The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-20
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.
CHASTITY SCENE in A LINDEN
STREET BEDROOM.
C. y. Erich Found by His Wife With
a Ballet Hole In His
Head.

The neighborhood OF the Christian
Church, on Linden street, one of the
quietest and most retired in the city,
WAS the scene last Saturday night OF a
bloody tragedy as dark as the shade
which covers it after the sun gees
down. Great trees, thick with foliage,
and huddled close together, make a
perpetual shade even at midday in
that neighborhood, and at night the
scattered lamps shed their feeble
light but few feet away.
Through all the long hours OF the
night quiet reigned, but with sunrise
came the discovery of the bloody and
almost lifeless body of Mr.. Charles n.
Erich, upon bed in a room at No. 63.
The neighbors were aroused by q
cry of distress, and, rushing in, found
him lying upon his back at full length,
a bullet hole in his head, his eyeballs
bullying from their sockets, his face
stained with blood, pistol with an
empty chamber lying upon the floor
by the bedside, and the sheet and car
pet despatched with vomit. The
spectacle was enough to sicken the
stoutest of those who looked in upon
it, and its horror was increased by the
fact that the deed aud its cause were
shrouded in mystery. The wife
of the apparently dying man
was unable to throw any light upon
l.. She stated that Mr.. Fitch came
home about 8 O'Clock, and little after
her three boys, the oldest about 10
years Of age, who had been out at play,
came in, one Of them going to bed with
his father, the other two with her.
There were two beds in the room
When she awoke, early in the morn
ing, she noticed something peculiar
about the breathing Of her husband,
and getting out of bed she went over
to him, finding him with a bullet hole
in his forehead. Mrs. Erich appeared
to be greatly overcome with grief, and
all day Sunday and yesterday seemed to
be upon the verge of losing her reason.
She was entirely incapable OF aiding
in the case of her husband, who was
constantly attended by Drs. Rogers,
E-skine and Henning. They gave no
hope of his recovery. A part Of the
bullet, which pierced the brain, was
extracted, but a part remains. Late
last evening dark gray matter was
oozipg from the orifce, which is almost
in the center OF the forehead.
Mrs. Erich asserts that she heard no
unusual noise during the night, but
the boy, who slept with his father,
thinks he heard shot, but the sound
was not great enough to arouse him
thoroughly. The police, who visited
the scene early Sunday morning,
found pillow which they think, on
account of the powder stains, was
used to mufile the sound. The weapon
was an old style, rusty, 80 calibre,
Smith & Wesson.
Erich, who has resided here about
twenty-five years, ig one of the best
known dealers in queensware in the
city. He came to Memphis from Ger
many without a dollar, served his
time as compositor in the
APPEAL Office, lived frugally and
saved a little money. He was
afterward employed in W. N. Hunts
queensware house, and during the
war purchased his stock with
money left him by an uncle who died
in Holland, and continued the
business in his own name. He thrived,
and unless he has squandered more
money than his acquaintances believe
he has he should have handsome sum
laid by. His wife, whom he married
in Germany, comes of a good family,
and enjoys the confidence and esteem
Of her neighbors. When she arrived
at Memphis bride, her husband
took up quarters with her at the Pea
body, and though she was unable TO
speak word OF English che managed
to make plenty of friends by her nat
ural graces and her engaging manners.
Erich grew insanely Jealous, and in less
than a month beat her shamefully,
becoming 80 outrageously cruel that
he was threatened with punishment
by the other guests, and finally or
dered out by the proprietor. There
were months at q time when they
seemed to be on the most affectionate
terms, and when this was the case
they were frequently seen on summer
Sundays promenading with the chill.
dren in tho woods near the city. And
then for long period he would lapse
into cruelty, his i'll treatment OF his
wife being the gossip of the neighbor-
hood. She was modest in her de.
meanor, though she dressed well and
spent several hours a day driving
about in her phseton. Her father
died recently and left her a consider.
able sum. Whether with truth or moi
it cannot be said, but for long time
past common rumor connected Erich's
name with that of the famous Adeline
Yates, better known as Nine. Clarke
from the fact that she was the
mistress of the late F. II. Clarke, the
builder Of the marble block. She hat
for many years been conspicuous
figure on the streets, appearing
on the most crowded thoroughfareI
with her masque like face powdered
and painted, her figure clothed in silk
and satins and her person blsziDg witt
Jewels. Itis reported that Erich visit
| ed her Saturday, but she was at thu
time entertaining another one OF he
admirers and refused him admittance
whereupon he drank more wine thar
was good for him and went home anC
took bis life. She denies this state
ment ellphatically, substantiating i
by refer nee to President Hadden, wht
had he arrested at Mrs. Erihc's re
quest fOout a year ago, sifted th,
whole natter, found nothing to feet
Mrs. Ell chs jealousy and discharged
her. he says that Erich used Il
visit bsr sister Louisa about tire
years 40, but since her death she ha
not seen him. 1t is known that Mrs
Erich vas in the habit Of driving b,
the house OF the negress nearly ever.
day, and that ON Saturday last sh
went to lawyer TO prepare bill 70
divorce,
At ale Wounded Mans Bedside.
At ] o'clock last night an APPEA
reporter called at the residence of MI
Erich, No. SO Linden street, and wa
admitted to the bed chamber wher
the shooting occurred and where tn