New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-03
TRYING TO SOLVE A MYSTERY
THE DISTRCT.ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN
CHARGE OF THE GCETERBOCK CASE.
10 MAKE THOROUGH INvEsTIG ATION-A NEW
WITNESS orE-TIoNED - POLICE DIS
CREDIT TIE MURDER THEORY

CREDIT THE MURDER THEORY.
The Dlstrct-Attorney's Office has taken charge OF
the Investigation into the death OF Bernhard ii. Cue
terbock. the city editor Of the "staas Zeung." He
found dead In his fiat AT No. 11j East Seventy.
ninthst. Oh last saturday night. His wife. C. Otto
Baese. a friend OF the Guctcrbocks and Anna Raben
the family servant were the only in the fiat with
Gueterbock at the time the shot which killed him was
fired Mrs. Gucterbock and Mr.. Baesc were in a
front paror. only two rooms from Gueterbock's bed
room. while Anna Rabcn In the Kitchen twenty
feet further from the bedroom.
Mrs. Guetcrbock testified at the Coroner's names,
TINT her husband had been drinking May wine and
champagne that afternoon and after She and ber bu
hand returned To the fiat with Mr. Baesc her husband
struck her In the face causing her lip TO bleed They
aiterwad maze up The quarrel. and Guc;erbock loft
the room 10 obtain some beer. lie gone much
longer than was necessary, and when Mrs. Guetcr-
book went to find him she discovered him dying in his
bedroom. lie had been shot in the right breast Mrs
Gucerbock and Mr.. Baese declared that they n ard no
shot. though Anna Rabcn heard n noise at the time
the shot WAS fired The Coroner's jury after hearing
testimony III the case on Monday, gave verdict OF
death by suicide
Some OF Guctcrhock's acquaintance were, how
ever, not satisfied with this verdict They pointed
on, that there discrepancies, in The told
BY those who were In the fiat. II seemed strange
that the discharge Of the pistol had not been heard
by all or them. The quarrel might have furnished
ground for the production of pistol and theories as
10 possible accident homicide have been advanced
The theory OF suicide criticised not consistent
with The surrounding circumstances. Gueerbook had
been drinking wine and champagne. and. though he
might have been quarrcsomc. would not probably
have been In IA Respondent mood. lie had recently
Inherited considerable sum OF money, and had shown
no signs of depression.
Assistant Distrct-Atorney Weeks. who is in charge
OF The Office In Mr. Nicols absence. began yesterday.
NXi no nj tssx f,,l
examination into the facts surrounding this mys-
terious death He caused subpoenas to be served
several OF the witnesses who had testified al the Cor
oners Inquest. Police Captain Pickett. Of the East
Eighty ffthst. station, OF the earliest visitors
10 the Office yesterday morning lie remained in
sultotion with Mr. Weeks for II long time. Detective
Sergeant Trainor then took into the DstricAtorneys
ONCE Anna Rabcn. the servant. and her sister, who
has not heretofore been spoken OF In the case. The
girl was closely questioned by Mr.. Weeks and by Mr..
O'Iiare and at one point she broke down and cried.
Policeman Morris also called and questioned.
some OF Mr.. Gueterbocks associates on the "staats
Zetung' were also called. Mr. Weeks refused TO give
the names of the witnesses or TO make public any
OF their statements. The nvet igaiion will be
tinued until all the witnesses have been examined.
The public examination at the police court will be
continued Friday.
Assistant Dstrict-AttOrney Weeks said IL am
not working on any theory, but the is which
population. II seemed proper that rigid
examination should be made Of all the facts. Mr..
O'Hare and l have now questioned some OF the
witnesses, and We will thoroughly sift tue matter.
cannot say anything TO any conclusion which we
may have formed We only take all possible
pains TO get al the Truth in the case"
Barlow g. Weeks. the assistant who has charge OF
the is OF Mr. Nicolls most careful assistants
He is we'll known in social and club life, and is one
of the prominent officers of the New-York Athletic
Club. Mr.. O'Ilare who is aiding in collecting the
evidence, has been connected with the Office for
only short tme He was formerly an Assembly
superintendent Byrnes AMI other officials at Police
Headquarters yesterday would not express any opinion
regarding the death of Mr.. Gueterbock, and their
reticence TO be expected in view of the fact
that OF the Central ONCE detectives known
10 be making Investigation OF the for the
District-Attorney. One Of the detectives who said
he could not afford TO have his name mentioned in
connection with the case al present, said that lie
thought the COroners jury had given correct YER
dict. There was evidence which to bring an
accusation of murder. lie said. while the indications
pointed TO suicide. Some OF the evidence could not
be made public lie said II tended TO cast reflections
upon the character OF the dead man. There was
room for belief that Mr.. Gueterbock only intended 10
wound himsel; slightly, and his wife, OF whom
he nsanely Jealous but that his hand was I'M
steady from the effects Of liquor and lie sent the
bullet 10 vital point In his body instead OF making II
only inhct slight flesh wound That might account
Tor the UNUSUAL direction OF The wound the detective
said.
Captain Pickett, Of the East Eighty eIgh'h-st
squad. said yesterday afternoon | made thorough
investigation OF the death Of Mr.. Gueterbock soon
after 1t occurred. and | wa: not able TO get any
evidence to warrant direct charge OF homicide. The
case presents some puzzling features but coroncrs
Jury brought In verdict OF suicide. and IL seems u
me that must accept that verdict correct unless
evidence L. obtained When 1 saw Mrs
Gueterbock she spoke Of the quarrel bewccn her hs
band and herself, and she snid he had slapped her
face In anger, but had apOoszed later. She and Mr.
They were In the porlor at the front end OF the HAT
The servant. who was III the kitchen al The other
end OF the fiat, said she heard the report distinctly
Tho bedroom in which the body OF Mr.. Guetcrbock
found is 10 the parlor than 10 tho kitchen,
but there may have been reasons why the report OF
the pistol might have been heard In The kitchen and
not In the parlor. have been told that Mr.. G,cter
book had made Il VIII. leaving all Of lbs property 10
hts wife. II Is said that she knew Of The convcyance
of the property and had refused u make Will III
compliance with her husbands wishes. such facts
may suspicious, but IN themselves they 90 not
disprovc the theory OF suicide"