New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-20
"DUTCH PETE" INDICTED.
FORMALLY CHARGED WITH THE STELn
MURDER IN BROOKLYN-HIs FRIEND
MEYER UNREPENTANT

After listening to the testimony Of a dozen or
more witnesses yesterday, the Kings County Grand
Jury found an indictment against Peter Geistei'
otherwise known Dutch Pete charging him
with the mdrder of George Stelz. Of the Church Of
the Most Holy Trinity. Among tho witnesses VINO
testified before the Grand Jury were Kate Landers'
who pawned StclZs watch; Pauline and Charles
Mergle. who purchased the pawn tickets from Mrs.
Ianders; Andrew c. Roesch boy who saw the
murderer leaving the church; DR.. j. Francis Nalen-
tine who made the autopsy, and Detective Becker
Another witness Louis Schmidt. alias Dutch
Louis" who. It IL said. has made a confession 10
the police.
Earlier in the day Gelstel was arra!gned by Cap
tain James G. Reynolds before Justice Bremen IN
the Adams Street Police Court charged with being
an accomplce of Constantine Steiger, alias "Chr's
Meyer convicted of the murder or foHce"""
Smith. Gestel told Justice Bremen that ne knew
nothing of tho Stelz murder, and that ne cou'i
prove he not in Brooklyn at the time he WAS
remanded until Monday.
While in a cell in the Adams-st court Geis'ei
admitted 10 a reporter that he had served !e''
on Blackwelrs Island for stealing wAtch' as al
legged by Louis Smith, alias Dutch Louie lie
declared also that at the time Of the Steitz muir
der he was rooming with Stephen Raube, IN New
York He will subpoena Rauoe TO TESTIFY that ne
was with him on the night OF the murder lie de-
MED that he with Steiger on the night tha'
Policeman Smith was murdered
Gestel says he came to this country from
butcher named Weber in 1'hird-ave.. near one
hundred and twenteth-st.. for three years He
SAVED about $500 on which he lived when he got
out of employment. He says he had only known
Steiger for six or seven weeks altogether. Mary
Muller who is held witness against Gestei
says she does not remember whether or not GeisteI
was in her company the night Policeman smith
murdered.
Detective Reynolds has two boys John Haft and
Frank Gable. who live near the church In which
Stelz was murdered who positively identity Gelstei
as one Of the men they saw lurking near the door
of the church about the time Stelz was murdered
Young Gable also identified Steger as man he
saw near the door of the church.
After being indicted Geistel was arraigned before
Judge Aspinan in the County Court, and pleaded not
guilty through the German interpreter When
taken back TO the pen the prisoner wrote letter
In German TO Robert H. Elder, who will probably
appear for him al the trial -
Since Meyer was convicted OF the murder OF Pc,
be en c na BEEN
fasten him two-thirds OF the mysterious murders
S e o sr W0 ST cooFed e5T 4
and that of Professor Eglau of the Deaf and Dumb
Of the Detective Bureau, said yesterday tina, the
Meyer gang could not have had ANYTHING TO do with
the time. Captain McCluskey also attaches no i'm,
portance to the story from some OF the sensational
newspapers that the men were connected with the
SS a5S in ns that d
nothing against the man. Julian Berlinger. and the
latter was accordingly discharged, Captain Nc
Cuskey asked that Louis Schmidt and Frank
Smith. alleged members OF the Meyer gang be
held until he had further investigated their actions
The men were remanded until this morning.
Meyer slept well on THURSDAY night: The .t Rev;
Church. OF williamsburg who married Meyer and
chrstened his children called on him at the Tombs
yesterday Meyer refused TO confess 10 the priest,
and said: "If there is such place as hell want
TO be chief fireman so that can punish all those
people that prosecute me-" For an hour Father
Sander labored 10 bring Meyer into a better frame
Of mind, but he failed 10 make any impression on
him. .,, ,,, A.,
II don't believe in any hereafter" declared the
murderer There Is no Heaven nor hell II there
was God there would not be such a condition or
affairs in the world. and then there would have
been no need Of me stealing to make living" He.
however expressed strong desire that the priest
should call on him again.