The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-29
WAS HE MURDERED?

THE SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDING THE
DEATH OF AN OLD RESIDENT OF PATTERSON,
N. j.
II think. wife, I'll go and take little walk; it may
ease my head. You needn't keep tea waiting If I'm
not back" and with these words Henry Gerlach. OF
Paterson. took his and walked forth. This was
on Monday afternoon. about four o'clock. He took
the way leading to the Valley Of Rocks, below the
Falls of the Passaic and when it became dark had
not yet returned. The family were alarmed and
began to search for him. but without success. All
night long inquiry was made and the search
continued. Yesterday morning two men employed
by the Passac Water Company. while or their way
to their work, found Mr. Gerlach's body in q lonely
place in this dark Valley Of Rocks where huge
hanging cliffs cause semi-obscurity during the
brightest day. The man was dead and cold The re-
mains were taken in charge by coroner. and, as it
was known that he was subject to neuralgia in it's
worst form it taken for granted that he had
dropped suddenly dead from neuralgia OF the heart.
SUPPOSED SUICIDE
Yesterday afternoon, however three little girls and
two boys in wandering through the valley came
upon. revolver lying near where the body
found. Investigation followed and when the bruises
on the forehead Of Gerlach closely ex-
amined it was found that what had been taken for
mere bruise received by having fallen on a
and the ball was discovered lodged in
the brain. Further. it was discovered that
r.
lach-short. stout. with full gray whiskers and
aged about sixty-had purchased Nero" revolver
and cartridges on Monday morning. The man APP
peared to be suffering under some sort of mental
disturbance and had wild look about him that at
tractcd notice. Mrs. Gcrlach stated to the Coroner
that her husband had gone up town to Main street in
the morning and everything seemed corroborative
and the theory OF suicide Was accepted for about two
hours.
VERY LIKE MURDER AND ROBBERY
Later, the new pistol which Gerlach had purchased
was found in his room, in . private drawer of a
bureau. and nephew remembered having heard him
say time before that he intended to pure
cne as the neighborhood where he lived was so in
tested by tramps that he did not feel safe without
firearms in the house. This was severe blow at the
suicidal theory, and another adm
by tho additional discovery that y considerable
sum Of money was missing, and 1t
most probable that Mr.. Gerach had had II
cradle value. II this then there had been a
robbery, perhaps murder for forty cents all
the money found in his pockets. Besides Gerlach
was SO sober and steady aud so well balanced in
mind, despite his suffering. that it not consid-
cred upon calm reflection that he was man to
deliberately take his own life There possi-
BILE cause that could be assigned. except his almost
constant suffering; there domestic or
financial difficulties whatever. The affair became
still more OF maze when later in the afternoon it
was found that another revolver of tho Nero"
pattern had been sold in the afternoon of
Monday to not Known to the young
that two new rcvolvcrs ut least of that pattern had
been purchased; one had certainly remained where
II could not possibly harm any one. the other-if IL
was the .'other'--was found near the body of the
dead man. and with one barrel discharged
The investigations are being continued all sides,
aud an inquest will be held matters be
brought tn u tangible shape.
MIR. Gcrlach of German birth, but lived in
Paterson for quarter Of century. and had arnassed
considerable property in the Second ward, where he
lived, at No. 81 Water street. He was man highly
respected and was a member of the German Prcsby-
tcrian Church IN Elm street. The peculiar circuin-
stances attending his death have caused intense OK.
element in the quiet circle In which he moved.