The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-11
A HUNDRED HURT.
Shocking Results of the
Disaster to the Elks at
Atlantic City.
KLAPRoTH LIKELY TO DIE
The Floor Sank Into a Funnel
Horrible enes-Darkness
Enhances the Terror.
KLAPR0TH LIKELY TO DIE

UTICA, N. Y, July II, 1S95.-About six
years ago in the town of Denmark, Louis
County, John Hoeh had trouble with a
girl who refused to receive his attentions.
He was angered at her refusal, drew a
revolver and shot at her. The bullet
missed the girl and dangerously wounded
her mother. Hoch was tried for assault
and sent to Auburn prison for a term of
five years. He was released from prison
about year ago, and since that time
has been in the vicinity of Lowville and
Martnsburg, Lewis County, where he has
been engaged in various occupations.
A short time ago he commenced giving
some attention to Minnie Ingersoll,
seventeen years old, who worked on the
farm of Jacob Strife. near Martinsburg.
He was not cordially received and when
he invited the girl to accompany him
to Watertown on the Fourth she de-
clined the invitation.
Yesterday afternoon Hoch hired a team
in Lowville and drove out to the Strife
farm. He met the girl and invited her
to accompany him on a ride. She re-
fused to do so and after lettering around
the premises a short time he drove back
to Lowville with the team
1t appears that before going out in the
afternoon he had purchased Winches-
ter rifle and a revolver in Sterling s
hardware store. Lewville The rifle was
concealed by him in Strifes barn, and
the revolver he kept in his pocket. After
returning the team Hoch walked back
to the Strife place and, entering the barn
unobserved, concealed himself in the hay
NOV.
MINNIE FELL DEAD.
An hour after the cattle were stabbed
in the barn and Mr.. Strife and Minnie
Ingersoll We're engaged in milking them
When the grl left the barn with a pai
of milk Hoch pushed the muzzle of a
Winchester through a window in the
barn and fired. The girl was tanding
at the milk can. She screamed, put her
hand to her breast and fell dead. Mr.,
Strife heard the shot and the girls
screams and rushed from the barn. An
other shot came from the Winchester and
the old man fell to the ground seriously
wounded.
Hoch left the barn and hurried away
across the fields to the home of his
brother-in-law, three miles distant. Here
he related his story in detail, and threat
er ed to shoot every member of the fam
lily If they said anything about it.
In the meantime the news of the
tragedy had reached the Lowville. and
Deputy Sheriff Denslow started after the
murderer. He tracked him to his hiding
place. and with the assistance of some
farm hands succeeded in getting him
into the room occupied by the man,
though he constantly Threatened to
shoot.
SHOT HIMSELF NEXT.
The rifle was taken from Hoch, but
he suddenly drew the revolver and fired
a shot into his forehead. The shot was rot
fatal or even serious, for when the pris-
oner was conveyed to Lowville Jail the
bullet was picked out of the wound with
out difficulty. Hoch threw himself on the
floor of the cell and UP to the present time
has refused to talk
The murdered girl was an orphan,
though she has relatives living in the
vicinity. She bore an excellent char
acter and was prepossessing and in
telligent. The wound received by Mr..
Strife, though severe many not prove
fatal. He is about fifty years of age.
Hoch is something over thirty years
old.