The New York herald., 1877-09-24
WAS THIS A MURDER A?

CLARENCE coMEEsAII SHOT BY JOSEPH
KoERNER IN NEwAGK-THE LATIER's HOUSE
THE SCENE OF TIE TRAGEDY.
For city having over one hundred and twenty
thousand Inhabitants and about twelve hundred beei
saloons Newark is ordinarily remarkably quiet place
on Sundays. Yesterday the wontcd peace and quiet o.
the place was rudely disturbed and the entire com
munty shocked by irghliul tragedy which was
enacted carly in the morning, less than two
hours after midnight, on tho second floor o
No &C Magazine street, The details in tho main arc
a repetition OF a similar tragedy which occurred one
Sunday morning south street, some years ago. and
in which the victim q man OF high social and
professional status man oven oil national reputation,
his slayer being poor ignorant charcoal dealer whose
means were iavshed on n wrctchcd wanton and who
finally secured the wages Of snan ignominious death
on the gaIlows The facts OF yesterdays tragedy, as
gathered by HERALD representative, arc as iollows-
THE THE
Some twelve years ago there came to this country
from Germany fine, fresh, rosy checked, fair haired
woman named Frederkn She a young
woman and, after settling in Newark, N. j., became
acquainted with and married countryman OF hers
named Joseph Koerner, year or SO her junior. For
several years the pair lived happily together, and
started a saloon the oil Bergen street ana
South Orange avenue. The place became quito resort
the handsome Frederika being great lavorite win
the customers. But soon II began TO be whispered
That Fredcrika AS irH sue WAS far, and, what
was st more surprising that her husband was not
aversc TO her receiving attentions from strange
The Koerners hnally removed from the place because
OF the scandal They settled about Two years ago az
No 03 Magazine street. With the change OF place,
however, thcr conauct grew worse. rhe neghbors
say the place was little better than brothel
THE VICTIM.
Soon alter the kocrners went to reside on Maya
zine street their place was frequented py number Of
young rakes about town ana young married man,
named Ciarcuce W. Gomersal son OF Captain will-
tam Gomersall, the well known Newark and Coney
Island steamboat Some TOUR or five years ago,
Just when he came OF age, Clarence married very
ulnable girl. sister Of Police Officer Earl They
had two children Gomersaii himscir WAS "a line LOOK
ing fellow, who, IN connection with tho New York
Custom House brokerage, had an office IN Wall
street, opposite the Exchange, and did lucrative
business. He and FrederiSa became very intimate
and often together not only IN the saloon but IN
otner places OF public some time ago kocrner
got Jealous ana forbade Gomersall the house. He
told Com ersas father that he did not want Clarence
TO about hs place, declaring that he woul shoot
too. Captain Gomersal also warned his and
over again. These warnings wero IN vain. On Satur-
day ngnt, II A said he was with her in public re-
sort on Market street.
CLARENCE GoMERsALL's DEATH
Between one anu two O'Clock yesterday morning,
while officer Jacob Mossbackcr was patrOl,ing Maga-
ziLc street. he heard the report o gun IN the neigh
borhood, and found that 1t came from koerncr's
place Entering that place, the door being unatchcd
he bounded up stairs 10 the second floor, the mean
while feeling OF his hat heavy drops OF some liquid
On reaching tho landing arightul signt met his gaze
Stretched thc floor at The further end OF this und-
ing lay young Gomcrsall pool OF blood which
flowed copousiy from his shattered skull II was HIS
blood that urippco down from The landing tho
unicors hat and clothing. Gazinr n. Gorrvr at the
~ os,rate body Kocrner ana Frederika. both
iher night clothes Al Koernor and his wife
began to express their deep sorrow und to make
plantations.
KoERSaR's STORY
To the officer 10 one or two others Koerner
made the following statemcnt:-He was asleep bed
with his wie he says, when he heard a at tho
front window Of the staircase landing, which looks out
OF the house, two rooms intervening koerner arose.
he says, suspectng that burglars were about-it IS
true his house has been twice entered by burg
lars-seizad his loaded lOwling~ piece and rushed
through the two bedrooms into the Ian Ding
CroucnIng down at the end away from the WIN.
dow was a man. Believing MIN to be Il burglar, he
lcvecd his gun, he says and lodged It's entire clIurge
OF No. shot The mans head, II eutering at
the back above The ear and crushing through the SIDE
OF the skull and out over The right eye shatterng tho
skull into or eight pieces. The man dropped
instantly and then, procuring light, kocrner was
horriiieu 10 discover that II was young GomcrsalI
WHOM be had shot. koerner says he believes Conner.
sail enlerea the house by the front widow. THIS is
strongly dscreditcd, however, tue probability bong,
Us IS beevcd, tnat MIS- koerncr admitted him TO the
house early in the evening, ana thAt ho occupied the
front room of the second floor which served as a
parlor On a IN IL was iound pillow. aud along
sidc ''comfortaDc." Upon examination OF Conner
SAILS person was found hat his SUBSTITUTION
gaiters--wero uubuttOned thcy appeared 10 have
been hurrlcdly pulled on.
Koerncr at once taken into custody and lodged
in inc station house III William street Subsequently
the prison sont 10 the scene OF the tragedy
and Gomcrsail removed to the station Gomcrsall
spoke from tho time he was shot, and with IA
heavy gasp expired about uitecn minutes alter six
O'Clock HIS gray haired father appeared about four
O'CLOCK, but he had not the CONSOLATION of bidding
last to his dying BOY. Tho funeral Will take
place on Wednesday, from the Union street Methodist
Episcopal Church.
THE WOMAN ARRESTED
About live O'Clock yesterday morning Mrs Koerner
was arrested but some hours later was discharged
being deemed unlikely that she would run away. sne
declined TO say anything to anybody about tho case,
under advice OF counsel About ten O'Clock Kocrner
was brought into court Hc declined, through c0un-
Sci, TO respond to the charge OF murder, and
manued to the County jail pending examination,
which Is set Tor "Wednesday afternoon
THE rosr -MoRrEM.
Yesterday afternoon County Physician Ward and
DR.. William OGorman made post morem examna-
ton, with the result ucscrihcd n bricc
THE CoEoSER's INQUEST.
BY order OF County Physician Ward Coroner Vree-
lana cmpanelled jury VINO, after viewing the body at
the Morguc and max ng an examination OF The Koerncr
house, adjourned 10 meet the Essex County Court
House at two O'Clock this afternoon.