New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-31
AN OLD WOMAN MURDERED.
DAVID HAMPTON. A MICRO, SUSPECTED.
MRS. A. AHRENs. THE VICTIM. WAS WIDOW
LIVING AT no. 424 WEST FIFrY-FoURTH-ST.

A.
LIVING AT NO 424 WEST FIFrY-FoURTH-sr.
A covardly murder, the motive for which doubtless
was robbery was committed Oh Thursday night In
.hn Old frame tenement house No. 421 West Fifty
fourthst Mrs Anneth Ahrens, widow seventy
seven years old and nirm with the weight OF years
cgho had lived alone in the second floor Of
,he house was lullcd in her sleep. Her throat was
cut from ear to The crime was not discovered
uutil nearly noon yesterday. Mrs. Janet Curtis. a
coloec woman living on the third floor, went down
staips and noticed that the door Of Mrs. Ahrens's
Kitchen was opeu. Mr.. Ahrens was not In sight and
da not respond to Mrs. Curtlss calls Thinking that
something was wrong she went to call Nicholas
Ahreps the widows brother IN law, who lives few
doors away at No. 40 West Fifty fourth s.. lie wa
At home when the woman reached his rooms and
followed her 10 the home Of his sisterinaw.
Entering the 0edIoom, he saw many articles OF
o,otdnn living In disorder OF the noor and the bed.
He thought at first that Mrs Alrens had left the
place but when he pul,d aside some Of the clothes
on tho bed he saw her body lying there. From deep
cash ia the old Widows throat blood had nowcd over
The pillow sheet and mattress. There were no signs
Of struggle.
Ahrens went out Of the room quickly TO look for
n policeman He found Patromcn FELTON, and
Townsend OF the West Forty-seventhst. squad and
told them OF his discovery They went into tie
house On a wsshstand, about four feet from the
he'd they found the knife with which the murder had
bean
abont five inches long ard sharp. There was
bloos on the blade and upon tie wooden handle A
hss,n with bloody water Ia ii Oh tile stand, show
In, that the murderer haG washed his hands after
committing the crime.
tn. disorder IN Cle bedroom and In the Kitchen
showed Chat the murderer had made a search FOR
plumber. He lad forced his way into the Kitchen oy
prying open the door with iron bar.
Police Captain Dcvery absent on sick leave
vben a report Of the murder maAe, but Sergeant
Kear and Detectives Glernen and Mains began an In
yesday.tion ana sent for a coroner They consulted
Nicholas Ahrens and questioned the inmates OF the
bonso where the murder had been committed without
he,ns able to ascertain If the bloody knife found had
ho,on rcd Ia the murdered woman. The womans hus
hsnd pllip A.rens. who Gied three years ago, had
laen a well tJ-do grocer. Ne owned tho house In
which she WAS hci and also had property in Brook
lyn Tie tenementhouse IS roolcTy, four stories
n,s with ones,o-y extension IN the rear There
Is a carpenter shop TIE ground floor Two colored
families live In the extension. Mrs Curtis and her
family occupy all the rooms the third floor OF the
hons. and the top floor IS vacant Mrs. Ahrcns,
st1er her husbands death, lived alone in two front
rooms Oh the second moor
Ms Abrers's brotLerin-aw wished to have 8 settle
r.nt o, the estate because Philip Ahrens had died
without children, and a suit for such settlement was
nsrn IN she cyays but the old woman would not con-
snnt IA any division Of the property, saying that
ell belonged 20 her. She had been widow bef0re she
had married Philip Ahrcns and she had a SON.
Dietrich Muller who Is driver and lives IN West
sixty-second-st. Muller had not seen his mother
lately but he had been good terms With her and
had taken 10 part In the suit for the division Of the
property.
Abous two weeks ago Mrs. Ahrens vas away from
home tor f.w hours one day Upon hor return she
was surprised TO find that o cocred man and bis wife
had msved into room OF tie second floor u the
htue As she had not agreed to let tie room 70 any
BODY she den andod TIE ng Of the invasion Tie
negro said he was David Hampton and had been sent
10 The house by Mrs. Ewing, cciored widow, from
whom ne previously had hired rooms at No. $50 West
TKr -thid.st. Later Mrs. Ahrens went 10 see Mrs.
Ewiar, in Fifty third ST. and was told that Hampton
VS. = Or nnen loatcr no had been turned ont u the
house by Mrs. Ewing because 10 would not pay me
rent. Mrs Ahrens told Hampton and Ills wife that
they must leave her house, hut they refused TO &c.
The negro made promises 10 pay the rent OF the ROOM
but Mrs. AArens could not get any money from him
on Sunday Mrs. Ahrers went to see Mrs. Living
again. and met william Holmes ard bis wife In BITS.
Ewlns's rooms The Old woman was in tears. she
SAD that she had been robbed by Hampton OF SsA'
ana was ah.id he would Kill her. She lad been In
bed on SATURDAY night, she said, and had heard
Hampton ard rs VIE TALKING their room on the
other side Of te wooden partition. Hampton had
sad: al have got tie old ladys money and am going
away. II she says anything ABOUT Pn cut her
thrC at AID sna j ler skGu.'
Mrs. Ewing and Holmes advised tho Old y?nsn 10 10
station to mako complaint. The poneo staa hey
would try to ind Hampton, cut advised her % 60 20
the lorkville Police court and get a warrant. sHe
went to the court, but She failed 70 eet ne ~sin
HAMPTON kept out Of the way, and bl, wHe ieIt
the house early IN the week. II said lle was
Informed that lhe old woman had set the police on
lis track Holmes William Jackson, one on
Hanp,on's csones, f.w day ago and re'naiK,d
fha' the p-Nce after Hampton
HYes know Hampton eot his lsndlsdy's money
Jackson Is said have replied, "i,r helped INN 70
spepd some OF It IN a liquor store tho other nlgnt.'
When Holmes a'd his wife and Mrs.. Ewing heard
that Mrs Ahlens Lad been murdered Yesterday Ihey
expressed their belief that Hinpton had hIed hcr;
and thew said lie ought TO be arrested. general
alarm, directing search for tie negro In every par.
Of the city, was out from Police headquarters
last night. a.. - .,-
The body Of Mrs. AhreDs was perIn)tte1 10 renlI
in the room where she murdered Coroner having
failed 10 appear theTc with permit for liz removal
Il was said that tie old wOman's death would per,
nit a division o. the property, in which she had he'd
life Interest, but 10 member 81 the AErens IaiiHy
was suspected OF completely in the murder. $3.50
"Thefe Is no room I?r doubt that negro !l LILO
the old woman" ole Of the dctectves said and when
We catch lin there viii be evidence enough to convict
him"