St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-22
A Prominent Citizen Of Omaha Arrested
on Suspicion of Killing His
Own Wife,
Whom he Shoots in the Dark, Alleging
That He Mistook Her for a
Burglar.
Intense Excitement Prevailing Over
the Mournful A fair in the South
ern Prairie City.
Causeless Assassination Of an Aged
Virsin1an on Quiet Country
Highway.
Omaha's Sensation.

Special to the Globe.
OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 21.-John W. Lauer
shot and killed his wife, Mrs. Sarah Lauer,
at 2:30 o'clock this morning in his own
house. Lauer claims he mistook Mrs.
Lauer for burglar. The total absence Of
witnesses and the fact the couple have had
stormy matrimonial career. however,
have given rise to an overwhelming popular
belief that the shooting was clear case of
murder of the most cold blooded SORT Ac-
cording to Lauer he was awakened
by noise at 2:30 o'clock and arising
on his left elbow in bed, reached quickly
for revolver, always placed there previous
to retiring for the night At the same in
slant, glancing to the lower end of the
room opposite the foot of the bed, he saw a
figure advancing through an open door.
Leveling his revolver without uttering
word, he fired. The human form fell to
the floor with heavy sound. There was
no cry, no exclamation. Turning to the
left, Lauer then. for the first time, discov-
cred that his wife was
NOT IN BED.
and then his horrible mistake flashed upon
him. When the neighbors assembled in the
house, Lauer was found holding the dead
body of his wife and moaning, ''Sallie.''
''Sauie." The bullet passed clean through
Mrs. Lauer's head, entering at the right side
OF the nose. A coroner's inquest was held
on the case this afternoon and verdict re-
turned binding Lauer over to the grand
jury, but declaring there was no testimony
to show malicious intent on his part.
Later in the day Deputy Sheriff Croweu
swore out a warrant charging Lauer with
murder in the first degree, and upon this
Lauer was again arrested, but released by
the district judge on S15, 900 bail. This, it
is claimed, is a direct violation of the
statutes, and Lauer probably will be re-
arrested. Laue-s history and the facts in
their matrimonial career, which give rise to
strong
SUSPICION OF MURDER,
are as follows: Lauer came to Omaha seven
years ago from Toledo, o. He was em-
ployed by the Omaha Nail company as a
journeyman. but was afterwards promoted
to be superintendent In 1882 he took
lodgings with an old lady named Mrs. Julia
Goetchus, whose daughter. Sarah, was con-
sidered one of the handsomest girls in
Omaha. Lauer fell in love with her, and
Sarah Goetchus became Mrs. Sarah Lauer
in May, 1888. Within a month or two
after the marriage Lauer began to evince
an almost insane jealousy of bis
wife, and on various occasions shamefully
abused her. Thanksgiving day, 1883, he
beat her with turkey, and the following
Christmas beat her so severely that she was
laid up in bed. Shortly afterward she left
him and went to live with her uncle, T. E.
Her. Lauer induced her to return three
months later, and they have been living to-
gether since, but according to the neighbors
unhappily. There is great feeling against
Lauer in the city, and all classes express
the opinion that he should be hanged.