Evening journal., 1891-09-01
DEAD IN AN OLD WELL
An Aged Couple Foully Muir.
dered Near Hartford.
TORTURED BY FIEEDIsH TRAMPs

szr. aad Mrs. John Wilkinson, of Monroe,
Mich, BrutaIly sIaltreated and Finally
siAin--A Mob Russ Down the Heartless
szascreants and shoots Then, 20 Death.
HARTFORD, Sept. Frederick Bushen.
hagen and his wife Emily, each past seven.
", who came from Germany forty year.
ago and who lived on farm half mile
from the main road, in a secluded section
of the town of Bloomfield, west OF Hart
ford, were found Monday in an old well
on their place. The bodies showed evi
denoe 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 raped at the
door, and receiving no response supposed
the inmates were asleep. He put the COW
into the barn
Blood on tho Doorstep.
Returning by the house at Q p m. he
again called, and failing to arouse anybody
examined the outside Of the building and
found blood on a 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 a scuiile on the yard fence, and marks
in the earth led to the well where the
deceased were found.
Was the Murderer a Tramp.
II seems probable that the tragedy oc
CURED early Sunday morning, and that
the murderer was tramp who slept in the
barn Saturday night. Il Is thought that
Bushenhagen found him there Sunday
morning on going out for firewood; that
quarrel ensued, aud that the old man
was killed by blows with coupling
pin which was found near the barn. The
superstition is that the aged woman ran
out half dressed TO aid her husband On
her body there was only chemise, a skirt
and one stocking.
Dead Women Tell No Tales.
The murderer probably deemed it best
TO silence the only witness OF his crime
and Selling club he killed her There was
no robbery, and il is evident that the muir
derer did not enter the house. The officer
believe that the murder grew out OF row
caused by the old man finding the tramp
in the barn or 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
ford. lie was large man. heavily built
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 Connecticut regiment.
As age came on he had not been able to dc
much on his little farm, and the couple
were very poor. A handbook was found
on the table in the house showing fifty
dollars on deposit in the Hartford Savings
bank
Two Men Arrested.
The selectmen Of Bloomfield held a meet
ing and voted 20 offer a reward Of 5000 fot
the capture Of the murderer This Is the
largest amount a town can offer under the
law Two men have been arrested One
was caught in the town Of Bloomfield by
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 In
the Hartford county Jail
The man arrested in Windsor was a
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