The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-10-02
A Detectives Story.

A dispatch from Bridgeport, Conn.,,
Sept IL, says: The sensational evil
dence in the Schultz murder case which
State Attorney Olmstead has been fore
shadowing, came in the shape of a re-
markable detective story this afternoon.
When the afternoon session opened, the
State Attorney said, briskly, :: Ernest
Stark will please come this way" A
slim well-dressed German about twenty
seven years OF age, elbowed his way
through the crowd and took the wit
ness-stand. Bucholtz, from the pris-
oner's dock, had caught sight of him as
soon as the witness emerged from the
ante-room, in which he had been for a
time in semi-concealment, and his gaze
closely followed his every motion. The
Bridgeport people in the room recog-
nized the new witness as a person who
was recently released from the Bridge
port Jail on bail, and who has been per-
sistently watched by the police and peo-
pie on the supposition that he was in
tending to commit some grave crime.
Twice he had been turned out of re-
spectacle boarding houses on account
of the clamor of the other inmates, and
once detectives followed him to New
York. Some time in the spring Stark,
or Somers, as he was known in Bridge
port, was detected in attempting to OBJ
tain a package from the Adams Ex-
press Company on forged order. He
came before the City Court, pleaded
not guilty and engaged counsel to es-
tablish his innocence. Probable cause
having been found against him he was
| sent to Jail to await trial at the Sep
tember term of the Superior Court.
After some time the State Attorney,
with feigned reluctance, consented to
admit him to bail. While in jail he con-
tracted an Intimacy with Bucholtz, and
indeed Bucholtz's counsel had persuad-
ed the apparently reluctant State At
torney to reduce the amount of the bond
required from $1,000 to $500. The
counsel for BIcholtz furnished the lat
ter sum, and Somers again walked the
streets of Bridgeport. This known in
timacy with Bucholtz did not increase
the little favor with which he was re-
garded. ....-
Taking the stand the slim young
man gave his residence as Philadelphia
and said that he had been employed as
| a detective for about five years by Allan
Pinkerton. He became acquainted with
William Bucholtz in the Bridgeport
Jail and at an early period of their init
the murder. The latter evaded ques-
tions as to how the money found in his
possession came to bear Schulte's pri-
vate mark, aad would say nothing fur
ther than he had told the jury of in
quest. Insinuating himself as much
as possible into the graces OF. Bucholtz,
that person became interested sufii-
ciently in his cause to offer that his
own counsel, Mr.. Bollman, should fur
nish bonds for Stark. Bucholtz also
talked with the detective, as he had
with others, about going to Australia,
explained that the pistol he owned had
been bought to protect himself against
tramps, and finding that his new ac-
quaintance seemed to believe all he said
finally told him that he wished he
could secure his friendly services out
side Of the jail for him. Bucholtz
thought that Paul Herscher, the saloon
keeper who testified yesterday, being out
of employment, could be hired to go
away before the trial. Bucholtz said
that he had at first taken his compan-
ion for a detective, but if he had been
neither he nor the State attorney could
have got q word out of him. Then he
became more confidential ard told how
he had once hoped to become the
owner of Schulte's 8 German estate and ul-
timately his legatee. In order to further
lull any suspicious on the part of his
victim the detective contrived that
there should be GOODNESS between
them. Bucholtz felt this and wrote
Somers note in which he said:" This
is the greatest friendship when each
seeks 10 excel the other in good"
This episode more firmly established
the intimacy between them. Bucholtz
said that he would give $5, 900 to get
out for one night. The detective asked
if he meant that he "would lift Schulte's
treasure" and Bucholtz replied: '.Yes,
/ would go to Schulte's gold-mine.
Bucholtz placed his arms around the de-
tective and said that If he were out six
hours even, and at liberty, he could get
all the money both might want. He went
on to talk about Schulte's habits and
mentioned that it had been the latter's
custom to carry large sums of money on
his person, and that nearly 800, 900 were
found in belt about his body. He
would trust the witness with a great
secret, he said, if the witness could be
released. The next day the detective
asked Bucholtz if he was in earnest,
and upon receiving an affirmative an
swer, said that it was a shame that Bu-
choltz should be locked up, knowing
where there was SO much money. Bu-
choltz replied that he would impart his
secret to him, but it was to 60 no far
ther. He then told a singular story
his wealth. Surprising the miser one
there was a hole in the floor of his
haI oI, hot
this hole he kept his money, and said
with a trap-door of his own contrivance
operated by spring, after purchasing
the place. Bucholtzi In some way learned
that in the hole was tin box contain
ing $50. 900. Boucholtz promised that
should he get a life-sentence he would
tell him where all of Schulte's money
was, for it would then be of no use to
the possessor of the secret. The fact
that all the money was marked troubled
him, but the detective relieved that anx-
iety. saying that all the tell-tale figures
could be removed with acids, and de-
scribed the necessary acids to Bucholtz
who admired his friends scientific in
formation.
1t vas May IS when the detective was
released. Mr.. Bollman, Bucholtz's coun-
sci, had told the State Attorney that
the young man was of good family and
had never been arrested before. He
assured him that Somers had never
known Bucholtz before he was impris-
oned, and finally the State Attorney,
with simulated reluctance, yielded after
obtaining of the jailer an assurance that
the health of Somers was failing. An
other detective informed the State At
torney that the excitement of the case
was becoming too much for Stark, and
that there would be danger of his be-
traying himself if he remained longer
with his victim. Bucholtz on being
told that the Schultz property would be
| sold and that a new owner would prob