New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-26
WAS CAREFULLY PLANNED.
RpoOKLYN's TRIPLE TRAGEDY a MOST
HORRIBLE AFFAIR.

c1.Es-Hls LITTLE DAUGHTERS CHLoRo-
FORMED BEFORE THEY WERE AS
PHYxIATED--HIs WIFE KEPT
IN IGNORANCE OF
THEIR DEATH.
The Brooklyn police regard the murder of the
mo children of Herman Hattenhorst and the
,lcde Of the father one of the most hor-
.h,e tragedies brought to their notice in long
time.
The little ones were asphyxiated in box
rssd bv Hattenhorst at his athletic school for
yapor and sulphur baths. The children were
Viola. six. and Hazel three years old. Inc
scene Of the crime the second floor OF the
building Nc. 1.295 Broadway. All three were
dead when they We're found at an early hour
Yesterday morning and the sight presented MADE
hardened men shud6er.
Oltstretched on the carpeted floor, directly IN
front Of the mirror lay the body Of the mur-
derer and suicide. in pool of blood which had
flowed from the bullet wound in the right tenn
nile Rv his sile was the weapon. Hattenhorst
was IN his shirt sleeves his coat and hat hang
Ing from a hook a short distance away Sitting
IN opposite corners In the box were the two emil
dren with their pretty heads bent forward on
their breasts The children bore no traces OF
suffering and looked as if they were IN a deep
sleep A large placard had been carefully naiieu
over the circular opening Of the box so as 10
prevent as much possible the escape OF the gas
-,hich poured into the box from two rubber tuoes
which had been attached TO the gas fiXtures'
The little coats and caps were found on the
couch while on the table near by was an emp'!
phiai which had contained chloroform
II was evident that the children were ropoed
Of their senses by the drug before they were
hx. ha n,llrdprpr with the
same consideration which the humane agent
extends TO dogs.
The little forms were placed side by side on
the couch. and later taken to the undertaking
establishment of George Peth. at No. III
Roerum-st with the murderer and suicide.
The discovery of the tragedy was made by
Roundsman Haoran, of the Fourteenth Pre-
cinct. He was approached. about l O'Clock IN
the morning by Hattenhorsts wife, at Broad
way and Quinoy-st. The woman asked Hal
loran to aid her in finding her husband and
children. who had left the house about O'Clock.
Il know something has happened" she ex-
claimed. AT the suggestTn of the nearly
crazed woman, the rounds an went with her
to her husbands school and door was forced.
Immediately voumne of gas rushed out and
nearly overcame them. They retreated for
few minutes to allow the gas to escape, and
then entered the room. Mrs. HattenhOrst had
been convinced by the escape of the gas that
a tragedy had occurred. and when she the
lifeless body of her husband lying in a pool of
blood on the floor she tainted. and was removed
10 her home in ambulance
She did not know that her two children had
also been taken from her, and she Is still kept
In Ignorance Of their awful death. 1t not
until after Mrs. Hattenhorst was removed to
her home that the search was begun for the two
children Dr. Sydney Gardiner Of No LOSS
Gates-ave., was called to attend Mrs Hatten-
horst, and last night the woman said
H., fnn1
.%Hnes % 70 sllo" any one TO see the woman. He
told Tribune reporter last night that she was
resting quietly under the influence Of opiates.
IAe suicide and murderer was about thirty
eight years old and was devoted to his wife and
children At every opportunity he would be
WIN nls little ones and take them walking or
roihg. Inc girls. In turn. adOred their father
and the little home was in appearance one OF
the happiest in the neighborhood.
,Everythlng connected With the tragedy COM
oines to show that 1t was one of the most cooy
premeditated and carefully consummated plots
that nendish imagination could conceive Hat
tenhorst frequently expressed desire to die and
was heard 70 remark on different occasions
When die III see that the little ones go ahead
OF me- The chloroform used purchased on
saturday night from Burkhards pharmacy al
broadway and Greene-aye. Nothing unusual
was thought Of the purchase as Hattenhorst
had been there frequently for the same purpose
as the chloroform was used in his institution
In massage treatment. Mr.. Burkhardt said
yesterday that he noticed that Hattenhorst was
a a little nervous when he made the purchase on
drinking habits, and his friends say his favorite
drink was ale and Porter, of which he drank
little.
On Saturday night. however he was under the
influence Of liquor. and was long after mid
night when he started TO his home from a bar
room near his school. 1t noon when he
arose and after dinner h. told his wife TO pre-
pare the children for walk His actions it IS
said did not even then excite suspicion and as
Mrs. Hattenhorst completed the dressing Of the
children he kissed her and started from the
house with his victims. On the table in the
dining-room tho eldest child. Viola had left a
piece Of paper on which she had scribbled her
name and that of her sister Hazel
HattenhOrst one Of the best-known phvsi-
OIL instructors and all-round athletes In this
country. He brought many Of the prize
fighters now prominent and some now
dead He started his school IN Broadway in
February last at cost OF 81. 400 He had no
money himself and gave notes for the debt The
business not profitable as he had ex-
pected and he worried over his affairs One of
the notes. 1t is said. was due yesterday. Prior
10 opening this school he engaged in the
liquor business at Harrison-ave. and Middleton
ST. Ii is believed that his financial troubles
caused him TO commit the crime Hattenhorst's
life insured for $4,000 in the Royal Arcanum
The funeral will take place tomorrow and the
burial no N ne Int