The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-21
A MURDEROUS ASSAULT.
Horrible Mornings Work of a Long
Island Farm Hand.
FOR PLUMBER AND REVENGE
.dax Roth Brutally Beats His Employers
Wife for Treating Him Badly


murderous attack on a defenceless woman by .
servant in her employ. William Mabel is a thrifty.
though not over prosperous farmer. living IN
lonely spot tho Flushing road. near Cow bay,
l. !. His wife. himself and an adopted son worked
on o farm which consists OF but nine or ten
acres, and also did little trade In the mix
business which that part of the island Is famous.
Feeling the necessity Of having some one about the
house help him in the management OF his affairs.
Mr. Mabel recently applied. through his wife. at
Castle Garden in this city, for q male servant. The
result of his wifes visit to New York was the en-
eagement of q big strappng German man. who
called himself Max Roth The professed that
no could not speak English and in excuse. told his
new employers that he had only been in the country
for four five months. The persons forming the
little homo circle OF Mr. Msbel's house ap-
peared to live in perfect harmony Early
yesterday morning. about six
O'Clock. Mr.. Mabel and went to New York
with load of stuff. his adopted also going there
ON business. When Mr. Mable back from New
York he found his wife lying PROSTATE with three
four deep cuts her head. The blood gushing
from them and the woman soon became uncon-
scious. When she able to recognize her husband
she said that the Max had assaulted her and
beat her about tho head; that she believed he had
also ransacked the house for plumber and
that he had sfterward fed the direction
OF the Flushing road. The police were
soon communicated with. and Superintendent
Wslling Of New York and Superintendent Campbell
of Brooklyn sent out general alarms to look out for
the assassin, who described as being about
twenty-eight years old, six feet in height. firmly
built, with dark hair. eyes and slight mustache.
The Long Island City police also notified. and
1t once vigorous search made. Tho detectives
we're momentarily put on the wrong track Of the
fugitive by hearing q report that man of his de-
scrption had been seen crossing the Thrty-fourth
street ferry to New York. The wounded woman's
statement that her assaant had taken the road to
Flushing impelled Constable Eadle and Officer Bryce
OF the Astoria police, to take wagon and that
portion Of the island.
AN EXCITING CHASE.
Al they sped and sign of the servant Max,
could DO discovered the officers began to feel some
misgivings the result of their venture. At about
noon however. they saw ahead what appeared to be
the figure of man running. But no matter how fast
the officers wont they did not seem to gain percept
bly, the fugitive. When about milo from Astoria
they were informed by farmers lad that big
had just swerved little to tho side Of the road
and evidently hiding. waiting until his pursuers
The boy also. In a hxed the location Of the
spot where he said Max hiding, by saying that
on the road. About hundred yards from the we'll
man darted from the edge OF the road and ran like
u
above The officers called upon him to stop. but no
heed was paid to the demand. Confident In
their ability to overtake the fugitive the
Max kept little ahead until he got to the neighbour
hood OF the "well." when he sackened his pace from
sheer exhaustion and taken into custody by
Oficer Bryce and his companion. He was pinioned
and handcufied and made no resistance. nor did he
inquire as to why he was arrested. He was ut once
brought before Captain Woods of the Astoria police
anu after preliminary examination was placed in a
cell. His manner was one of stold indifference.
He refused TO give facts connected with his life
" tho officers.
DETAILS OF THE CRIME
II was with some difficulty that the true story Of
the crime could be gathered. Almost everybody
who had any connection with the had differ
emit version of the tragedy and all OF the stories DIFF
cred IN essential particulars just how the attack
HERALD reporter last night by the prisoner himself
His story could not be told in English. be-
cause Max processes that he cannot speak that
lang uage. The reporter secured the neighbour
ing dwellings in search Of interpreter. and with
the assistance OF Captain Woods. obtained the
Capacity. The reporter asked the prisoner. through
her aid. where he born. how long he had been in
the country and other questions. and the prisoner
replied that he was q native Of Germany and had
only been here four or Ave months.
where did you go after arriving here?" the re-
II went to Castle Garden" the reply.
"when did you first meet Mrs. Mabel or her hus-
bsndr'
mrs Mabel to Castle Garden day and
said she wanted to hire man to work around the
house and about farm. She saw me there and said
would suit her She asked me II l would go and
said yes. l told her did not know anybody hore.
and that did not have any work to do just then.
went with her to place called Cow bay. L. l. Mrs.
Mabel before taking said that would be treated
welin fact she promised to treat me as one Of her
own family. On her saying this went along with
her, and have stayed there ever since"
Ibid she not treat you weilr
NO. she didn't. She did not give me good food to
eat aud what she did give me che would watch that
ALI Neither did any of them. But she. most Of ALL
I A; q, this reason did you made up your mind
"No" slowly. and with scrutinizins glance at
.why. then. did you strike her yesterday
"BecAuse she was not good to me-
''whst did you strike her within
ga piece OF wood; l think 1t broomstick."
"Where did you strike horY'
ION the head-here and here pointing to the
right side OF the head. just above the forehead and
"Did you knock her DOWN.
Eyes; she fell down; hit her before she fell
"what did you do thenY
al took all the money that could find in tho
house. There was key in tho closet in tho house.
and opened the door and saw box there This
broke open and took the money IN it. think there
Was about SAT or $4S. not sure of the amount,
but think 1t about that It That is all
that took-just the money"
"How many times did you strike Mrs. Mabel be-
.srhroo or tour times 1 hit her on the head each
..Dld you strike her when she was lying on the
emo, 1 did not. only hit her when she was
standing II was about nine O'Clock. 1 think. am
sure. exactly. outside In tie yard aud Mrs
Mabel wss In the house. She came out aud walked |
TO near the stable. and she came nearer hit her
Ind she fell Tho blood covered her head all over.
ran into the house and then away up tho road.
did not intend to kill her mt all"
The prisoner then retired. Hc answered all the |
questions promptly and In German, and appeared |
tribe troubled ovor hts situation, although he bc
trayed no perceptibc emotion.
The spot whore the crime took place Ia very un-
inviting one. IL In on tho unfrcqucntod part
OF the Flushing road and all about is drcary waste
The little farm OF the Mabels stretches for about
nine side of the house, and behind tho
dwelling are stable and some hog pens. Tho |
house 10 . small structure, with only one |
floor above the lower ono. In q room down |
stairs slept Mr.. Mabel and his wife, another bod |
room on the same door occupied BY Mabel's
adopted son. Who 10 about eighteen years OF age aud
Max, tho servant. Max and the son occupied the !
same bed. and door connected the two bedrooms |
On either side OF the road which the house
stands there are similar habtations Of even a more