The Indianapolis journal., 1883-08-29
And Terminates His Own Three-Score-and-
Ten Years of Existence by
His Own Hand.
An Unsuspecting Eye Witness Re-
ceives Probably Fatal Wound.
The Deed Committed Almost on the Thresh-
hold of a Court of Justice-Story
of the Crime.

Zapf shot Christopher Mucho and immediately
afterward killed himself by firing bullet
through his head. Only two weeks ago Edward
Schissler stabbed his wife with butcher-knife
and then shot himself through the head, dying
instantly. In both cases the victims of the at
tempted murders survived and are still living,
but the tragedy which occurred yesterday,
in which Jacob Altenblrger killed Jabob Busch,
and then committed suicide by sending a bullet
through his own head, besides accidentally and
probably fatally wonnding Samuel Campbell, is
more appalling in its results. Although the
tragedy executed with seeming delibera-
tion, 1t is evident that it was committed in
fenzy of evaporation. And while it has few of
the sensational elements found In the motives
of premeditated crime, it is q real tragedy, and
one OF a very shocking kind
THE PARTIES TO THE TRAGEDY.
The trouble between Atenburger and Busch
began several months ago, and the feeling be-
tween them under the spur of petty aggrava-
tions from both sides,s grew more and more
bitter. Both were old men, but they were not
too old to hate and from the spirit OF a growing
hatred they have several times In the last few
months indulged in small auarrels. Atenburger
was seventy-one years old. and by nativity was
a German. He has lived IN this city for many
years, and for a long while his occupation was
and has lived during the last few years upon his
income from the rental of several small pieces
of property. Busch about fifty-five years
old, and his occupation that of collector.
In the pursuit of his business he was brought
into relations of some intimacy with Altenburg-
er and made some collections OF rent for him.
From the acquaintance brought abont in this
way kind of friendship sprang up between the
twOmen-a friendship which seems TO have been
a matter OF business with Busch, and with Alien
burger it was the outgrowth OF yearning for
sympathy. HIS domestic relations at the time
were of a very unhappy nature. 1t was his sis-
position to be communicative about his troubles,
and Busch was patient listener He gave the
sympathy which Altenbu-ger was craving, and
was believed to be loyal friend.
DOMESTIC TROUBLES.
On Aug. IL, 1882, Altenburger applied for
divorce from his wife. The complaint stated
that he was married to her July 10, 1862,
and had lived with her until MAY IL, 1882. 1t
was during the period OF separation prior to the
application for divorce that Busch and Alien
burger were on the most intimate terms, and in
the troubled state Of mind of the latter he
was soothed and approved, Just as he
desired to be. AltenburGers complaint, in the
application for divorce, stated that his wife had
TOUR children at the time he was married to her,
but there had been no children from the result
of their union. At the time of his marriage he
had accumulated property to the value of
$4,000 His wife possessed nothing, and, al
though an invalid, he had, by Industrious appli-
cation to business, supported the four children
as members of his family. He alleged that he
had been treated cruelty and inhumauly, the
children having in the last five years
peatedly called him very harsh names
and addressed him in opprObriOus language
They had tried to force him 70 transfer
take his life. He alleges that he finally in
Inundated into deciding to his wife real estate
valued at $4,000, besides giving her 1900 IN
cash. His treatment afterward, he alleges, be-
came even more cruel, and it became necessary
for HIM 10 abandon his home. In her answer 10
the complaint Mrs. Atenburger denied "each
and every material allegation" and claimed that
she had done much toward earning the proper
ty held in Atenburger's name by keeping
boarlers and doing other work in addition to
domestic duties, during the twenty years of
their married life She asked alimonv fn~ So
500, calming that the value of the real eState
and personal property ofAltenbnrger was 81, 900.
The divorce was granted and, although no ali
transfer of property which had been made to
Mrs. Altenburger prior to the separation. For
his devotion during divorce trouble Altenburger
In gush OF gratitude, gave Busch his prOmis-
sorry note for $780, which was executed in Oc-
tober, 1882. From the date of the note the be-
ginning of the trouble between the two men
may be traced Altenburger began TO think that
Buschs friendship had been rather expensivetO to
him.
THE PRICE OF FRIENDSHIP
The sum was rather large one to the man
who had labored hard at small wages for all that
he had accumulated by sef-denying
frugnlty, and when he began to figure on the
cost and profit of Busch's friendship, the soOth-
ing-syrup which had been generously poured
over the troubled heart somehow, in the absorp-
tion, came in contact, also, with gall, and the
sweetness of the purchased sympathy became
embittered. 1t was not long until there was a
breach between the two men. When Busch
presented the note for payment Altenburger was
not ready to meet the demand He
procrastinated, and, finally, refused to
pay s, for It it, az all Russn snI then brought
court, and on the oath of last February was
given Judgment for $40. The q0te had been
given without Consideration, and It was ONLY
upon evidence that Busch had rendered some
service to Altenburger in making rent colIec-
tions, that he was given judgment FOR anything
Busch became very indignant and threatened
TO appeal the case, but failed to do until after
the time had elapsed. Having permitted the
time for appealing TO pass without taking action
he became even more indignant. However,
he obtained from the justice transcript of the
Judgment for the purpose OF fling 1t in the
county clerks office, that it might become
lien upon the property OF AltenDurger, who
was transferring all his real estate to u second
wife TO escape liability. Altenburger declared
that Busch should not get his money, and al
though the costs of the suit were paid, he did
not satisfy the Judgment,
From the bad blood thus engendered between
the two men grew the spirit of "getting even"
In one of their quarres over the note, before the
suit was brought by Busch. Altenburger In a
rage said to him: 81 have found you out You
nothing but swindler and thief" This
quarrel occurred on the 5th day of February
and in the presence of John Walker.
After he had been defeated in
realizing upon the note, Busch decided to make
this cudrge lno iouHuallOh "A elduuer sulC
against Altenburger. and the papers in the case
were filed on March 2, 1883, In which Judgment
as asked Tor $4,000 on account of sanderous
ana damaging accusations that he "a
ewindler and n thief" It is shown by the court
documents that the answer OF Altenburger was
made on the 9th of May. hy his attorney, James
A. Dryer, in which the allegations are denied
The slander suit has been n harrow to the irrita-
BILE nature OF Altenburger, and 1t has kept him
IN ferment of anger.
ALTENBURGER ANGERED.
Yesterday Alteuburgsr was drinking nut mot
TO excess. His animosity for Buscn, however,
was heated up aud he started ont to find him.
Busch, during the morning. had been about the
Jaw Office of Frank NJ WRIGHT