The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-22
SLAIN BY HER HUSBAND.
Chris Schroeder Almost Beheads His Wife
and Then Cuts His Own Throat
paily Sentinel, May 1871

Raliy Sentineis lddS io-I
An awful tragedy occurred yesterday morn
ing between and o'clock on Shelby-st.
At the hour mentioned Chris Schroeder, who
has for several years operated grocery and
saloon at 2Sl Shelby-st, in fit of frenzy cut
his wife's throat from ear to ear and ended his
own life by slasbing his throat with razor.
Mrs. Mary Re6ewasse, a neighbor living at
200 SheIby-st-, was the first person to receive
an intimation that Schroeder was engaged in
butchering his family Mrs. Redewasse was
passing the grocery and saw Schroeder sitting
on the steps. As she approached he muttered
to himself. 'I've fixed her all right and now I'll
fix myself. and the baby can go TO the orphans
home"
Mrs Redewasse was horri1ed to see Schroeder
holding a small razor covered with blood in his
hand, and that his neck was bleeding fearfully
from several slashes across his iugular. She
called for help.
Schroeder then jumped to his feet, and, giving
his throat another slash, started south on a
hard run, muttering and groaning. Reaching
a commons about two hundred yards from his
saloon he gave his throat third slash, which
ended his career in short time. Several per-
sons, attracted by Schroeder mad antics, rushed
to his assistance. The razor then hung nerve
lessly in his grasp and, though he was dying fast,
II was clear TO be seen, from the horrible roll
ing of his eyes, that the man had been but a
few minutes before raving maniac. He was
carried to the back part of his store, where he
expired shortly after 6 o'clock.
Within few feet from where he was, lay the
body of his wife, Mrs. Katharine Schroeder,
whose head almost completely severed
from her body by one sharp, clean cut of a
razor. A little after o'clock, Mrs Schroeder
came down stairs, bearing her year-old-ehild in
her arms, and entered the bar-room, where her
husband was at work. Not dream
ing of any harm, her soul was sent INTO
eternity with the swiftness and suddenness of
the most instant death Her husband slipped
out from behind the bar and walking deliber-
ately up 10 her drew the keen edge OF the razor
across her throat. The unfortunate woman did
not utter a sound, but, letting her baby fall,
reeled and fell TO the floor. She was dead in
i've minutes. When assistance arrived the lit
tie baby, whose name is Otto, and who was
exactly one year old yesterday, was found sit
ting on the floor beside his mother, crying pitt
fully. immediately after Staying his wife
Schroeder rushed from the room to the outside,
where he ended his life.
Schroeder was a native German and was the
same age as his wife, thirty-six years. He was
undoubtedly insane, an insanity commission
declaring him 10 be OF unsound mind several
months ago. As no record was made of the
case, by special request he was never removed
to the insane asylum, his friends sue
ceeding in getting him TO 90 TO
the French Lick springs for treatment,
where ne remained Tor about month. His
trouble, however assumed more pronounced
form after his return, and at the request of has
wife, George Hereth. friend OF the family,
consented to sleep with Schroeder. Hereth was
with him Sunday night and left him in a very
calm state of mind 1t is thought. however,
that secretly Schroeder objected to Hereth's
presence, and in his infiamed condition OF
mind imagined that there was a conspiracy be-
tween Hereth and his wife to work him harm.
This was probably the direct cause of his act.
Schroeder has been very crazy about his
money, giving away ten-dOllar bills TO acquaint-
ances and setting cans of money on the outside
of the house, offering as excuse that he
didn't want the money about the house. His
insanity was probably hereditary his brother
Augustus, suddenly disappearing one day
about ten years ago after acting very strangely
for time. He was never seen afterward.
The little boy will be taken in charge by the
German orphan asylum authorities. The
funerals of the deceased will occur Sunday
afternoon.
The servant girl gives graphic account of
the tragedy. She was attracted by the sound
of a scuffiing in the room. Schroeder would
undoubtedly have killed the baby had he not
heard the girl approaching. He rushed out
the front door as she came in at the back. She
uttered a scream as she beheld the CHASTITY
sight. and, rushing out into the alley, cried to
Dearinger hurried into the room and there be-
held the murdered woman lying on the floor in
pool of blood. Dearinger drew the child from
under the mother and took it TO a neighbor.
He says it was a terrible sight, and one that he
will never forget