New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-30
A LOAFER'S DOUBLE CRIME.
HE SHOOTS A WOMAN FATALLY AND THEN
KILLS HIMSELF.
sIfE WOULD NOT MARRY HIM. AND HE CHASED
HER ARoEr AS lie FIREn AT HER


HER ABOUT AS HE FIRED AT HER
John Dick Menken, barber. living at No. 2es
West Northumberland. forty -fourth-st.. shot and
fatally wounded Bertha Schmidt, age twenty-one,
at her home, on the top floor Of the hat-house,
No. 4o3 West One-hundrei-an nd. forty -second-st,
and then killed himself Mrs. Schmidt was
married about four years ago, and her husband
lett her about two years ago. since which time
She has been living with her father. August
Sehreyer, comp0stOr on the Stats Zeitung.,
Menken worked for Frederick Becker as q bar
tender at No. 2,670 Eighthave., until about two
months ago. He with Becker nearly a
year. and during this period he became acquainted
with Mrs. Schmidt lie saw her almost daily
nsed to go out walking and riding with her and
fell madly in love with her. She thought we'll
OF him. but would not listen to any proposition
Of marriage, as she had not been divorced and
as her family considered Menlsen worthless
fellow.
Menken and Mrs. Schmidt did not meet often
after he left Becker's, but she wrote several
letters to him. They were found on menken's
body, but there nothing in them that bore
upon the murder or the relations between Mrs.
Schmidt and Menken. About month ago they
had a quarrel. and Mrs Schmidt refused to see
him again Her father told Menken that he
would kick him out Of the house IL he
ever found him there. Menken kept away from
Mrs. Schmidt's home but hung around the neigh
borhood.
MoRoSE AND MELANCHOLY.
For the last week he WAS drunk every day, and
acted so strangely that his friends were thinking
Of having him taken TO q hospital lie was morose
and melancholy yesterday. lie had no money
and Becker, his former employer, gave him his
breakfast and dinner. lie played cards in Beclxers
stOrc until about half past o'clock, ami he said
several times that he would never see the sun
rise again. He jumped up suddenly from the
table and told Becker that he going TO see
Mn. Schmidt, and have a tnal understanding
about their marriage. lie ran to her home, which
Was les than a half-bock away, and found her
in the kitchen preparing supper. Her brother
Otto, who IS twelve years old, was in front
room and he hurried TO the kitchen when he heard
Menken talking in loud voice.
Meuken struck Mrs. Schmidt several times in
the boys presence, and she fell upon her knees and
begged Menken not to strike her. lie said that
he would kill her unless she ran away and married
him ut once. She tried 20 explain that she could
not legally marry him, and this eXasperated him,
and he struck her upon the head with pitcher.
Young Otto became frightened and ian into tho
street screaming for help.
Me nkcn stopped beating the woman and delib-
eratcly barricadcd the doors by piling chairs and
tables against them. After yelling like maniac
several times, he took revolver from bis pocket
and opened fire on Mrs. Schmidt The first shot
made a flesh wound in her head, and she ran 20
the front Of the house 20 escape.
CHASING HER TO HER DEATH.
He chased her there and back TO the kitchen,
where he finished his work. lie sent three balls
crashing through her skull and brain, and
il Is miraculous that she did not
die Immediately. When he got through
with Mrs Schmidt he fired two shots into his
neck and head scvering the carotid artery.
Policeman Geiger heard the shots, but got to tbs
place too late TO be Of any assistance lie had
10 break down the bsFrcade 10 enter, and this
took him about half an hour and henken died
Just as he entered the room
Mrs. Schmidt WAS alive and moaning She WAS
unconscious and was quickly removed to the Man.
haitian Hospital in an ambulance. She was barely
alive at midnight. Coroner Schultz gave a permit
for the removal OF Menkens body, and IL was
removed 10 an undertaker's in Seventh.ave.
Mrs. Schmidt's mother returned home as they
were taking Mcnkcns body away, and when she
saw her daughter she was completely crazed
aud fears were expressed that she would never
bc sane again. She wanted TO end her own
life at the side OF her daughter. The neighbors
all spoke well of Mrs. Schmidt but no one could
he found who had good word 70 say for Menken,
who was chSsed as a common drunksrd.