Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-27
sHRoUDED IN MYSTERY.

The Haertel Tragedy Never UnsOIVed
and the Perpetrators of the Dark
Crime stin Beyond the Reach of
JustIce-Anniversaryo of the Crime.
A year ago yesterday one of the most
atrocious crimes ever recorded in the
criminal annals of Georgia was perpe-
trated in the southern outskirts of the
city. The Haertel murder is vivid in the
minds of every one. The brutality ex-
hibited by the authors of that frightful
double tragedy sent a thrill Of horror
through the community. At the time
it was surmised that the motive for its
preparation was the obtaining OF large
sum of money, which the Haertels were
said to have hidden away about the
premises a day or two before in anticipa-
tion Of making purchase OF a
piece of property at Thunder
bolt. Whether this was true or
not is a question which subsequent
Investigations failed to fully explain,
although it appeared that there W as money
in the store such as most keepers Of cor
ner groceries are likely 10 have as the
proceeds of their current business.
| In support of the theory that this
money was taken by the MUIR
/ derer or murderers, an empty stocking
| found in a ditch near the house and an
/ empty money drawer lying on barrel in
| the store were produced before the COrO-
ner's jury. 1t was also reported that some
| iewelry which Mrs. Haertel was in the
/ habit of wearing was missing.
| The investigation before the COro-
ner was finally concluded on Sept. 10,
| the jury having sat sixteen days, when
| they returned their verdict, charging two
negroes, Jonas Jackson and Thomas Ham
/ iltOn, with the murder, but their guilt
4 1fGf nA nd W.
finally released.
The blunt instrument with which the
| deed was done was supposed to be
hammer, which made no cash, but crushed
the victims skull, while Ratchet was
used to murder the woman. Pending the
investigation by the jury, meeting of
| the CITY Council was held, and the Mayor
was authorized to offer reward Of $3.50 for
the arrest with proof to convict the
| person or persons who were the
authors of the tragedy. On the same day
| Gov. Mcdaniel notified the city authori-
ties that he would offer another reward
| of $3.50 for the apprehension OF the
| guilty parties. Mass meetings called by
| German citizens were also held at
st. Andrews Hall, and the Indignation
of the people over the brutal crime was
| fOrciblY expressed. On the night of Sept.
u a crowd numbering about two hundred
| collected about the jail with the apparent
intention of lynching the negroes who had
been arrested on suspicion OF having been
| connected with the crime. The mob was
addressed by the jailer, who assured the
people that the parties confined there
were innocent of the crime, and that the
principals in its preparation had not
been apprehended.
The Chief of Police appeared with
strong force of men and cOunseled the
crowd not to be rash, and that when the
| guilty parties were under arrest and If
| not punished, then it would be time
| enough to act. This speech had
the desired effect. The mob retired
and no attempt was afterwards made to
| interfere with the course of law. For
many weeks all sorts of rumors were from
time to time circulated to the effect that
| the detectives would have the murderers in
| custody within a comparatively short time,
| but the public was destined to be disap-
! pointed. None of the principals in the
startling tragedy have as yet been appre-
| hended, and it seems that their names
and whereabouts are as much a mystery
| as on the morning when the terrible crime
was discovered.
The store and residence on
| the corner of Bolton street
and Waters road, where the butohery was
committed, was destroyed by fire several
| months ago, and a vacant lot is all that
remains to remind the passerby of the
dwelling place Of the murdered Haertels.