New-York tribune., 1881-09-08
WORK OF A HUMAN FIEND.
MURDER, ARSON AND SUICIDE.


KILLING HIS WIFE. SETTING FIRE TO THE HOUSE
WHICH HIS CHILDREN ARE ASLEEP AND FL
NAILY HANGING HIMsELF-SUSPECTED OF HAV-
ING MURDERED HIS WIFEs FIRST HUSBAND-EX-
CITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE OF JAMAICA, L. l.
The residents of the quiet village, of Jamaica
were startled yesterday morning at the news of q
horrible domestic tragedy, that occurred at the
home OF John kempel: a barroom st0rekeeper in
day, the e-bes of the village gave the alarm. and
hremen and villagers quick " responded. They
soon ascertained that Kenpels house was on fire.
William Carpenter and several of the neigh
bors. AT this time the lower portion
was fire and burning fiercey. No person was to
be seen about the place and it ut first thought
that Kempl. his wife and three children the two
eldest, Katie and Joseph Flachans, eleven aud
seven years old respectively by former husband
OF the woman, and an infant, six months old were
asleep III their bedrooms In the second story. To
save them Carpenter went throught the aeyway at
the west end of the house. When he reached the
sitting III a rocking chair the back steps, the
skull crushed and the steps spattered with tn blood
anu brains OF the unfortunate woman. Her body
still warm. fastening to the barn to proc
cure ladder Carpenter made a second startling
discovery. Hanging under the wagon-shed was the
body Of Kempel. 1t was sid warm and he was cut
down az quickly possible, but ali efforts to revive
hun we're III vain, The bodies of Kempel and his
wife were removed to the lawn and Coroner Wood
informed.
Katie Flachans, the daughter, says that she and
awakened by the smoke of the fire winch had been
started in the bar-room, directly umderneat h her
room. She fastened down stairs, and finding The
back door open, started to 20 into the yard. AS
she stepped on the back steps the first object that
attracted her attention was her mother sitting in
baby lay on Tie floor, crying. She picked up the
baby ran M upstairs and, awakenng her brother ran
says that she did uot hear her father and mother
quarrel IN the evening.
Samuel Townsend, negro. occupied a small room
Oh the hrst floor. lie states that Mr.. and Mrs
kempe quarreled frequently money matters
ana that ken; el often beat her until she lay un-
CONSCIOUS On the hOor. Only week ago .Ownscnd
was sent at midnight TO Justice Belts to ask the
Justice to draw Mrs. kempePs WILL as it was be-
eved that she would die from the Injuries inflicted
upoI her by her husband. but she refused to make
a complaint against hun. From all that can be
learned, kenipei and his wife had not quarelled
tuesday. lie appeared, on the contrary, to De more
atectlonate than he had been for time. Tues
day he rented portion of his house to two Ger
mans, who sent their furniture in the afternoon,
but d.d not remain Tuesday night IL is certain
thatkempe and his wife quarrelled Iuesday even ng
they were distinctly heard by The negro, Tow wnsend
4 cir chickering's were always aoout the prope ty,
which Is valued at $4,000. The night was Excess
slvely warm, and Mrs. kenpels infant was sick In
order to get little fresh air she took her rocking
cnalr anu with the infant on The back stems
Her husband FIRST locked up the house with the ex-
ception OF the bacA-uoor. He then killed his vile
with one blow VI an axe. He then poured kerosene
oil over the stove counter, bar and the shelves and
sci tire 10 them, evidently with the intention of
killing the children lie finally went to the wagon
house aud hanged himself. The house, owing to the
scarcity of WAGER, almost entirely DESTROYED
Yesterday morning the bodies were removed TO Ey-
eritts Morgue, and an inquest was held last even
ing.
The jury after, hearing the testimony of several
witnesses found that Mary Kempel came to her
death at the hands of unknown person. and
that John kempel came to his death by his own
hand
The property was owned by Mrs. Mary Kempe
it having been left to her by her first husband
Henry Fiacheans Two years ago he suddenly dis
appeared At the time of his disap oarance he was
frequently seen in the company of keInpel, who at
that time was employed a laborer on the farm of
Andrew DeBovoise iwo weeks alter Flacheans
had left his home his body was found In small
creek about mile fro the village of jamaica
There was large hole i'll the back of his head
caused it was believed, at the time, by his striking
stone i'll his fall from the bridge while intoxicated
into the water, which hardly OF sufficient depth
TO have drowned him had he not been injured. Inc
Coroners jury pronounced it a case of suicide. He
had been a Roman Catholic and on account of the
verdict of the jury denied burial by the Church
in consecrated ground. Shortly after Flacheans
was buried Kempel became frequent visitor at the
house of Fachean's widow. and less than "a year ago
they were married 1t is now the general beet that
Flachcans was murdered by Kenpe, and his body
thrown into the pool where it was found. Mrs.
Kempel was German woman about forty We
years of age, and Kempe who was also a German
was of about the same age. The scene of the mur-
der was visited by hundreds of people.