New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-18
SHOT DOWN IN COLD BLOOD.
THE RESULT OF UNrouNDED JEALOUSY.

BROOKLYN GRoCER's ATTACK ON AN UEoFFEND-
ING MAN WHO Is LEFT DEAD on THE SIDE
WALK.
husband in Brooklyn, crazed with Jealousy,
shot down IN cold blood yesterday afternoon ths
man whom he believed to be the paramour of his
wife. The murderer is Diedrich Mshnken.
well-to-do grocer Of No. 206 Park
ave-, Brooklyn. He Is one of several
grocers Of that name brothers or cousins,
who do business in half dozen different places In
the city. His victim was Diedrich Steffens of No.
10S Wythe-ave. Stefens was about thlrty-ivs
years of age and his family is also largely composed
of Rrocep. His own business was that OF bottIins
and delivering lager beer. Yesterday afternoop
about $3.50 o'clock he drove through Park-ave., and
after delivering his supply at the grocery store Of
Carsten Sticht at Park and Vanderbilt aves., he
stepped across the street In front of Mshnken's
store to meet friend. Mahnken was standing in
front of his store and as Stefens stepped upon tho
curbstone the former drew a revolver aud fired fve
shots successfully at his victim. -Four of them
took effect In StefenSs head and face and
the other penetrated his left breast, piercing tho
lung. The wounded man made no outcry, and sank
upon the sidewalk The death pallor appeared on
his face at once, and he died IN few minutes.
The neighborhood was at once In q state OF COM
motion, and loud cries of murder" rang in the afr.
great crowd gathered about the of the
crime. Policeman O'Brien was in Vanderbilt
ave., and hearing the sound Of tho
pistol shots he went to the corner whence they
came. He saw that he could do nothing for tho
wounded man. Learning that the murderer was
in his rooms over the store the policeman, who was
in citizens clothes, went up the stairs leading To
them. At the head of the stairs Mahnken stood
with tho revolver in his hand. OBrien ordered
him to put down the weapon, and on
learning that it was policeman addressing him he
did so. He willingly accompanied the policeman TO
the street and then refused to 90 further. He was
at length persuaded to 90 to the Myrtle Avenue
Police Station. His revolver was then taken from
him. One chamber was still loaded. II was of tho
British Bulldog" pattern, similar to ths
one with which President Garfield was
shot. An ambulance surgeon was called to caro-
for the wounded man. but nothing could be done
for him and he died 10 short time.
Mahnken and Steffens had been acquantancea
and friends for years Their families were related.
as brother of the former had married the sister
of the latter. For some time until recently
Mrs. Mahnken had living with her her
niece, Miss Annie Doscher. Stenens vis-
tied at the house. and in of time fell in love
with and proposed marriage to the girl. He fre-
quenty went to the house thereafter, and they
were to be married in two weeks from now.
Mahnken viewed the increased frequency of Stef-
fens's visits to the house with suspicion and was
jealous Of the consideration his wife paid
to him. He began to believe that they
we're unduly intimate. Nrs. Mahnken endeavored
to disabuse his mind of suspicion She was fond OF
her niece and was we'll pleased with the prospect e
her marriage to Steffens, whom she regarded as
worthy young man who was prosperous in business
o.,J bue Firth than
this she had no regard for him. and endeayored to
make ner husband lay aside his unfonnded jealousy
Several times the two men came 10 open quarret9
and Mahnken declared he would Kill steftens bus
peace was kept between them for tine by Mrs:
Mahuken, who sent her niece away and requested
Steffen to stay away from the house; He did
ses aerss, i0r the street to anu MasnEsn store
only because friend called him. Mrs. Mahnken said
yesterday that her husband had not the slightess
lieved that ne out of his mind, for he had been
very queer of late. He seemed to brood over his
fanced injuries He was very much depressed -
beer with Steffens he would return and accuse bim
TO her of breaking up his home. Her husband
was thirty nine years old and they bad
family spoke highly of Mrs. Mahnken yesterday.
and said her husband had no reason 10 think hsr
Alter being taken to the Police Station the mar
derer admitted his crime to Police Captain VIZ
marth, and said he had to do II to protect his cea-
dren. lie appeared calm, tnouBu shV"hk nv
pressed excitement. He stated that no saw th9
destroyer of his home in the street. and he walked
out Of bis store to shoot him. Neither no
or Steffens spoke before he fired at him-
The wounded man felf after receiving the contents
of five of the chambers of the revolver, and Mahn-
ken walked back into his store. Stefens, he said,
had made trouble in his family for years and ne
could stand il longer. The theory Of the police
is that Mahnken was out Of his mind when he CON-
mitted the murder. He remained IN
his cell In the Fourth Precinct Police Sta.
ton last night, and will be arraigned
before Police Justice Walsh to-day. He VIII then
be committed to Raymond Street Jail to await tea
result of the inquest upon the body OF Stehens
which will be conducted by Coroner Keller,
1t is said by persons who have known Mahnksn
for years that his reputation was that OF qmet.
inoffensive man. His victim was unarmed. Steiiena
was highly regarded by all who knew him. Muea
sympathy was felt for his affianced wife.
The body Of the murdered man was removed from
the sidewalk to the Myrtle-ave. police station and
thence TO the home OF his brother at Ross-sf ana
Wythe-ave. In accounting for the fact that the
murderer left bullet in his revolver after ntsnS
1--WE at his victim it was conjecnred by the pcuoo
last evening that Mahnken might have designed
for his wife. From the sidewalk where tine shoot-
ing took place, he went directly upstairs TO ths
room where he must have expected TO md her, IN
stead of returning to the store from which ne wens
out 10 commit the murder. Mrs. Mahnken thouEhs
her husband appeared especially strange yesterday