The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-04
BETRAYED BY HIS CHILD.
OTHER GRIMES BROU9HT TO MUIR
DEFER MEYERS DOOR.

the name of Fritz Meyer for the murder of
Policeman Frederick Smith, appeared to DO
very nervous yesterday when q deputy sheriff
led him into the courtroom Of the criminal
branch OF the Supreme Court. He had cause
for being nervous. Just an hour before In tho
Tombs prison he had been picked out OF n crowd
Of twenty prisoners and fully identified us the
man who planned to rob and kill Brewer Err
nest ochs in Ridgowood, w.. l. Police Captain
Lees of WILLIAMSBURG had learned onSunday that
the murderer in the Tombs was the Same man
who lured the wealthy Williamsburg brewer to
the hut III Ridgcwood on July % of this year,
but to set aside all doubts in the matter Capt.
Lees brought Ochs to the Tombs yesterday
morning TO see II no could identify Steiger.
With nineteen other Tombs prisoners Steiger.
or Meyer, as the law now calls him, stood with
his back againnt the wall in the corridor OF the
prison. When Tombs Warden O'Shca had ar
ranged the prisoners in line Mr.. ochs was led
into the corridor. He passed along tho line
scrutinizing each face.
DO you recognize any of those menu asked
the Warden.
'Yes,' he answered, 'thnt man there Tpoint-
ing to the murderer of Policeman SMITH; he's
tho one who brought a note to my Office at
Scholes street and Bushwick avenue, VII.
liamsburg. He said that my father-in.law,
Mr.. Lenhart, had been injured In a railroad
accident and carried with a broken leg to q
little house In Ridgcwood. That man there In
the line told me this. He said my father.in.
law wanted to see me Immediately. As my
father-in.law was an old man. l thought it
might have been possible for him to send for
me, while ut the Same time keeping any news
of q railroad accident quiet. So l hurried out
to Ridgewood with this man and he unlocked
the door of a little house in the loncliest part OF
Ridgewood.
81 followed him in. We passed through one
little room, and l was about to 20 into a rear
room in the house as this man told mo to do,
when l suddenly thought that there might be a
job in it to rob me, as l often carried large
sums of money in nv pockets. The door lead
ing to the rear room was partly open, SO that l
could see q mans legs tied up in bandages. l
stepped closer and became convinced that l
was to DO the victim OF n plot Of some kind.
Turning suddenly, l ran to the door to get out.
As I did so the man who wa playing Off being
injured sprang up and tried TO get a moose
over my head. l tugged at the rope, got away,
and was opening the door when this man tried
TO stop me. l g~rappled with him for a minute.
got the door open, escaped. and notified the
police. This man and his companion escaped
through a rear window before the police
reached the house."
"You are mistaken" said the prisoner. II
am not the man. / never saw you before to-
day."
why do you lie like thati' said Ochs. II
was with you half an hour and talked 10 you.
1 have no motive for accusing you. II l was
not positive-if / only thought you looked like
the mani would not accuse you. But 1
know you are the man. Look me in the eyes and
dare tell me you don't remember me-
well. l used to work for you" said the pris-
Mrs. Mary waterson, who lives in Ridge.
wood, and who rented the hut 10 Steiger, had
identified him On Sunday. Mrs. WatGrson was
at the Tombs again yesterday and talked with
you are the man." she said; you can't get
the left hand wus cut off. Noticed that when
1 gave you your change that day"
the murderer; Il never did YOU any harm,
what did you want TO do to met asked
Ochs. Did you mean to murder met"
lit was the other man who planned al" said
Steiger. He was a fellow met when i got
After Mr.. ochs had identified steigcr the
TO stand trial for murder. He listened atten,
the talesmen, and when the court took a recess
he had to undergo another dentihcation-tha
pretty girl 10 Years old. When the crowd at
tending. the, trial had gone out, Capt. Lees. nc.
the court. oom. Then the deputy sheriff led
Steiger toward the prison, pen. As he passed
his daughter, he turned his eyes toward the
iOOl. AZ So 80 w ~ AA'a
Father" she called, but he turned his head
herself on one of the courtroom benches she
sobbed: "oh. papa, why don't you speak to
"Come." said tho murderer, turning to the
deputy sheriff, take mo out OF here. l don't
know that girl. Ny name is Fritz Meyer,
was determined not to recognize the girl, took
him by the arm and led him through the rpison
pen and over the Bridge OF signs TO the Tomhs.
Here he ate "A hearty dinner and at y O'CLOCK
was led back TO tho courtroom. Then when
fSafs nasoS Mifisr a nmd i Becker Say brought TSRshi t staig srs
daughter over to the prison; The girl was led
to the, murderer's cell, and when she peered
and staggered. Just as she WAS ,aboutto fan
Warden O,shea caught her up in hiS arms and
revived she was asked il she could stand the
ordeal of talking with the prisoner. She in
sisted that she could, and promised 70 be calm m
"Fatheri oh, father, it's so dark in there.
You can't deny i'm your child" sobbed tn.
sly dom know You At aii',,s saapped the pris
oner. III you we're my daughter you wouldn't
They know your record, father-they know you
sides they came to our house and took away
your, nkenesses-your photographs-which We
lau IN the dlDun.
The prisoner bit his lips and mumbled some
thing which no one within earshot understood
The prisoners daughter then began question.
ing him about the shooting OF Policeman smith
oh, don't talk OF that" said Steiger.
well, they had Brewer Ochs here to-day,
remarked the girl. 'and l heard him tell thu
police he was sure you were the man who
II had nothing to do with that case" said
Steiger. THAT woman who identified me a
the man who paid tho rent for the R%idgewooC
cottage Is a liur. ! had nothing to do witt
that matter. But you ought To be at home. That
where you belong. Tell your mother To keel
quiet keep her mouth shut. ! see by the news
papers that she is doing too much talking. Sh,
said that l probably killed Stelz. the bell
ringer OF the Montrose Avenue Church. Tel
her to keep her. mouth shut. You, 100, ar,
have Come here, Keep quiet. ,understandi
II can't" sobbed tho girl, 'Oh, father, til
awful. Whatever POSSESSED you to kill III,
policomani Why did you go to that church L
commit a burglary 1t was awful. Why die
II was pressed hard to support myself" sai'
nv, Gould ha "a yynrkAd - aaid the darYbtn.