Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-27


probably thrown up to defend herself
against her aSsailaut. she wore loose
calico wrapper. and was apparently about
to retire. waiting no doubt for her hus-
band. Tine sight Of husband and wife
was one not soon To De forgotten as they
.aV IN their home slaughtered by
iends in human shape.
The murdered man was about thirty
eight wears old and was a native Of Ger
many. he came 70 this country about
SIX years ago. first going 10 Chattanooga,
where he remained about year. when be
came % savannah. and obtained "a situa-
ton a. barkeeper with Mr.. Charles seller.
He was afterwards employed in a similar
capacity with George Oh. Gemunden and
4. Basler. By frugal habits ard strict
economy he managed To save up little
money. and about twelve months ago
bought out the store he owned at the time
If his death
About nine months ago he married
Miss Anna Nilsson. Having gained
and built up "A fair business.
and having ankJfiectionate helpmate, his
start In life seemed a success.
THE DISCOVERY.
The crime was discovered early yester-
day morning by Mr.. +. Waldner and a
cOl0red man named Marsh Fields,
vicinity. MI. Waldner went 10 the store
about o'clock To make some purchases,
and while there Fields came up. Waldner
knocked at the door several times. but re-
ceived no reply. The door was slightly
ajar and the window blinds open. \ peep
through the blinds revealed the CHASTITY
crime. The door was pushed open ami
the bodies Of both Hertel and his wife
were discovered.
INTENSE EXCITEMENT.
The Coroner was at once notified. but
before he could get out To the scene the
was aroused, and a crowd
had collected. A thorough search Of the
premises was made. when il was dis
closed that the murder had been delibe-
rately planned, the fiends making quick
work of their victims. One Of the money
drawers behind the bar was taken out Of
its place, rified and afterwards placed on
a barrel. Another money drawer looked
as if il had been tempered with,
but left on account Of the combination.
There were no signs Of any
INSTRUMENT OF DEATH
about the premises, and no traces Of blood
except around the bodies of the murdered
man and wife. From the character Of the
wounds. it was believed that the crime
was committed either with a Ratchet or
axe. or some sharp instrument Of that ma
ture.
THEORY OF THE MURDER.
From the statement Of a cOl0red boy
living in the neighborhoOd. it appears that
on Saturday afternoon Hertel engaged the
hoy 10 watch the store yesterday, as he
was going out 10 ThunderbOlt 10 buy the
AsendOrf place. where he would remove
his business. He told the boy be was TO
paw cash for the property. The SUPPOSE
ton is that the boy, highly elated over the
prospect Of attending the store went
around among his friends and neighbOrs
and told them Of the circumstances re-
garding Mr.. Hertel's prospective cash
purchase, giving the idea that he had
money in his possession. 1t
has been surmised that the murder was
committed under this impression for the
purpose of getting the money.
ACTION OF THE CORONER.
A partial inquest was held by the COrO-
ner yesterday afternoon about O'Clock,
when some seven or eight witnesses were
examined with the view Of obtaining a clue
TO the perpetrators Of the deed. but after
a most thorough examination no evidence
of a positive nature was ascertained
leading TO their discovery.
One of the witnesses. a little girl, testi-
fed that she went to the store about
O'Clock Saturday night to buy some oil,
but she was waited on by a strange party;
that she did not see Mr.. or Mrs. Hertel.
Another witness stated that she saw
Mr.. and Mrs. Hertel closing up at an
early hOur-sOmething very remarkable,
as Il had always been their custom TO
keep open on Saturday night until a very
late hour. This struck the witness as
being strange. but no particular atten-
ton was paid 10 the matter at the time
The Coroner by some means got hold of
a few facts. which in their nature led him
to suppose would supply an important
link in the chain Of this most mysterious
crime.
ARRESTED on SUSPICION.
Further inquiry into the matter de-
veloped the fact that ThOs. Horton, a
cOlored man. living in a house on the
road east Of the toll gate, had
Just pulled of a pair Of pants stained
with blood and which were found in a
tub Of water on his premises. The Coroner
took possession Of the pants, and had the
party arrested and sent to Jail to await
further developments.
\ suspicious cOlOred boy. living with
Mr.. Grimes. near the corner Of Wheaton
and Liberty streets, was visited by
the Coroner and searched, together with
his trunk He was also taken 10 Jail to
During the whole day the greatest eX-
prevailed in the neighbOrhOOd.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hertel bore an excellent
reputation in the vicinity where they
lived, and were highly respected. The
husband was recognized as an industri-
DuS. frugal and accommodating German.
while his wife was looked upon by every
lne as a faithful helpmate TO her |
husband. They commenced life together /
under many disadvantages, but by econ /
lmical management had gained a good /
start.
Mr.. +. J. Ruckert Immediately sent
Message TO Mrs. Hertels parents. who live /
It Cedar Hammock, on the City and
suburban Railway. and they will probably
lrriVe this morning.
The adjourned inquest will be held this
morning at $3.50 O'Clock at the MOrgue,
and the remains Of the victims Of the
tragedy will be inferred at Laurel Grove
his afternoon.