New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-14
QUEER MURDER IN A SALOON.
SHOTS HEARD FROM REAR ROOM AND
TWO MEN FOUND DEAD.
THE sArOoNKEEPER BELIEVED TO HAVE KILLEr
HIS LANDLORD IN a FIT OF TEMPER

HIS LANDLORD IN a FIT OF TEMPER
AND HIMSELF AFTERwARD.
Frederick Kaufman a well-known cigar manu-
facturer and house owner, twenty-five years old.
was shot dead Yesterday afternoon by Matthias
Fischer a German saloonkeeper. who was kauf-
mans tenant at No>e56 First-ave Fischer I'M
medately afterward put two bullets In his own
body and died IN few minutes. Kaufman died
instantly having been shot once in the mouth and
once IN the neck. Fischer shot himself in the
abdomen and in tho neck. and either wound was
mortal
II IS supposed that tho tragedy was caused by
Kaufman's refusal 10 make some improvements on
the premises which Fischer had asked for. but this
theory Is based wholly on surmise for no evidence
has been adduced by the Coroner or police 10
show that there any III feeling between The
men at any time during their relations as landlord
and tenant. The shooting was done In FISCHER
saloon which IS on the northwest corner Of First
ave and East Thrty-second-st Fischer had rented
the saloon on July instant. and was preparing two
empty rooms in the rear which front on East
rhirty-second-st.. for dwelling purposes. fester-
Say afternoon he sent his son Harry to Kaufmans
,gar factory. nj Thrty-third-st. and F!rs-ave. 10
ask Mr. Kaufman 10 visit the saloon in order TO see
about having some OF the locks on the door. which
did not work properly. repaired The boy returned
with the message that the landlord would be there
in a few minutes.
In less than a quarter Of an hour Kaufman APP
peared Fischer at the time was talking with his
bartender and a customer. but when his landlord
came in after exchange OF salutatons, he took
Kaufman into ono OF the two rear rooms what
took place In this room cannot be told with GER
tainty About ten minutes after the men had
entered however the bartender. Valentine Bonn,
and one two others in the place heard what
seemed TO be the sound OF shooting. Bohn ran IN.
and saw Fischer lying on the floor on his face He
was bleeding from a wound In the neck and had
revolver in his hand.
Bohn told Harry Fischer that his father was
hurt and Harry 10 his fathers side. AS soon
as the boy ran TO where his father was. the latter
stu conscious. said. Get away from here" The
boy fed frightened. Bohn Immediately afterward
opened the door Of the adjoining room. and on the
floor with his head partially under n sink saw the
Mfeless form Of Kaufman He at once ran into the
street and Informed Patrolman Reid OF the East
Thtrty-ffth-st station. who summoned an ambu-
lance from Bellevue Hospital Fischer was dead
however before its arrival. He hal not spoken
Police Captain wlegand and IA numb number Of his
men were soon on the scene 1o had been
shot once in the mouth and again in the nec k, lie
After shooting him Fischer had apparently opened
the door between the two rooms gone mo {he ad
the hallway from the second room was partially
open. and William Huxel boy Lying IN the house
afterward testified before Coroner Bausch that he
saw Fischer lift his arm up, shoot himself and
There was wild excitement in the neighboThoSSd
shooting was noised around. crowd gathered
about the place and Il required the earnest erorts
OF the police keep 1t within bounds. In the
midst Of the excitement Mrs. Fischer. the wife or
the dead man. appeared at the door. Tho family
had intended 20 move from their home az No. ll2
East One hundred and hfteenthst into the rooms
In the rear OF the saloon yesterday. and she
brought clock with her. Seeing the crowd at the
entrance to the saloon. she asked what the excite
ment was all about. Some one told her that her
husband had killed himself She dropped the clock
and tainted
Coroner Bausch was called. and took the state
ments of all who were in the place at the time or
the shooting and OF the friends Of both men.
Nothing whatever could be learned as 10 the direct
cause of the trouble NO reason or motive. said
the Coroner afterward. can be found for the muir
der and suicide. There is absolutely no evidence
of a quarrel either at the time or on any previous
occasion between the two There is no doubt.
however that Fischer did the shooting"
Little doubt remains in the minds OF the police,
however. that a quarrel followed over tho refusal
of the landlord accede TO the wishes OF his
tenant as TO repairs, and that Fischer lost his
temper and fred at his adversary. and then. seeing
what he had done. killed himself Fischer was a
one-armed man. having lost his left arm In an ac
cid mt In brewery several years ago. For the
purpose Of defending himself in case OF assault
and robbery he had recently carried revolver.
He leaves a widow and five children.
Kaufman member Of a welknown firm OF
cigar manufa cturers and real estate owners II"
was unmarried. and lived at No II East Sixty
sixih-st. where his body taken He had
lately been staying az Arverne. Long Island