Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-06-22
TERRIBLE CRIME.
Johann Kaufman, Wife and
Three Children Found Dad.
UNDISCOVERED Two DAYS.
A Pavonia, NJ. j., Resident cuts the
Threats Of All His Family anu
Commits Suiode--He Had ioSI
His PosItion--Dressed Be-
fore Killing Himself.

At 2919 Cleveland Avenue, Pavonia. Cam
den county, n j., were discovered the oeau
bodies OF Johann Kaufman, his vile hosina
and their children. Kaufman was hanging
by a c,othesline from the arch between TWO
rooms, and the other members OF the family
had their throats cut. There was no witness
to the crime 80 far as known, and the mousse
had been closed for two days, but all the in
dications point to the murder OF the entire
family by Kaufman. followed by his suicide.
Kaufman was hanging on the first floor
facing bed, upon which were the bodies Oh
his wife and their three weeks old baby.
Twin boys, who looked to be 4 years old,
were found in u cot in a second-story room.
The discovery was made by Justice Schmld
and Frank Hartman. of East Camden, whose
attention had been attracted to the TACT tnat
the house had been closed for two days. AS
soon as they opened the front shutters they
saw the body of Kaufman hanging at the
folding door way. They Immediately noti-
fed Recorder William Miles, with Chief OF
Clark. continued the investigation.
The rooms were bare of furniture, but in
the center of the middle room was an Old
fashioned bedstead, covered with cheap
red-colored counterpart. BY its side. on the
right. was an empty CRADLE. When they
turned down the Counterpart they saw the
body of Mrs. Kaufman, and lying across her
left arm her three weeks old badly girl. The
nillows and sheets were saturated with blood.
TERRIBLE BLOW.
Mrs. Kauffman's throat was gashed from
ear TO eur and the head of the baby was al
most severed from its body. The blow which
had been dealt it was such q powerful one
that the spinal column was severed. There
was also terrible slash on Mrs. Kaufman
right arm. which no doubt had been received
in struggle to save the lives OF herself and
babe. There we're also two deep cuts on the
scalp on tho right side, one Of which had cut
n big piece from her ear. Her position indi-
coted that she had been aroused from her
sleep and began to struggle with her hus-
hand when he held her head down and drew
his weapon across her throat from the lett to
the right side.
In the second story the searching party
found the two little boys, clothed only ID
their night shirts, lying on their stomachs
crosswise of their cot The head OF one was
forced against the wall which wa bespat
tered with blood. The murderer's weapon
had severed all the arteries OF their neckS
and scraped their spinal columns. Inc posi-
tions of the children indicate that they hac
been placed on their stomachs and the razOl
drawn across their throat from below.
County Physician W. H. Iszard, with Coro
ners Justice and Ross. arrived at the scene
the murder about 1890 o'clock, and com
menced an inquiry into the tragedy. Inc.
found that all OF the cuts were made in tn
same manner, from the right side to the lett
On examination the body OF Kaufman 1t wa
found that after committing the crime he hat
washed his hands and changed his shirt
The body was clad in clean, striped shirt
with darktrousers, and was barefooted.
he hing in the doorway he faced the BET
upon which his wife and baby were lying
The rope was fastened to screw hook, whll
in front of him was common wooden chat
which he no doubt had used in hanging him
! self