The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-03
HORRHD RUTCHERY.
Wife Murder and
SuiCides


Christian Kottmeyer and his wife
Christina, the former aged forty
three and the latter thirty-nine,
who for the last fifteen or twenty
years have been living on Dayton
street, are the principals in one
of hose bloody tragedies which too often
blot the tair fame of our city, and the
result in this instance is that the wife
is lying at the point Of death from the
effects Of a murderouS wound in her
side, made by butcher knife in the
hauds OF her husband, and the husband
is corpss, his life taken by his own
hand.
His wounds, in the abdomen and
heart, caused almost immediate death.
The cause of the bloody work is traced
to jealousy and the consequent suit OF
divorce instituted by the wife, which
was to have been taken up in Court next
week.
Since the temporary separation Of the
parties, which took place some four
months ago, kottlneYer has been board
ing at the house of Henry Kresz, on Cen
tral avenue, opposite Freeman street;
the wife, with the brother-ir-iaw, Bar
ney Grothe, at No. 528 Elm street.
Al 2o'clock yesterday afternoon KDtt-
meyer called al Grolhe's, and meeting
his wife engaged her III conversation a
few minutes on the subject OF their
domestic differences, and finally,
with an oath, drew large
butcher-knife and sprang at the defense
less victim, and in moment had cut his
vile as mentioned above, and then, with
the weapon still dripping with her
blood, terminated his own existence.
lN,N n1
whom Mrs. Kottmeyer was attending in
the capacity OF nufse, was on bed i'll
the room, but was poWerless to prevent
the murderous work, being unable to
rise,
Ellen Grothe was in an adjoining room,
and as soon as possible gave the alarm.
Dr.. R1lterman responded to the sum-
mons in a few minutes and did what he
could 10 relieve the suffering OF the
woman.
Soon after Coroner Stitch appeared,
and by his order the body of KOttmeyer
was removed to the city undertakepS on
West Sixth street.
Mrs. Kottmeyer, this mo- ling, was
somewhat easier, and hopes are enter
tanned that she may sarylVe. The testi-
mony taken hetore Coroner SticPs jury;
this morning, which was composed OF
FL, b. Ehlman, G. DeWald, IL. Fischer
Ii. schumacher, j. Orks and II. Menke,
was in substance as follows;
Mary Miller, who lives at At Riddle
street, and who is sister of Christina
IKottmeyer, testified that when she en-.
tered the room where the tragedy occur.
| red she saw The deceased lying on the
floor, weltering in his blood, dead.
Ellen Grothe sworn, said that she was
| in the house where the affair took place;
was in the Kitchen. She saw KOttIneyeI
enter the room and approach his vile,
with the remark, "Mamm l want tC
speak TO you" He then asked her &c
shake hands with him and kiss MIN. She
refused. He then drew the knife and
stabbed her. She knew nothing more
DID not know where deceased procured
The knife.
Dr.. b. j. Ratterman-'I was called in
| to see the deceased about five minutes
after the occurrence; found the body ly-
| ing on the floor, moti0nless; found the
| wife OF the deceased reclining against a
chair. do not know what caused the
deceased to commit the deeds"
Henry Hennekes, Of No. 70 Pendleton
street; Fanny Campoell, OF 522 Elm
street; Margaret RutZ, same place;
Fred. Weingart, OF III Carr street; Bar
bara Kupp anu Franzuska Trappold, OF
522 Elm street, anu few others, were
briefly examined, but their testimony
threw no new light on the subject under
investigation. The jury then adjourned
to the house where the tragedy oc-
Cured, No. 526 En- street, where Mrs.
Barney Grothe and the wounded woman
were examined.