New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-08
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
SUICIDE AND ATTEMPTED MURDER.

ENDING OF LONG YEARS OF DOMESTIC MISERY
STATEMENT OF THE DEAD MANS soN-KuNTzs
THREATS OF MURDER-THE INJURED woMANs
RECOVERY IMPOSSIBLE.
A horrible tragedy occurred at Union Hill.
n. j., early yesterday morning. Jacob
Kuntz, Bavarian, shot bis wife with gun,
and seriously wounded her. He then killed
himself with revolver. The couple had
lived unhappily for many years, and huntz
had frequently il-treated his wife ana
threatened her life. For two months she had
not lived with him, and recently divorce
was granted to her. This Increased his feel
ing against her, and it Is believed that he
lay in wait for her for some time. Mrs.
Kuntz's injuries are expected TO prove fatal.
DETAILS OF THE DOUBLE CRIME.
Several loud reports startled people residing near
Hudson-sve and Frankln-st. Union Hill, N j.. at
half-past O'Clock yesterday morning. rush was
made by the neighbOrs to the yard of the building
known as Shopples Hail. Ia the yard lay the body OF
n white haired mar Blood was flowing from large
wound near the right temple. The right hand held
arevolveI. Groans were heard from the hallway OF
the house aud an old woman was found lying Ill q
pool of blood at the foot Of the stairs The dead
body was that of Jacob Kuntz native of Bavaria
and the wounded woman Mrs. Ann Maria
Kuntz. his wife. The news of the tragedy was soon
circulated throughout Hudson County, and caused
much excitement. Hundreds of persons visited the
house during the day TO view the body OF kuntZ.
and obtain full details of this double crime.
A reporter of THE TRIBUNE went to the house
where the tragedy occurred 1t was formerly used
as lager beer garden, and takes its name from It's
former proprietor 1t is frame building two-stores
and half in height. with an old dancing
pavilion on the south side. join Henry
Kuntz. the eldest son of the desd man, occupies
several rooms on the second floor of the house.
During the last two months his mother, who had
separated from her husband has lived with him.
The old lady intended going to a picnic OF st.
Johns Lutheran Church, of Union Hill, yesterday,
and arose at an early hour to prepare break
fast Just after she went down stairs the
son and his wife heard a loud report. They ran
to the window and saw the elder kuntZ standing
in the yard with arevOlyer IN his hand The next
moment he placed the barrel of the weapon to his
mouth pulled the trigger, and fell back dead on the
grass To the reporter Mr. Kuntz made the follow
ing statement:
my father was always desperate, brutal man.
md he frequently beat my mother in
terrible manner. Nine weeks ago he
treated her 50 badly that. she was COM
PEELED TO leave him and come here 60 live
with me- Father was very angry and swore he
would kill her the first chance he got. Ny mother
cot I'M early this morning | heard her 60 down
stairs and out into the yard Almost Immediately
heard loud scream and the report OF gun.
put on my trousers and ran to the window and saw
nv father i'll the yard below. Going down stairs
found mother, covered with blood lying at the foot
of the stairs. / picked her up in my arms ana car
RED her up stairs and placed her on the
bed my wife aiding me as well as she could The
blood was flowing from my mothers arm and side.
/ heard another report and went down in the yard.
Under that little clump of trees my father was ~
ing ON his back His face was covered with blood,
and be was dead. As to the previous life 81 my
parents, it is a sad story. For the last twenty
years they lived on bad terms. A num-
Der of years ago my father beat mother
until all signs of life had left her, and threw her
body IN a deep hole in the snow. called some of
our neghbors, and we dug her out. and under the
care Of a physician her life was saved. Mother had
him arrested several times for brutal assault; and
battery He was under $1,000 bonds to keep the
peace at the time he shot her. Father treated his
children in a very brutal manner, In one year he
shot at me over twenty times Two years
ago he shot me in the throat" showing
a bullet scar on his neckl OF the nine children
born to them there now only five living am
the eldest \ few years ago my fathers property
was valued at about $25, 600. but he spent nearly
all be had on women of questionable character and
neglected at times TO provide for his family. He
frequently threatened to kill both mother and my
self and think he watched the house several
nights in hopes of obtaining chance to shoot
The son was terribly excited. and cursed his
father In severe terms. Mrs. Caroline kuDtz, the
wife of the son. said " | looked out Of the window,
and saw my father-n-law in the yard. lie pointed
a pistol at me. and drew in my head. looked out
as nv husband was going down stars. ana as saw
my father-ip-laT place the muzz!e OF the pistol N
heard Ireport. and then saw him lying
on the ground with blood oq his face After
mother had been carried upstairs. went down
Iuto the yard and found gun lying at the side OF
the stoop. picked 1t up and threwit al hp. The
stock struck on the ground and with Ioud report
The gun was q common fow lng-piece with two
barrels. 1t broken in two where the stock joined
the barrel. The revolver has five chambers. with
s2loo inch bore. With a grim sense OF humor the
dead man had decorated the stock OF the towing
piece and the handle of the revolver win pieces OF
hid Grape The reporter the body Of tbs elder
Ka6ta as it Was being prepared for
moval to his house at Homestead
small hamlet ON the line of the Northern RAILROAD
OF New-Jersey. about six miles from Union Hill
The bullet from the revolver had entered the mouth
and passed out near the right temple, making
large hole in the side Of the head. The remains
presented horrible sight.
Mrs. Kuntz, the wife OF the dead man, was re-
moved to st. Mary's Hospital. after having her
wounds dressed by DR.. LOns Rem. She was suffer
ing terribly and tainted several times before the
coach reached the hospital DR.. Chabert examined
her side, but decided not to probe for the bullet,
which is imbedded IN her right side:
Z" / at work at my BENCH" SAID FREDERICK
Mathe, German who has small shoe shop on
Franklin ST., directly opposite the house OF the
Younger Kuntz and heard pistol shot followed
by a scream. ran across the street and saw Jacob
Kuniz standing under the trees in the yard;
He had his pistol to his mouth and
before | could reach him, he fred
IL off and fell back dead, with the blood and
brains oozing from hole at the side Of his face.
Mrs Kuntz the wife of the son, came down stairs,
picked up the gun and threw 1t at the body. Ii
went of with a loud report, and broke into two
pieces"
during the day large number of persons who
had known the members Of the family for years
called at the house. The people gathered in little
groups and discussed the details of the attempted
murier and the suicide with great interest. 1t was