Connecticut western news., 1891-09-03
DEAD IN AN OLD WELL.
An Aged Couple Foully Mur-
 dered Near Hartford.
TORTURED BY FIENDIsH TRAMPa

MT. and Mrs. John Wilkinson, of Monroe,
 Mich, Brutally Maltreated and Finally
 Slain-A Mob Runs Down the Heartless
 Miscreants and Shoots Them to Death.
 HARTFORD, Sept. 1.-Frederick Bushen. hagen and his wife Emily each past seven. ty, who came from Germany forty years ago and who lived on farm half mile from the main road, in secluded section of the town of Bloomfield, west of Hart ford, were found Monday in an old we'll on their place. The bodies showed evi- dence that the couple had been murdered.
 About dark Sunday night James Ryan, . neighbor, while crossing the farm noticed one of Bushenhagen's cows wandering around the house. Ryan rapped at the door, and receiving no response supposed the inmates were asleep. He put the COW into the barn.
 Blood 06sthe Doorstep.
 Returning by the house at p. m. he again called, and failing to arouse anybody examined the outside of the building and found blood on rear doorstep. He aroused the neighbors and together they searched the house and fields, but could not find the old people. At a. m. the search was re newed. There were blood stains and traces of scuffle on the yard fence, and marks in the earth led to the we'll where the deceased were found.
 Was the Murderer a Tramp?
 It seems probable that the tragedy oc- cured early Sunday morning, and that the murderer was tramp who slept in the barn Saturday night It is thought that p,,o hoo morning on going out for frewood; that . quarrel ensued, and that the old man was killed by blows with a coupling pin which was found near the barn. The supposition is that the aged woman ran out half dressed to aid her husband. On her body there was only chemise, skirt and one stocking.
 Dead Women Tell No Tales. The murderer probably deemed it best to silence the only witness of his crime, and seizing club he killed her. There wal no robbery, and it is evident that the mur. derer did not enter the house. The officers believe that the murder grew out of row caused by the old man finding the tramp in the barn by the latter demanding money. About a. m. Sunday residents on the main road near the scene of the murder saw tramp pass toward Hart a1Oru. de was large man, heavily Ou11C, | with two weeks growth of beard, wearing overalls and dark coat, and with an over. coat thrown over his shoulder.
 The coroner has begun an investigation. At present there is no clew to the identity of the murderer. Bushenhagen served in the Twenty-second Connecticut regiment. As age came on he had not been able to dc much on his little farm, and the couple 1 were very poor. A handbook was found on the table in the house showing fifty dollars on deposit in the Hartford Savings l bank.
 Two Men Arrested.
 The selectmen of Bloomfield held meet 1 ing and voted to offer reward of $200 foz the capture of the murderer. This is the | largest amount town can offer under the law Two men have been arrested. One was caught in the town of Bloomfield by l Officer Pinney and one in Windsor by Deputy Sheriff Dick Netherington. Both answer the general description of the tramp. Officer Pinney took his man to the lookup at Bloomfield. The other is i1 the Hartford county jail.
 l The man arrested in Windsor was . l German named Louis Lauer. He said he formerly knew Bushenhagen, but had not seen him for four years He was released from jail last Wednesday, after eighteen months confinement, and was seen with
 Bushenhagen on Friday. He is believed to be the murderer.