The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-28
THE MURDER IN A CHURCH.
BURGLAR MEYER SHOOT
ING POLICEMAN SMITH.

Nc IL Thought 20 ne Ono or the S1en who
,,,-d,rea the sexton or the Church or tho
uoIy trinity, wuIiatnsburG-To he Indicted
To.Dny-u,s Trial May Begin ON Monday.
Fritz Never. the burglar who shot and killed
Policeman Fred smith Of the Fifth street sta
tion on Tuesday night at midnightin tho Church
of the Most Holy Redcemer in Third street, be-
tween Avenue A and Avenue Is, was taken to
Police HEADQUARTERS by Capt. Herlihy and two
detectives yesterday morning.
Cant. Herlihy had remarked when the man
was brought to the station house that he had
lost a Joint Of the index finger on the left hand.
lie remembered that about two months ago
George Stelz, the sexton OF the Church Of the
Holy Trinity in Williamsburg, had been bea en-
to death in the church by thieves who escaped.
The murderer Of the old sexton had left the i'm
press of a bloody hand, with one joint of the left
index finger conc, on tho wall. The Captain
came to the conclusion that Meyer might be the
man who killed Sexton Stelz In Williamsburg.
Never was trembling all over when he reached
Police HEADQUARTERS. His head was bandaged
and his hands were shackled. He did not deny
that he had killed the policeman.
at did IT," he said to Capt. McClusky. land I
expect to go to the electric chair for 1t. Ibid
not go there to shoot; I went to steal. He struck
me first, and l shot him to get away"
w nen ulu yOu ioso IhO oih VI Jouh ON Al.
dex finger r. he was asked.
Tho murderer paused q moment, as II to col
lect his thoughts, and then said:
~ met with an accident ten years ago. while I
was working as a laborer in Ninety.fourth
street, between First and Second avenues"
In reply to another question Meyer said that
he had been living in Philadelphia up to the
first of August, and that he left q wife and three
children there.
"How long since have you been In Brook
Ign - asked Capt. Herlihy.
have not been in Brooklyn for twelve
years." replied Meyer.
A moment later he snarled out:
III l had my senses at the time I killed the
man as well as I have now, l would have killed
myself, and you would have no trouble with
me-
By dint Of questioning the police also learned
that Meyer was born In ermany, on the out
skirts of the Black Forest, and that he had
been in this country about twenty years.
From Police Headquarters tho murderer was
taken to the Essex Market Police Court and
subsequently to the Coroners' Office, where he
was questioned by Coroner Dobbs.
He denied knowing anything about the Will
liamsburg murder. but admitted that he had
been out of work since August. He picked out
the Church Of the Most Holy Redeemer for rob-
berry because he happened to pass it.
While Meyer was at the Coroners' Office
Police Captain Lees and Detectives Rudy and
Harrington, who had worked on the Stelz case.
had a look at hin. They had a witness with
EbMrc %h 30 h nae H sesn ETo men n escaping from the
This witness scanned Meyers appearance
closely; but he could not positively identify
ths Fifth street station until today at 10
Detectives Holland and Reap of the Central
Office were sent among the lodging houses yes
At the owl Hotel, i45 Bowery. .n they found
SefTSs % as shsi q Of ea Msgsr. w Wfif iSsn safS th sas
to his in the hotel. was a fake reddier.
who travelled around the city ostensibly sell.
and Charitable Institutions that he could rob.
Wright said he learned this by overhearing
Joining room. After having Identified the pic.
turs as that OF Meyer, Wright accompanied the
where the murderer was brought before him.
Wright recognized him Immediately. Tho
police are convinced that Meyer has a prison
The Fifth street station house was draped yes
Smith. 'rowds OF people gathered outside and
Gezod eagerly in as though they expected to see
was taken back TO the station. house and
locked in cell: Hs turned his back on the
watch him lest he 5 nould com nit suicide dur
ing the night, and kept muttering in German to
himself.
The murdered policeman will be buried from
the Church Of the Most Holy Redeemer on Sat
urday at l o'clock in the afternoon. 1t Is ex-
pected that there will be a large congregation at
the funeral services. II was said last night that
a fund would be raised by the members of the
police force for the benefit of Smiths widow and
children, each member contributing a dollar.
In the meantime the evidence against Meyer
had been laid before District Attorney Olcott
in the Criminal Court building. The District
Attorney will ask the Grand Jury to-day to
indict Meyer for the murder, and the trial will
probably be proceeded with on Monday.
Capt. Herlihy Is almost positive that the Will
liLmsburg murder and the Smith murder were
done by the same man. and he is exercising all
his efforts to prove that this Is the case.
In the schoolhouse OF the Church Of the Most
Holy ,Redccmer. where Policeman Smith was
lives in II fire panic on Feb. 90, 1883.
The Police Board at its session yesterday, on
the motion Of Commissioner Andrews, passed
resolutions Of sympathy and of appreciation of
the murdered mans devotion to duty. II also
directed tho attention OF the trustees of the
Riot Relief Fund to the murder. 1t Is the Gus
tom of the trustees to send "a check for 81 900 to
the widow Of a policeman slain in the perform
of his duty.
District Attorney Olcott, who had a confer.
once with Capt. McClusky last evening, OK.
pressed great sympathy for the policeman.
This crime has aroused me-" he said, land II
10 my purpose to let policemen know that their
lives must be respected while performing their
duty and strict retributiye punishment be in.
hicted upon criminals