Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-22
STORY OF THE HAERTELS.
FACTS BROUGHT TO LIGHT BY
PENSION LAWYERS.

Ihe details OF the mysterious Tragedy
which was enacted on Waters road.
southeast Of the city, on the night of Aug.
b, 1888, in which Henry Haertel and his
young wife were brutally murdered, are
wildly remembered The authors Of the
erime We're never convicted. though sew
srsl parties were arrested on suspicion
bfhaying been connected with the butch
cry. and to-day the identity Of the muir
derers is as great a mystery as at the
lime when the tragedy was enacted.
Public interest in the case was re-
gived "A few DAYS ago by a report tele-
Rraphed from Columbia, ;. c.. to the
effect that Immediately after the close OF
the war q federal soldier. who gave bis
name as Joseph Pom, went to Columbia
and expressed his intention of lOcatin4
permanently there. He got along pretty
we'll, and was made "a member of the pO-
lice force. During his stay in Columbia
be fell in love with a pretty young wo
man named Mary irwin, and she married
him. Father Fullerton, of st. Peters
Church in that city performed the mar
riage ceremonies. During the following
year (lS5T) Pom called upon Father Full
lerton ana told him that he had been
MARRIED UNDER FALSE NAME.
That mis- real name was Joseph Haertel
aud the marriage certificate was accord
ingly changed. subsequently, he and his
wife separated. she went 10 her former
home in Columbia and be came to Savan-
nah and obtained employment on one o.
the New York steamers.
Robert 4. Lynch, Librarian Of the Su-
preme Court OF South Carolina, and q
member Of the Columbia bar, who has
been engaged for 4 long time as the law.
yer for Mrs. Pom. alias Haertel, to obtain
considerable amount Of money in the
shape OF unclaimed pensions which have
been accruing for Hsertel, has,
according to the report, ascertained
that Joseph Hsertel was the
man murdered in Savannah, and il ia be-
lleved that the pension money will be
obtained for the widow. nee Mary irwin.
Whether Joseph Pom alias Haertel, and
Henry Haertel were one and the same
man is question that is OF much IN
terest aside from any peculiar interest
which the woman claiming to be mis-
widow may have in the pension which, it
ts said, has been accruing.
HAERTEL FEDERAL OFFICER.
A NEWS reporter has visited a number
OF the friends Of the late Henry Haertel
for the purpose, IL possible, OF solving the
question. Among others who were seen
was Henry Sauer, proprietor of saloon
al Bay and Jefferson streets. Mr.. Sauer
bhAA ANdh ne kLtN me murdered man dnN
The woman whom he married here
quite well. He first became
acquainted with Haertel whom he thinks
he once heard saw that he had been in the
Federal army. Upon being asked If he
was sure that Haertel had made that
statement, he replied that he was. He
had no evidence, however, of the fact Of
such service.
"Do you know. whether Haertel ever
ran on a gfQamsh1p from Savannah -
Mr.. Sauer called one of the lady men,
bers OF his family. who said that
Haertel once spoke OF having been
running on one Of the steamers,
but having no special interest in the
conversation at the time, she did not learn
upon which vessel or at what time be was
so employed. She believed. however that
Joseph and Henry Haertel were
ONE AND THE SANE PERSON.
Mr.. sauer went on TO say that Haertel
was generally quite reticent as TO inci-
dents pertaining 10 his life. He was
rather quiet as well as an industrious
man, and economical in the use Of money
He had a decided taste for gardening,
and he knew be had been engaged
IN that business from the fact that ne had
frequently received letters from either
Saratoga OF Chattanooga. containing
seeds OF plants, and which Haertel said
had been written ~ q friend with whom
he was one time employed. Haertel was
very fond OF Hover and vegetable cultiva-
ton. He was a medium sized man.
about 40 years Old. win a blonde beard
and mustache. Mr.. Sauer concluded bv
saying that he had great respect for
Haertel but bad never heard him allude
20 the fact that be had been married be-
fore coming to Savannah. But II he had
been. and came here and married while
the nrst wife was living, but undiyorced
he deserved the fate he met.
The reporter then saw Mr.. Henry San
deTs, who said that Haertel came here
first from Chattanooga. Tenn. aud was
employed by George On. Gemunden, then
By Valentine Basler, and at another time
by himself. BE was employed by the lat
ter In 1879. and after being IN his service
about six months. got other work. He
had never heard Haerte say that he had
been ia the Federal service or on a steam
ship, but he knew that be disliked to
travel on the water.
HAERTEL's PERSONALITY.
Before coming to Savannah he had been
IN some kind of business with another
man at Palatka. Fla, but left the latter
place and went 10 Chattanooga, where ne
went into gardening, and for a time was
employed in "A saloon. He then came
here, where be showed great predeliction
for flowers. He was very saving with his
money, and also good natured and
easy going in his wav,
and Industrious. He used TO say 10 Mr..
Sanders that If he had money he would 20
bsck to gardening. When be was on the
Waters road Il is said that he had some
money saved and that be was about 10
buy place near Thunderbot. Probably
IN an unguarded moment be let some one
know be had money saved up FOR that
purpose.
Mrs. August Riedel, on jefferson street,
said that Mr. Riedel and herself first met
Haertel in Palatka in 1877. He then went
10 Chattanooga where he WAS engaged
with an old gentleman named Kunce. in
gardening. He came 10 Savannah after
wardss where the Ripdel's again met him
Mr. Riedel introduced bin 10 Mr. Gemun-
den and 70 Mr.. sanders. with The view Of
assisting him 10 ret something 10 do.
The Riedels knew Haerte' quite init
Inately, and were sure that be had
NEVER BEEN MARRIED BEFORE
coming 20 savannah, and that h. had not
run on "a steamship. Mrs. Rieuel sur-
gesied that her husband, who was in En-
rope, would be able to give "a better ac-
count OF Haerteps former history. but
that Mr. kunce aud Mr.. Stiefyatter both
IA Chattanooga, Tenn, knew the
deceased before be ever went
TO Palatka, and might be able q