The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-05-21
THE STRANGE MURDER.
Kettler Arrested-Thc Supposed Murderer
Found by n Newspaper-Nan In Front OF His
Home In West Thirty-sixth Sreet-His
Statement 30 the Police.
New York Tribune. 20tb.l

Martin Kankowskv alias Louis Kettler
was arrested last night at Q O'Clock In front
OF his dwelling, at No. $40 west Thirty
sixth street. on suspicion Of being the mur-
derer Of Nina Muller or Schmidt, who was
found dead in the Gutenberg woods. He
was taken TO The Twentieth precinct station
in Tbirty-seventb street. His wife followed
him. apparently not knowing what was the
matter, and an excited conversation ensued
between the two in German. The woman
reprOached her husband with having done
what was wrong; 10 which he answered: /:
"Mein Gott! that woman ruined me-"
He was pressed for confession. and stub
borniy refused for some time, but finally
be made the following statement, which
was taken down In writing:
MAY 1ssl-lOl5P NJ
Martin KankOwsky, DaTIve OF Alsgc. age thirty
three. mason. married: know Nina Schmi0t
did not know that she WAS married. She told me
that she loved me. and asked me 10 come with her
10 Germany. She said that she had wealthy rea-
tives there and that they would take care OF me.
went with her to Gutenberg ana to Schutzru Park.
and met there Two men VINO told Inc that Nina did
not love me, but loved anolhsr. She then ran awAv
with The men. and ! have not seen her since.
went down to CHRISTOPHER street. where we bad eft
our trunks, and had the same removed TO my house.
To Gustavus A. Seide, reporter on the
Erening journal. OF jersey Cry, the cap
In Kankowsky's apartments were found
three trunks belonging TO the murdered
woman. which were full OF her clothing.
They were taken to the station. They bore
labels with the name and address "Joseph
Reymann, No. 81 Rue Clissant, Paris,
France"
Theodore Scherrer, the keeper OF the
hotel at No. 17S Christopher street, at which
Kankowsky and the dead woman remained
a short time just before the murder. arrived
shortly after the arrest and Identified the
prisoner. Kettler, or Kankowsky. is a man
slightly below the medium height, with
Hebrew cast OF face. When taken out Of
his cell for identification he trembIed. He
wore blue cutaway coat, tight black trou-
serS, and stiff olack necktie. His clothing
was beSmeared with mortar. To reporter
he said, in his native tongue, which he
speaks with strong Alsati1n accent:
"On leaving the pastorale May Nina
and took walk. When we reached The
Opdyke Wood two men suddenly came
across our path. They seemed 10 know
Nina (whe was little The worse for liquor),
and they began talking to her in lively
manner, not taking any notice Of me.
After awhile Nina went away with them,
telling me she would be back very soon. |
waited a whole bour, but no Nina came; so
| finally concluded that she bad deserted
me and came back home. That is all can
say. Before God | declare myself to be IN
nocent OF any crime toward her,
Edward label, the beer-seller who sold
the bottle of Rhine wine to the murdered
woman Mrs. Christina Fink, whose beer
shop Mrs. Muller visited; Mrs. Sarah Jane
Riger, who showed her to the house Of the
Rev. DR.. Mabop, and John A. Schuman,
the German who was asked BY the minister
10 witness the marriage Of Mrs Muller and
KettIer. were first examined, but no facts
were elected beyond those already pub
lisbed.
Simon Muller, OF No. $50 west Thirtieth
street, this city, the dead woman's first nus
band, gave his testimony without any feeling
whatever. "When ] heard that my wife
was going to the old country with another
man. he said, 81 went down to the steam-
ship wharf TO see il she sailed on Wcdnes-
day, May 4th. But / was satisfied; what
did care where she WENT" He identified
the dress, the gold rings, breastpin, ear
rings, and stockings Of the dead woman.
The testimony at the evening session pre-.
sented no new facts, and the inquest YVES
adjourned when the Coroner heard OF the
arrest of Kettler.