Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-09-01
IANGLBD CORPSRS
OF N Aged Couple Found In
N Old Well.
Probably Killed BY Z Tramp, Whose
IotiYe Is UnknCN.
Tewn Of Blssmfleld Intensely Excited
Over Horrible Affair.

HARTFORD, Conn, Aug. 3l.-A murder
more 6endish than any in the annals OF
crime in Hartford county, was committed
in the town Of Bloomfield at An ss,ly hour
yesterday morning. Henry Frederick
Rnshenhagen, sged 50, and his wife Emily,
aged II were killed by tramp whom they
h,d given shelter. He frightfully msu-
lated their bodies and threw the bleeding
corpses into an old we'll. When the
fesrful crime vas made known the
excitement in Bloomfield vss intense.
Men hunted through the adjacent woods,
intent on spnrehending the assassin, but
without avail. The mprder was suspected
last night, but not until this morning were
the bodies found. Dwight NeWbsrIy. &C.
compsrisd by James Ryan. both neighbors
Of Bushenhsgens, visited .hs farm for the
purpose Of investigating They saw signs
Of q struggle in ,he barn yard. and noticed
the curb Of q little well ten feet away was
not IN place. Going to the we'll New
berry saw at the top Of the slimy. bloody
stained water the corpse Of the aged farmer.
Near The dfstolted face he saw the feet Of
Mrs. Bushenhsgen. When the murdered
couple we're taken from the we'll an txami-
ns,ion was made Of the bodies. On Mr..
Bushe nhagen's head were four large
wounds, probably made with q coupling
pin found in the yard. One wound Was
rec inches long and the skull was csushed
to depth of four inches. On Mrs. Bush
enhagen's head we're Eve wounds. every
one Of which crushed the tkull. These, il
is believed, were made with an axe. Rob-
berry Was not the motive. 10 the house this
morning there was no signs OF ransack.
About S25 were found, besides handbook
for $50 or more. There were no articles
missing. I.is evident that the murderer's
fret thought after placing the bodies in the
we'll was to get away from the scene.
The Bushenhagen house Is situated in .
lonely part Of the town, on road little
used. The nearest house is almost mile
distant AID any screams made by Mr.. or
Mrs. Bushenhsgen could not reach the ears
Of the neighDors. Deputy Sheriff Pinney
is Of the opioion that he is on the track OF
the murderer. He worked on the clue he
received from Mr.. Holcomb, and started at
once in pursuit The selectmen Of the
town voted to offer . reward Of 5000 for
the capture CT the murderer. Mr.. Bushen-
hagen and wife are natives of Germany,
and have resided in this country for the
past forty years. The bodies will be buried
tomorrow morning.
Louis Lauer was arrested under suspicion.
He denies having seen Bushenhsgen for
four years, but he wss positively identified
ss the man with them when they drove to
Hartford Fridsv. He was seen walking
back towards Windsor, late after Bushen-
ha gems had driven home. He had on when
arrested, different clothes frcm those
which he wore on Friday. He has been
very nj rvcus and excited since his arrest.
He has jus. finished Is months in
jail for burglAriziog the Hartford meat
market. He ard two tramps, Pat Nc
Donald and John Parker, were committed
10 jail by Juscc Spencer, the hearing be-
ing postponed until September 10 The
two last mentioned men are hslt witu
trsmps. against whom the authorizes do Dot
think they have much Of a case, although
Mcdonald had some blood on bis d. gers.
Sudden anger, af'er some request had been
refused, seems the only expisnstion for the
deed.