Wichita eagle., 1888-03-13
A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.
A Young Lover Kills the Object Of His
Affection and Himself.

EVANSVILLE, Ind, March 12.-Shortly
after o'clock last evening messenger
from kratzville, small village seven
miles from this city, arrived and notified
the coroner that a young man named
Richter had killed a young lady and then
killed himself at the home of the former a
mile from Kratzville. The coroner, &C
companied by several reporters, at once
went to the scene of one of the
most sensational and most horrible
tragedies that have occurred in
this county for some years
From the facts learned from the evidence
given in the testimony it seems that some
months ago there arrived at the residence
of his brother-in-law, Mr.. Lewis Richter
who has since made that his home. Sew
eral months later he became Smitten with
the charms of his victim, Miss Louisa
Schmitt, upon whom he pressed his suit.
The young lady, however, seemed to dislike
her admirer, and frequently requested him
To cease his attentions. She also notified
her father that Richter, who was her cous-
in, troubled her with his presence, and
the young man was then notified that he
must cease his attentions. This angered
Richter and he told Miss Jchmitt that
if she did not marry him she should
never be the wife OF another. This
threat was repeated upon several occa-
SionS.
This morning the young lady's father
left to attend a barn raising about a mile
distant, and while absent Richter called TO
again urge his suit. but with no success
He remained in the house until younger
sister, who was present taking care of two
Younger children, left the room for q few
moments. Richter took advantage of the
sisters al sence and for the last time asked
his victim to marry him. She refused,
and started to leave the room, when he
grabbed her by the throat and drawing a
revolver from his pocket placed it against
her head and fired, the ball entering her
head and passing through her brain.
After firing the fatal shot he placed the
pistol to his own head and fired ball into
his own brain, killing himself almost in
stantly.
Miss Schmitt lived about an hour after
receiving the shot.
The sister. who was out in the yard at
the time, heard the shots and ran into the
house finding her sister and her murderer
lying side by side on the floor in the sit
ting room. She notified the nearest
neighbors and summoned physician, who
did all he could for the wounded girl
Richter was only % years of age, and
was one of the most accomplished men of
this county, having but few years ago
completed a course of studies in Leipsic
conservatory, III Germany. He was the
son of Jacob Richter, formerly clerk of
Vanderburg county, by whose death, six
months ago, young Richter fell heir to an
estate valued at $4,000. most of which is
in some of the most desirable real
estate in the city. Last week Richter's
attorney wrote his will for him
at his request. He wrote il
in pencil and told him to rewrite it in ink
with his own hand. Richter took the will
r,-irE lint i lnp,yYo hail ar hs
copied it or not. He was of a melancholy
disposition and once before attempted sui
eide
The victim, Miss Louisa Schmitt. was
only l. years OF age, and was unusually
intelligent and handsome. She was the
oldest daughter of Mr. Fred Schmitt, and
was keeping house for her father, her
mother having died a few monthe ago.
leaving her to care for three Younger
Children