The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-07-10
TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

TIL court room was crowded to suffoca-
ton today by the morbid crowd who desired
to see Altenberger and to listen to his de-
Tense. The Court instructed a constable to
guard the doors down stairs and prevent any
except people having business from ascend
ing the stairs. At the second door another
constable was on duty and no person who
could not give good reasons was admitted to
the court room.
During the night Altenberger had a seri-
GUS time. His stepsister visited him at
about six o'clock and said when she saw
him.
''Oh, Bernard, why did you do it, why did
you do itp'
A~ltenberger began to cry and be con-
inued to do SO until eight o'clock, when he
fell asleep. His rest was but temporary,
however, for during the entire night he
slept but little and rested badly.
When Altenberger was brought into Court
today he was pale and unshaven. He lis
tened more attentiyely to the proceedings
than he did yesterday n he watched Max
Salinger closely when he opened the case for
the defense and claimed that Altenberger
was insane when he killed Katie Rupp. Sal
niger also claimed that insanity was heredit-
airy in Altenberger's family and that his sis
ter is now insane. Salinger read his opening
address from a typewriter copy. Mr.. Sal
niger said that the defense would prove that
Altenberger once attempted to commit sui
eide by s~evering the veins and arteries in
his wrists.
HIS HALF SISTERS TOR
The first witness called was Mary KrantZ,
who testified that Altenberger was her half
brother, both being children of the same
mother.
Counsellor Salinger asked the very inn
portant question whether the witness had
two mothers. She modestly denied such a
fact. Witness was asked if her aunt was
insane, but she said she had never seen her
aunt, and did not know except from re-
port.
Under Keeper Terwilliger, who watches
Altenberger in the Jail, testified that on one
day he acted Eighty and last night he was
violent. He remembered that he saw Alien
berger crying. He was sitting on his bunk.
He said Katie Rupp had been to see him and
that she said she would meet A~ltenberger in
Heaven, for she had forgiven him.
ON THE TAND.
Altenberger was next called. Mr.. Salin-
ger ordered a constable to stand beside him.
Judge Lippincott immediately understood
this theatrical effort to show the jury that
Altenberger could not be trusted alone, n
he ordered Constable Stanton to step aside.
After testifying that he was born in
August, 1872, the murderer related his ex-
perience in Europe. He had been in a hes
pital in Leipsig for two months, because he
suffered from wounds on his wrists inflicted
by himself. He did not know why he at
tempted to kill himself. He was eight
months in the German Army. He was dis
charged because he received injuries from a
fall.
He knew Katie Rupp. They were en-
gagged to be married. They came to Jersey
City in May last. Went out that way, point
ing to Snake Hill. First took a walk in the
city. Went by the railroad to Snake Hill.
Witness did not know the name of the place
then. They sat by the water and watched
people fishing. Then went to Snake Hill.
Remained there five or ten minutes. Then
we went down again about five O'Clock. We
gathered flowers and then went up the hill.
Witness did not know how long he stayed
there, but he went away before it was
dark.
Witness admitted that he shot Kate Rupp.
"How often!" asked Max Salinger.
81 don't know
"Did you mean to kill herg'
ssNo."
Cross-examined by Mr.. Winfield witness
was asked what he did mean to do when he
shot her. He replied
81 don't know
Didn't you tell her she was a Catholic
and you wouldn't marry her because you
were a Protestantg'
.sNon
Don't you know that you said thisg"
"No.n
"After you shot her, didn't you go bach to
her?'
s.No.n
"What?"
ssNo.n
'sThat's all" said Mr.. Winfield in an i'm
patient way.
This ended the case for the defense.