The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-07-10
sALINGER's THEATRICAL COUP

-
Witness Stand, to Show That
He Is Insane.
During the afternoon yesterday the State
completed its chain of evidence against Al
tenberger, the murderer of Katie Rupp'
and rested. The defense began this morn
ing.
During the proceedings yesterday cyl
dence of the guilt of Altenberger was given
as follows
Sidney s.. Hartshorne of Brooklyn said
that Altenberger had visited his shop at No.
90 Fulton street, New York, and had told
him to put the works Of a watch exhibited
to him in new cases. This was done, and
then Altenberger asked him to buy the
watch case that had been On the works.
This case was marked Katie Rupp. An EN-
ploye bought the case for 50. The proprie-
tor did not buy secondhand goods. Alien
berger talked English sufficiently well for
witness to understand him. The watch
case with Katie Rupp's name on it was
offered in evidence by the Prosecutor.
David G. Jones, a policeman in the City
of Utica. identified Altenberger, He and
Policeman Cheney arrested him hen
Altent erger was arrested he said his name
was not Altenberger. When he was
searched a bunch of keys, a silver dollar, a
three cent piece and a tive-cent piece and
two pennies were taken from him. When
asked by the Roundsman at the desk If the
pistol found in his grip was the one he used
when he shot Katie Rupp, he replied it was.
He said later that he shot Katie because sho
was a Catholic and he was a Protestant, and
he could not marry her. :
Policemen Cheney testified that he lived
in Utica and that he assisted in the arrest.
His attention was called to Altenberger by a
passenger on the Central. Witness asked
him if he was going to Rome and Alien
berger said not. He was asked If he was
Altenberger and he said no. When asked If
he was a tailor, A~ltenberger said he was and
he was then taken to the police station.
When searched the articles mentioned III
The News yesterday were found on him;;
The revolver had two empty chambers and
three loaded ones. Chief Dagwell asked
him if this was the revolver he shot Katie
Rupp with and he replied that it was.
A POETIC SCAMP.
Christine Vetter, recalled by the State,
testified that a letter was in the handwriting
of Altenberger and the letter consisted of
TWO DD6DlS III OhTludu u UuCJ g "
read. They were as follows:
LIBERTY
Liberty, sweet balm of heaven,
Alone art thou the JOY of men;
OH that SONS immortal being
To ME could give this nappy feeing.
In a gloomy cell 1 SIT here
And rehearse my life SO drear.
And when the morning shows his face SO red,
l lie awake upon my bed.
And 10, each day that passes by
Seems like a small eternity;
The beautiful flowers of spring seq
They have no comfort or cheer FOR ms
Liberty, sweet balm of heaven,
Alone art thou the joy OF men;
Never again the hour will be
When thou wilt be returned to me.
written by AItenberger, May. 1s94.]
A A CHILE OF WOE.
A child of woe am |.
AT luck | can but sigh.
'Tis my just recompense
That shadows cloud my path so dense.
You ask who am ~"
"A child of woe" is the reply.
Where will l go? Where will I go for peace2
Even in the grave l find no ease.
But watt To fate I do resign,
And over each grievance quietly pine.
The Lord wall lead me IN my way.
However heavy my cross does weigh.
am a child of woe.
Written by Altenberser, May, 1884,
ALTENBERGER's CONFESSION.
Chief Dagwell of the Utica Police corrobo-
TaCeQ WuaG bQD ObuST EOllCoulou uhu b6SOkLiou
to. He said tina Altenberger made a con-
fession which was taken down in writing.
Altenberger asked to have some corrections
made, and then he swore to the statement.
The confession was made in the presence of
City Judge Marshall M the witness. Al
tenberger made two confessions, one being
in German and the other in English. Both
are alike so far as facts are concerned
C-ross-examined by Counsellor Rowe, Chief
Dagweli said that he did not caution Alien
berger that any confession made by him
would be used as evidence against him, n
Mr.. Rowe therefore asked to have the con-
fessinn not admitted as evidence. Prosecutor
Winfield showed that the confession was
voluntary on the part of Altenberger and
that no threats or other inducements had
been offered for the purpose of obtaining it.
Prosecutor Winfield offered both con-
LESSONS in evidence and the Cour6 admitted
the Que in German. which read as follows
estate of New York, Oneida County, City
of Utica. Bernhardt Altenberger, duly
sworn, says that he was born in Hogenheim,
Baden, and that he is aged Jwenby-one years.
He was born on the nth Of August, 1878,
and came into this country on the 2lst of
September, 1898. He went to school in
Germany and can read and write. In Ger
many l was tailor by business aud worked
besides with my parents in the country. Ny
parents are still alive. My mothers name is
EdfOIHd oCUutZ,S uc f6SiOcS III Ouoi udlllSUouu
in Germany; my stepfather's name is
Christian Kraft, he Is a peasant. | have
a sister in this country, and three
sisters as well as three brothers
in Germany. On my landing in America I
remained from eleven o'clock in the morn
ing until nine o'clock in the evening in New
York. From there / went to Oneida, Mad
ison County. My sister vas with me. My
sister, who lives now in Rome, crossed the
ocean with me. | was five days in Oneida
before ! began to work, and then | worked
for Aldridch as q tailor. | have had work
constantly since then, mi have earned good
wages. On the Saturday before Easter Sun
day of this year | went to New York and re-
manned there two days: then ] went iinme-
diately to Elizabeth. New Jersey, where /
know u woman Of the name of Mrs. Haffner;
/ don't know her first name; she came to
this country at the same time that | did: she
lives In First avenue, in Elizabeth. New
Jersey. ! don't know whether the number
is 504 or 507 she is tho woman that ! saw at
that time.
CHRISTINA yETTER.
II became acquainted with Christina Vet
ter In Strnsburg, in Alsace, Germany. N
the railroad. saw her in Elizabeth when !