New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-19
KILLED IN THE STEERAGE.
A MURDER AND A SUICIDE ON THE ELDER.
AN IMMIGRANT SHOOTS THE WOMAN HE HAD
LIVED WITH AS SHE WAS ABOUT
TO LEAVE HIM.

yesterday and the act was followed by the suicide
of the murderer. Some time in March Nrs
Catherine Barth became tired Of her husband
and two children and transferred her aheeuons
to Philip Ohnacker, who is believed to have Deen
soldier Both lived at Gimpsheim, Germany
They eloped and came TO this country, where the
man secured work on farm five hours from News
York. Where this farm Is no one has thus far
been able to learn From letters that have been
found it appears that the life of the couple was
not pleasant, and that the woman had become
tired of her second choice. She had determined
to return to Germany. Ohnacker insisted on
going with her.
About IL 80 yesterday Ohnacker and Mrs
Barth boarded the Bremen steamship Elder Mrs
Barth had ticket for her passage in the steerage
The name inscribed on it was Mrs Catherine
Ohnaclxer Ohnacker had no ticket. Both looked
excited, and had the appearance OF having quar-
relied before boarding the ship. Ohnacker talked
rapidly in German to the woman, and appeared
to be entreating her TO do or not TO DO some
particular thing. The woman refused to do what
he wanted and as they entered the steerage OF the
vessel Ohnacker was heard 10 say, You must,
and tie woman replied in dOgged manner Il
will not.'
The words were scarcely uttered when the other
passengers in the steerage saw the man draw a
42-caibre revolver hastily from his pocket and dis
charge it at the left side Of the womans head just
over the temple With moan she fell to the
floor n corpse Hardly had the woman sunk to
the floor when again the revolver was fired, and
bullet was sent into the brain Of the murderer
He had shot himself behind the right ear.
OhnaclSer was dead by the time he fell.
The tragedy caused CONSERVATION among the
steerage passengers, and they made rush for
+bo ttl,o Of tba ehi in
and then the police were informed The dead
bodies were removed to the morgue Of
Coroner Parslow, and the ship almost
Immediately afterward sailed. 1t could
not be ascertained yesterday whether any baggage
belonging to the dead man and woman was on
board. When searched by the Coroner, the only
clew, to the identity found. were the subjoined
letters, which were given to DR.. Helfer who had
been summoned TO the ship os soon as the murder
and suicide were known. The woman looked to
be about thirty years old. She was plain in ap-
| pearance and unattractive. Ohnacker seemed to
be about her age, and gave evidence OF having
| been fine-loOking man. He wore dark Deard
and mustache Coroner Parslow had not deter
mined last night what he would do with the
| bodies
Gimpsheim, March 27, 1891
Dear Brother received your letter on the 2lst
of March by the look in your eyes tha tSo you
sorry when left You You surely gGo th0%ss %s mofe tqS that
could again & knew tGS that ygS SaHs Hsd S 6S9
such circumstance You were too weak; ! 9lUsys ys
thought you would better yourself, but coula @ NOT
WdHd Say been Sscr 4a6 % 1a IN
trouble and made it unpleasant for me and my family;
hear from you II often told You things you did not
Ike yom must acknowledge was right. ~. 80.
man rOuI with tn his tSo children, to show them
| TO me. They are tMo , chiIdren % nust have
heart Of iron could not help him and A., we od ma
10 cry Dear brother you have Written Z taat oa TS
do not think that you should make eparst0n 1ar
God csp9Ot Sys & Re it, SOH n qfs e Re next ms
send you your clothing, although you IN" peiS i5ng ~
time to Hd get then then at Teq mother yGS% % da she thought
| much OF you She always said to US that you "ouu
uo We We were asked only once By the police about you
and then we were not bothered any more ,f Barth arm
does not want 70 hear Of his WE c0nS any mot have stood
It long You have written that ho S4Sna [1aes st9 70
RSye %y cousin anThRns R1TeF to OF do @ t. @ lie e5
that he and Elite have received N.,1, oioet iaelr
iIsy keen everything to myself and when anyone asks
me about you do not know any,hng' ~ @ - no% sre
time for planting We arc all well and So NOPE {4% PI aro
' p. 81 am too busy now to get your things from
Maenz, but when have time VIII get them aiu Seiiu
| them on.
Written evidently in reply to this letter was
the following from Philip Ohnacker
VIM April 8, 1891:
Brother Fceyyed ySaT y%aHs etSc Tier @ 9 Know syeP1S R6S
s saturday 4RSG 10 nOS1 3s spd anG %enS ro@
s TO O'clock at g Se We Go so AWAY Dear
brother, / did not want TO go away, you
can believe me, but the woman s0GotnnS s@a 70
%f 9 apo6 GeSr and was stupid S0e eougS to do
have done far only what Mrs Barth tod tod me eo SS
! will be buried in America like Wild animal and
| Mrs Barth will be glad and joyful at home can
| vqt |
dog; therefore, am quiet and cry over my Sori'w'
the ~ 9th IN viii be dead she often scoded me be-;
cause did not want to go away had 70 m more re fI td
/ y TG1 and rot money. Now everything is over, and
have only what can earn oS6r 16 meNcG % E bs3 a2 to ask
three four times and then ne Tond t,np not ~ 40 and I'd
Last week had to myself eSy % Soa Srober eH So do do not
need 10 forgive me. will die like 2 Wild animal snot
down IN the wilderness No % one VIII d.Rc RnPT IN my Woenz Is
coming true now. l feel sorry that must cause you
50 nam am employed by German farmer receive s1t
monthly, good food coffee In the morning fresh eggs.
at as much as want M 70 & eat baye sGq R Mne 1p %
drink, than You get on farm In Germany. bnS
sn' nE jal Il tRe the ssms sam%e' a they people
many. good and bad. rich and poor; but !
tell you that prudent nn man Se See save pound Of
meat is only 90 pfennlg, load Of manure nShs ff.
calf to kill mSSS mSr peasea ia GS@ here - NJ picture yoa
| can give 10 Adam Grehel. I well and hope you
ond Tr,r Family are IN GOOD health. Kind regards 70
YOU. brother your wife and children slssr be''i7'
friends and acquantances PIT PMTLaP qfT ToRNHcKER
Ps. Dear brother don't write any more.
From the delay in mailing this letter. the & po-
| lice believe that Ohnaeker had not fuzzy deter
| nnjrod inst vhen he would make away With him
self or how. The following letter indicates this
| America, April 13, 1891.
Dear Friend Max Inclosed 7 send yOT my photo photo
ro, hin, con will hear why left that evening
last We went to GGGsRi aaS from from there S
| ~ h,ncrra like Il better here and have saved
100 marks already ] have good S 1000 oyrnims mGr1
H. roonIre / am with German family
on farm They very Kind to IN me- set aD9 ISan
| can save IN one wear 800 u 1000 marks In Germany
| one can save only 500 ptennng. -, -.
peonle don't know anything about tax-paying here
| exeept those who own real estate. F2r single man
| f- cir 1