Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-06-17

TWO KNIVES BROKEN.
An officials Wife Bru-
tally Murdered.
HEAD SMASHED TO JELLY.
The Murderer a Robber An Almost
Incredible Story.

BEELIY, June l1.-An interesting field
for psychological study Is afforded by the
details of an atrocious murder which has
just been committed In this city. The
victim is Frau Manzel, the wife OF an Off
cial in the postal service. She was found
dead in her room, with thirty stab wounds
In her body and with her head smashed to
jelly. Two knives had been broken by
the murderer In his terrible work 1t was
evident that the murderer must nave been
actuated by
A Mania for Slaughter
and violence, as almost any one Of the
stabs would have been fatal, and there
could have been no rational motive for
pounding the woman's head to pieces.
The murderer was also robber, however,
as Frau Manzel's money and jewelry had
been taken. The police were fortunate
enough to soon obtain clue. 1t indicated
the guilt of youth named Wagenschutz,
aged Is, but as Wagenschutz was known
as "A most peaceable and mildmannered
fellow, with passion for birds and other
pets, the officials were at first inclined to
think that they must have been thrown
Upon False Scent.
II was learned, however, upon further
investigation, that Wagenschutz had re-
Gently been in possession OF a lot OF Jew
elry, and sent the money to friend, who,
on this account, has become suspected as
an accomplice, and is under arrest. II was
learned that Wagenschutz had just bor-
rowed some money from his sister; a, fact
which looked strange In view of the fact
that lie had plenty Of funds in his pos.
session so recently. Despite the slender
nature of the evidence against him, how
ever, Wagenschutz was arrested while he
was in the act of teIderly nursing
wounded pigeon, and displaying every
sign OF tender emotion. When accused
OF the murder of Frau Menzel,
lie Cody Confessed His Guilt,
and related the circumstances with most
astonishing sang froid.
lie stated that he had entered the room
OF Frau Manzel and mildly asked for
money. The woman seemed to realize her
danger, and hastened to comply with the
request, in the hope Of avoiding further
trouble, Wagenschutz was then seized
with a maniacal desire for blood, and be
stabbed the unfortunate woman with the
awful result already described. He then
went home TO attend to his pet pigeons
At this point In his recital Wagenschutz
stopped To dilate upon the habits of his
bids, and how he loved to watch them and
raise the little ones.
lie Seemed Puzzled
when asked why he demanded money
from Frau Manzel, and confessed that be
could not explain his action, nor could he
tell why he had killed her, as he had no
reason to harm her.
lie did not express the slightest remorse
for his deed, and seemed hardly to COM
prehend when the official, who examined
him, asked how he could be so cruel, and
yet display sach kindness toward his sick
pets.
The case has recalled vividly to the
minds of the people of Berlin
A Somewhat Similar Tragedy
which occurred several years ago. A
woman named Jeanne Weber was muir
dered and the police were at loss for a
clue To the perpetrator of the crime. Sud
denly, day or two after the murder, the
officer who had been detailed to watch the
apartments OF the deceased, pending the
conclusion of certain legal formalities,
was astonished TO see man with blood
on his hands and clothing enter the place
and proceed to feed and care for some
canaries that had belonged to the dead
woman. The intruder was placed under
arrest, and after some demur
He Confessed That Ho Was the Murderer.
He was carpenter named Schunicht.
When asked why he returned to the
scene of his crime, when he made good his
escape, he declared that he thought that
Fraulein Jeanne's little birds might
starve had tormented him so that he
could not rest until he had attended to
their needs. He, like Wagcnschutz
seemed utterly Indifferent in speaking of
his victim, and showed no regret for hav-
ing inflicted suffering and death upon her.