The sun., 1897-08-04
KILLED WHILE SHE SLEEPS
MRS. HAUPTMhNw FOUND At HOME
WITH HER THROAT CUT.

n IL Supposed the Decd was Dono By Hcr
weak-Slinded Daughtsr-The Victim was
the wire or n Very wealthy Tobacconist
who Testified in the Antitrust Inquiry.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Aug. 3-Mrs. Fredericka W.
Hauptmann wife Of Peter Hauptmann, tho
well-known Wholesale tobacconist, was found at
noon to-day In the back pnror Of her fashion
ablo homo in the West End with her throat
frightfully gashed and windpipe severed. From
the circumstances attending her tragic death
there is little doubt that she was slain by her
weak-minded daughter Louise. 20 years old.
At noon Mrs. Hauptmann lay down on tho
lounge in the hallway to take nap. Her
daughter by o former marriage, Fredericka,
was in the basement engaged In somo household
duty. Her son VIII was also in the house. On
the second floor was tho girl Louise, whose
mind has never been strong. Soon after Mrs.
Hauptmann had fallen into dose 1t is supposed
that Louise came down stairs went into the din
ing room. got the bread knife, and went back
into the hall, where her mother was asleep. It
is believed that che drew the knife across her
mothers throat, as the knife was found beside
the lounge upon which Mrs. Hauptmann took
her nap. Tho girl then went into the dining
room again and asked for something to eat
This attracted tho attention Of win Haupt-
mann, who went to call his mother. When he
entered the hall hv was horror stricken to sec
her writhins On the floor. blood squirting from q
terrible cash In her throat He raised an alarm
| and Fredericka rushed upstairs. Tho mother
| struggled to her feet and gasped words which
her children interpreted to be: She did 1t"
She then fell into the arms Of Fredericka, dead.
Peter Hauptmann, her husband, was sum-
moned and the police were notified. Policeman
Looney guarded tho premises and waited for
| IN hail he oh
Louise. When Louise was told that her mother
was dead she broke into a wild laugh.
| 1t has been the custom OF the family to keep
| Louise in a special room. In some manner she
escaped from II and went to rummBging about
the house. Since last Sunday Louise has been
| in a bad humor. 1t seems that she is untidy and
| inclined to be careless with regard to her per
sonal appearance. Her mother insisted that she
! take o bath on Sunday and she demurred.
| Whereupon the mother and Fredericka under
took to wash her. She fought iercely, but was
overpowered finally and bathed. To this cir.
cumstance is ascribed Louise's intense hatred
for her mother, manifested since Sunday and
eliminating in this tragic manner.
When the husband and other members of the
family left the house in the morning Mrs
Hauptmann was well and happy. She bade every
one an affe ctionate farewell as was always her
custom, Then Louise was safe and sound in hel
| 1
suicide there was nothing to indicate 1t.
When Coroner Wait learned OF the facts in
dicating murder he sent Deputy Coroner Lloyd
to the house to make a full Investigation. Al a
late hour he had not completed his examination
Deputy Coroner Lloyd viewed the body late In
the afternoon. He found the neck almost severed
His questions brought out the fact that Louise
has been violent at times. There were bars al
the window OF the room in which she was con
fined. and the door was locked at night Severa
times she has been confined In st. Vincent In
sane Asylum. When Deputy Coroner Lloyd at
tempted to question her she ran away from him
Peter Hauptmann, it will be remembered
attracted considerable attention not long agt
when he appeared before an investigating com
mittee in New York to testify concerning the al
| legged tobacco trust. N r. Choate, the examining
| lawyer. undertook to have little fun at Mr.
| Hauptmann's expense. and among other thing
| asked him whore he was from. Although
plain, unassuming German, and q man who's,
appearance indicated that he might provo al
easy victim for Mr.. Choate. Mr, HauptmanI
rather surprised him. He replied: From St
Louis" Where Is 81. Louis T. queried MIR
Choate. Near Alton" was the rejoinder.