Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-20
KILLED FOR REPENTING,
A Germans Runaway Wife Shot as She
Was About to Return.

Germans Runaway Wife Shot as She
Was About to Return.
When the steamship Elder swung out from
her pier in Hoboken at o'clock on Saturday
afternoon several of her crew were swabbing
up big pools OF blood in the steerage. A double
tragedy had been enacted there half an hour
before. Philip Ohnacker had killed Mrs
Catherine Barth and then sent big bullet
crashing through his own weak brain. Both
were dead before the pistol report had ceased
to reyerberate through the steerage.
Two children are left in Germany to mourn
the death of the woman. She has a husband
there, too, but it is not likely that he will shed
tears over her taking off, because she left him
to come here with Ohnacker The suicide was
soldier stationed at the mines and yielding
to persistent pleadings of the woman came
with her to this country, where they lived as
THE WOMAN REPRINTED.
They lived on farm near New York city,
and the woman, firing of her lover, neglected
him in many ways. She finally announced her
intention of returning home. Ohnacker tried
to change her purpose and followed her to the
steamers dock to renew his pleadings. He had
no money to purchase a ticket to accompany
her, and, driven to desperation, said she should
not SO.
For reply she walked aboard the steamship
and into the steeraSe. He followed her.
When they got down stairs his face WAS white
and set. You shall not leave here" he said to
her. unless we go together
But you have no passage ticket" she said to
him.
This will pass us, he replied. drawing 80
caliber revolver from one Of his pocket
THE DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
While the woman stood rooted to the spot
with fear Ohnacker pointed the revolver at her
and pulled the trigger. The bullet struck her
over the right eye and crashed into her brain.
Death was instantaneous.
Ohnacker then placed the muzze of his re-
Golyer against his left temple. and again a re-
port rang out OEnacker toppled over and fell
just beside the woman, stone dead.
On Ohnacker's person was found sealed let
ter In reply to one written by his brother 1t
shows that he had determined to separate from
Mrs. Barth, and. after doing 50, to commit sui
eide. The following is free translation of the
suicides letter to his brother:
APRIL 8, 1891.
DEAR BROTHER: 1 received your letter this
evening and answer Immediately You would
like to know how we travelled We left Satur-
day noon and went to Gernsheim from there
by rail to Frankfort; then to Cassel. and from
there, at IL O'Clock at night, we stole away
Dear brother, did not want to go away
You can believe me, but the woman said to me,
Either you go along or something will hap
pen" and l was stupid enough to do wrong.
have done so far only what Mrs. Barth has
told me to do, and it will be my death.
In two or three weeks / shall be buried in
America like a wild animal. and Mrs Barth
will be glad and joyful at home l cannot
say anything, because l should be treated like
dog, SO 1 am quiet and bewail my sorrowful
lot.
On the Goth Of April my time will be up, and
on the 9th shall be dead. She often scolded
me because did not want to go.away. had
none of my savings when left you, but she
told me to go to you for money. Now it is all
over, and have only what 1 earn and few
rags to clothe me.
Dear brother, You do not need to forgive me.
/ shall die like wild animal shot down in the
wilderness. No one will know nv grave. What
l foretold to you in the depot in Mayence is
coming true now. grieve that must cause
you 50 much sorrow.
Your dear brother,
PHILIP OHNAcKER
P. S.-Dear brother, don't write any more.
Ohnacker was about thirty-six years old and
fine looking. Mrs. Barth was comely blonde
about thirty-two.