The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-04-13
MATCHMAKING.
A Well-Connected German Shot Dead
While Pursuing That Avocation.

NEW YORK, April IAN extraordinary scheme
of blackmail, concocted and planned with re-
markable persistency. but apparently with little
skill, the victims of which were Louis Stras-
burger and Charles Adler. OF the firm of Louis
Strasburger & Co., importers of watches and jew
elry Is Maiden Lane came 10 a tragic end to-day.
The blackmailer, or one of them. was shot dead
by policeman in the attempt to arrest him, at
the moment his plot appeared to be crowned
with success. The accomplice of the fellow, who
is known, escaped. How many there are, II, in
deed the two were not alone in their enterprise,
the police were making every effort to discover
tonight
strasburger is a prominent Hebrew, and re-
ported TO be very wealthy. He resides with his
wife and four children at42S East Sixty-first
street. TIE threats of the blacknailers were
always directed against both families, and adj
dressed to the ladies, upon whose Tears they were
as far back Christmas, and as
they progressed the police were called in.
Wednesday night the climax was reached. Miss
Spitten, governeSs. was alone in Strasburger S
house when the bell was rang, and man who
kept his face from the light presented letter,
which was addressed to Mrs. Strasburger. He was
told the latter lady was out and, when
asked TO leave the letter, he snatched IL
and ran away. This was reported to the police
and detectives set to watch the house from early
morning for the return OF the stranger. This was
today the man did not return, but in his stead a
boy presented a letter at noon and ran away after
delivering it. The commands OF the letter were
obeyed and the Governess went out protected by
q detective. On the southeast corner OF Madison
avenue he saw man standing looking toward
Strasburger's hous, Another man walked past
exchanging signals O. ecOgniti0n with him. The
latter reached Fifth avenue. A pistol shot was
fired and the seconG man walked toward Sixty
first street The Governess crossing dropped an
envelope. The man stopped TO pick IL mp; as he
did so the detective grabbed him. The stranger
sprang back, and putting his hand to his hip
pocket shouted: 81 will blow your brains out
The detective drew his revolver. and the prison
er's hand striking it. Ii went OFF and the bullet
crashed through the mans left eye: He fell
dead. A crowd gathered. and the body was taken
to the Police Station. Upon il was found letters
in the same handwriting as that in the black
mailing letter showing the mans
name to be Edward Herman Johannes
Lagert, of merchant in Berlin,
Prussia. He wrote TO his mother and sweetheart
that he was poor. almost destitute. and was COM
ing home The police late at night found the
scheme the result of deep-laid plot, in
which Lagert was the actor, but not leader. Al
bert +. VOgei picture dealer. at No. % Stanton
street. was arrested and admitted that he
was the leader and that he fired the
signal pistol. He conceived the plan
while travelling from Europe on the steamer Re-
public with Strasburger and his family year ago.
Lagert lived at 90 Eldridge street. His uncle is a
great banker in Altoona, Germany. by the name of
Hans Bauer. His room mate. man named Dan
Seeger, understood the whole to be Nihilistic
plot to get possession of important papers COM
promising the Russian Government in possession
Of Strasburger. This Nogel denies.