The examiner., 1882-02-25
TRACKING A MURDERER.
The Strange Story Told by Actor, al

How it was Verified.
 The Chicago correspondent of th
 Courier Journal could not help bu
 hear the story that follows, because h
 was waiting for Florence, the actor, t
 vacate barber chair, one day. "D
 you know" said Florence, confden
 tially, to,,the barber, |" never get into
 barber chair without thinking of Henr,
 Jumpertz, and resolving to write
 barber story" Gus had, in the mean
 time, provided MT. Florence witl plenty of father and taffy and secured
 passes for two to McVicker's that even
 ing, when he continued his chatter
 1T think it was in '59. was or
 my way west from Detroit and occupied
 seat with 8 quiet, intelligent gentle
 man, that somehow got interested 1T
 after while, but found it hard work
 to draw out. I triel to size him up but couldn't make out whether he was decent sort of preacher, we'll be- haved commercial traveller, or some modest sort of newspaper man knew he wasn't an actor, or he would have commenced giving me hummer wind right off. The fellow knew SC much, confound it, couldn't mention subject but what he was up in. ] Dever enjoyed mans company sc much in my life but there was no use, he wouldn't give up anything.
 "We got into Chicago early in the morning, and as we actors all used to stop at the old Matteson house I in- vited my fellow-traveler up there to get something warm. After we'd had a drink, as we both needed a shave, we started for the barber shop. He got in ahead of me and got my regular barber's chair, so I took paper and waited. Then I took my time and went to chatting with Henry-that was his name, Henry Jumpertz-just as l always do to the old boys that shave me at the different places"
 "My quiet friend, who had given the name of Brown, courteously waited for me until was through, and I says to him: "Say, Brown. Henry gives a man mighty good shave, don't he ? sYes,' he replied, 'he's a splendid workman, he keeps sharp razors
 "Of course I didn't pay any atten- tion to such remark as that at the time. When we got out into the office MT. Brown thanked me for the pleas ure he had had in my company and, just as he was about leaving me, said |: MT. Florence, to be frank with you. l am detective. I have been looking for murderer I have got him. Good day, MT. Florence
 II had some engagements further west and after I had played them I came back, went to the Matteson house, as usual, started in to get shaved, looked around for Henry, couldn't find him, shouted to the boss and asked him where he was. Why, didn't you know about Jumpertz We'll, we'll, we'll! Why Jumpertz was arrested for murder fifteen minutes after he shaved and the man who had his shave ahead of you was the officer who arrested him.
 "Of course was perfectly paralyzed, but found, on inquiry; that Jumpertz had been arrested for the murder of his mistress. He was charged with murdering her, cutting her in pieces, packing her in 8 barrel and shipping her East. I never heard what become of Jumpertz, but the whole business kept running in my head ever since, and never get into 8 barber chair without I wonder if the man that's shaving me isn't another murdererl'
 "Yes," said Florence, refectively, as he resigned his seat to your correspond ent, realty am going to write bar Der story and have it published in 
 Of course all this was very interesting, but your correspondent thought 1t would be good idea to verify it, as actors are rather inclined to fiction. So I stepped over to Pinkerton's detective agency, and ascertained that Florence had told the exact truth in the matter.
 The facts are: Henry Jumpertz lived with woman named Sophie Werner. Firing of her, as it was conclusively proven, he murdered her here in 1859, cut her body in pieces and shipped the remains to Troy, N. Y. This was nnder the police administration of Superin- tendent 0. P. Bradley. He was arrested precisely as stated by MT. Florence, Who will undoubtedly be glad to get the additional facts in order to complete his story, tried and convicted twice, but on the third trial was This case came about the friendship Jumpertz had formed for another murderer then con- fined in the Cook county jail. who took an oath that, were he acquitted, he would spend half his fortune-he was man of wealtf-in securing Jumpertz's acquittal. Jumpertz's plea was that the woman committed suicide and that fear ing that he would be charged with the murder, he took this means of disposing of the remains and averting for time, at least, suspicion. MT. William A. from whom l received the facts in the matter, informed me that he last saw Jumpertz during the war, in Vicksburg, in 1862, where he was then sergeant in a regiment belonging to the regular army.