St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-10
ALL THREE ARE DEAD.
An Olmsted County Farmer
Kills His Wife, Babe and
Himself.
He Used a Hammer for Mur-
der and a Razor for Sui
eide.
Neighbors Storm the Doml-
eile and Discover the
Coppses.
Forty Head Of Stock in the
Murderer's Charge Near
ly Starved.

SDecials to the Globe.
MAZEPpA, Mimi, May 9.-The most
horrible tragedy ever enacted IN this sec
ton of the country came TO light to-day,
when neighborS Of Constantine Schatfer
forced entrance TO his house, some
miles east of here, and discovered the
dead bodies of husband, wife and child.
The scene Of the double murder and
suicide was on the live stock farm OF w.
Hafschltz of which Schatfer was ten
ant, situated three miles east, on the
Lake City and Mazeppa road. The
house is nice farm cottage and is sur
rounded by q thick grove of maple
trees. The murder was committed IN
the bedroom on the right side, and was
terrible in all particulars. The last
time SehafGer and family were seen
alive was last Saturday, when they were
in the village doing their weekly trad
ing and attending to other matters
of business. The neighbOrS having
neither seen nor heard anything
OF them since that time, to-day forced
entrance into the farm house and the
sight that met their gaze was most .ap-
palIing. In the back room lay The
bodies of husband. wife and child, all
cold and stiff, in pools OF blood, and
blood all over the floor and walls. The
wife was in her night robe, and evil
IDENTIFY was in bed when she was at
tackled, as the bed clothing gave evil
dence of Il terrible struggle for lite.
The murderer oyerpowered her and
killed her with
A Blow From a Hammer
over the right temple. After killing
her the murderer pounded her head
almost TO a jelly with the hammer and
dragged her to the bed room door. Tier
body presented horrible appearance,
with her hair streaming down and
matted with her life's blood. Schaf-
fer then took the sleeping child from its
cot and it shared thetate of the mother.
The murderer theu went into the
kitchen, and with a razor attempted his
own life. He failed TO so end his life
with one razor and procured another,
with which he cut his throat from ear
to ear. He then staggered back INTO the
bed room, where his dead wife and child
Law. ana threw himself down on their
bodies with his arms around them. He
evidently labored hard to get back TO
the bed room, as the blood tracks Oh the
floor indicate great unSteadlneSS. Blood
was found in pools all over the kitchen,
on the stove, WoOdOOX, and all over the
door. sashes and walls. The murderer
must have committed the crime shortly
after retiring Saturday night, as ap-
pearances indicate that his wife
had gone to bed and he still!
had his clothes and hat, but had pulled
off his boots and socks. Schatfer had
alwayslived very happily with his fam
ily, and although reckless at times, he
was generally steady and industrious.
and seemed of pleasant disposition.
He was married two years ago, and his
Wife's maiden name was OLeary. and
she came,here from Znmhrota. The little
child. which was only year old, was
very handsome little girl and the per
of both father and mother. His relatives
say that he was never known to DO any
thing brutal, and any accident or sight
of blood would make him sick and faint.
and that he must certainly have COM
mitted the crime while laboring under
Fit of Temporary Insanity.
The forty head Of horned stock of
which he had charge were nearly dead
from hunger and thirst, and presented
a pitiful appearance as they moaned for
food One valuable mare was unable
to rise and cannot survive. hundreds
of people are going out to view the re-
mains and surroundings of the tragedy.
as the news has already spread for
miles. Coroner Gengnagel. OF Wabasha,
arrived this evening, and will hold an
INQUEST over the three bodies tonight.