New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-22
THE MrrERUOEFFER MURDER.

THE STORY OF Mr.. PIERsON, THE sChooiMA i''''
REPEATED IN DETAIL-THE LAST SEEN of i"h
MURDERED MAN--LAMMENss TERROR ON Visii-
ING THE CELLAR.
There was the usual large attendahce ol spo''
tors Yesterday at the trial at Newark OF riicis
Lannon'S and Mrs. Meierhoefer for the murder OF
John Meicrhocffcr Mr.. Pierson. the schoolmasler,
who boarded with the Meierhoeilers, was recaileu
and testified that Mr.. Meierhoaficr came lp'o tne
house on one occasion and "made fuss ," after ne
had gone out Mrs Meierhoefier asked the witness
what she could give her husband to make hlm SICK
witness suggested salt and water and caomei. his
impression was that she was testing. On cross-ex-
animation the witness told of occasions when hard
words had passed between Lammens and the old
man. When Mrs. Meierhocffer came to the wit
ness's room on Thursday morning she said she must
do something before night for Franz had made a
threat to blow up the place and kill her and the
old man if she didn't have him. She requested the
witness to write to Mr.. Joyce because the latter
could arrest any man in the State.
The witness related what had occurred when he
came home from school in the afternoon and was
informed by signs from Mrs. Meerhoener of what
had occurred. She said that Lammens had told her
to say the old man had gone to Newark, and after
ward when he asked Dammens he said the old man
had gone TO Newark. The woman was anxious for
IammenSS arrest ana snOWeu COnSlutTdbic rear VI
him. From the time he returned home until he
went for the officers the witness knew that John
MeierhOeffer lay dead i'll the cellar, but he acted as
il he knew nothing about II because or LanmenS.
In the evening the woman asked Lammens to 90 out
ard lock The barn. When he had gone she became
agitated and urged witness to go to Orange. She
said that Lammens had shot her husband and kicked
him down stairs and had then washed up the blood.
She said she witnessed the act from the back door:
Mrs. Meierhoefer always treated her husband
kindly; witness never saw any conduct on her part
unbecoming a wife. TIE old man would frequently
raise a nothing, and the vile told the wit
ness he called her IAN old baudbox" On the after
noon of tho murder lady stopped at the house and
Theodore MeerhoefIer, recalled by the State,
testified that when be came from orange III NE
morning, bringing back the Joyce letter. his
mother told him TO leave the house, so that Lam
mems could not see him.
James Bell. milkuan testified 70 seeing John
Meicrhoeher at 1910 a. M, on the Thursday or the
murder. and delivering milk cans TO him.
Several witnesses we're called to testify that they
saw John McieThoe1f,r previous to ii o'clock On
Thursday. Henry Graper, an Orange Valley grocer
testified to going to the house about noon and sec
ing Mrs. Meierhoeffer Lammens was at the back
door smoking. Witness did not see John Meier
hoeffer. The woman was alone, and had opp0r-
tunitv to tell him of what had happened.
Hermann H. Schwincher. witness for the state
testified that he was out hunting on the thursday OF
the murder with his son and John CrumD. AZ noon
they went to the MeierhOeffers TO get something TO
drink. They went into the kitchen and did not see
Mrs Meierhoeffer LammenS was asked for some
thing TO drink and said there was nothing. Krump
remarked that there was milk in the cellar, and
then Lammens went after il. He returned from the
cellar excited, and trembling much that he
spilled the milk. He was asked If he was sick aud
he said "nO no." Witness paid him for the milk
and he took change from bag witness shown
small money bag) like that
Cross-examned by counsel for Lammens. 81 saw
Mrs Meierhoeffer at the window In the afternoon"
To counsel for Mrs. Meerboeffer Il bad with
me a canteen of bittors. and WIN saw Lammens
was excited asked him to have drink of tue
bitters."
At 1880 n. m. the Court adjourned. In order that
the Jury might go to the Meierhoeer house, and
examine it with special reference TO the testimony
that had been given.