OF sxtynve. The children in tho part Of tho city no
lived In knew him we'll, and jacob was generally fol-
lowed homo every DAY BY bcvy Of shr,eking ntto
creatures, 10 whom he known by the suggestive
name OF 'the goblin" Nothing of the hunchback's
private life known to the public OF course,
ill tho tragedy OF yesterday revealed IT,
Then this curious, ugly old camo forth
from his obscurity when death had ended his career
In the role Of q lover. Strange as IL may appear
Massoth for the last has been the favored
though Illicit, lover OF woman who has bornc six
children, and whose husbands death four years ago
was FASTENED by his suspicion OF her passion for tho
hunchbacked knifegrinder To some few those
facts were known, but It only ycs-
terday afternoon, whom Captain Mccullough
and Fatroman Flynn burst through a crowd in front
OF No. SIT East Thirteenth street, and, guided by
women's shricks. found in the basement tho nunch
back weering in his blood, that these disclosures
found thor way into the glare Of publicity. murder
had been dono, and that, too, BY young man OF
enteen who stood in the there with his mother
and sister, and It when his motive was inquired
into that the truth appeared.
An ILLICIT AMOUR.
The person who stands before the law amenabIs Tor
the death OF JACOB Massoth Is named George DELL lie
Is the oldest OF tho six children OF Katrina DELL
yonrs camo TO this country from her native place.
village in -Dsfm.,sd. IL her younger days
| OF the affections Of = man twenty-one yo.rs
her senior Whether her lovers unastrsctve person
failed TO win favor In her eyes thon does not
appear. but certain II Is that when Jacob Massoth
| came TO this city seven years ago. a OF MY.
Dell forgot position Of wife and mother began
| an Intimacy with hm which has lasted
s isS o~sued woman is By no oa'S mean ss0u
Venus, but Jacob was unrcmittng IN his attentions,
and wooea the object Of his do.sn with all the
placctnf residence. II she located in garnet
he occupied lower floor II she was in front house
lie had lodgings IN the rear, and as suspicion
| OF the Dell famy's moving was hoard OF Jacob began
10 pack up his movaoles at once. This could not
pass unnoliccd Tho local gossps OF COURSE uttered
shrcwd suspicious, pryina neighbors Kept up a con.
slant surveillance and the loves Of jacob and Katrina
became q topic OF interest wherever they appeared.
Mr. Dell 10 time heard Of this and his knowledge Of
hts liability to put an end 10 u cmbittered the last
days Of hts lie This obstruction removed, Jacob Mas
soth observed less secrecy paying his attentions
10 Mira DELL He camo TO live IN the sumo house with
family he occupying tho front OF the basement in
thirteenth street, while tbay occupied she
Three weeks ago this arrangement was put end 10,
and Jacob installed himself in the house OF his mis-
trcss aud Las since lived with her though in
marital relationship To this arrangement George,
tho oldes, Of the family, has AL along objected.
and ho urged hor end it, II In other way by law
fully marrying Massoth. His mother has pleaded
ana although be has rendered her his own earnings
the uptals have been always indefinitely postponed
The poor youth has more than once oscn sauntod by
or before his face. This has maddcned him and he
and the hunchback have kept up an ncessant scrics
oil quarreis.
THE FATAL FIGHT
Yesterday afternoon George was standing before tho
kitchen looking glass shaving HIMSELF when his littlc
brother Adam jostled against him. He turned rep-
rimand tho youngscr, but the litlo fellow, Knowing
mother, began haunting him, nj which the elder
brother turned him out Of the room. Attracted by
Georges angry words Massoth appeared IN tho bod
what are You dong 10 that boy ?" he ASKED
what hsvo you 10 do with it?' returned George
II viii shows YOU" and Massoth took UP plato 10
throw.
Tho young man laughed at him.
III you don't mind whose house you're In" said
no. .youil got chucked out OF IT,"
M0ssoth was IN Jury al once. he hurled the plate
ut the others head and as IL passed and broke 10
pieces tho vail lie reached back into tho bedroom
and closed the door behind him. George mad turned
about nnery Ms tho missile whlzzed by him, but
when hrs assannts retreat he uttered dorisvo
laugh resumed his shaving. Only Tor mcment
however, Tor the door was suddenly flung open and
the hunchback appeared with Ratchet in ono hand
and milestone IN The other. He was vid with rage
| and rushing upon the young man dealt him blow
upon the head with tue stone Just as Mrs. Dell and her
fourteen ycar-oid daughter Annie flung themselves
between them. George standing holding tho razor
IN mis- right hand with the blade turned back Massoths
first blow staggered him and two others delivered
In quick cut open his head and sent tho
screamed and 10 shield him, but the hunchback
was In frenzy and could not be nppcnscd. Ebowing
them aside he raised the Ratchet to ccavc The young
mans head but George, reused TO hts danger, caught
the upliftcd arm and forced y back An IN
slant Massoth tried to wrench himself away,
and thcn, iendish determination TO finish his
work, he aimed At the other furious blow with tho
| milestone.
THE PECULIAR DEATH WOUND.
Tho whole force OF his delormed body was
| thrown into the stroke and the bare arm which
tho young man raised to avert i-thc arm OF which
| the hand neId tho st-le numb and hfccss to
| his SIDE, hui at the same moment Massoth stag
| gcred back, his face oil CHASTITY and tho
Flood squirting In a stream from his throat. Tho blow
upou George Dcls mao Struck tho razor from his
hand and the sharp edged steel had entered tho flesh
and cut opcn tho nuncnback's jugular VEIN He fell
upon the floor with tho razor, which mad caught In
In n minute no vas corpse. When
Captain Mccullough and Paroman Flynn entered tho
house Massoth was lying liioess. with tho wbet-
stone and Ratchet nj his sidc ana george Doll was
standing alarmed and bcwIldercd, with the blood
strcamIns IRON tho gashes In his head AZ the station
house George and his mother and sister gave this
count OF tho affair. He wac locked up and they
held as witnesses.