The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-30

The quiet village of West Pittston
was the scene of most shocking trag-
edy Tuesday evening, when John Lutz
made a probably successful attempt
to kill his wife with an axe and then
tried to commit suicide.
The scene of the crime Is a two
story frame building at the corner of
Montgomery and Franklin streets.
Here John Lutz, aged about 80 years.
employed as an assistant firemen at
the Exeter colliery, his wife, Mrs Au-
gusta Schriebler Lutz, and five chill
dren, the eldest of whom is about thir-
teen years of age and the youngest
about 2 years old, lived life that
was not quite as peaceful as ii should
be.
Lutz, it is said, was somewhat al
dicted to the liquor habit and while
slightly under it's influence he acted
very queerly. giving the impression
that his mind was not evenly balance ],
and this impression is augmented by
the fact that his father was at one
time confined in Danville asylum and
his mother was at times not mentally
sound.
Lutz was also of a very jealous dis
position and was under the impression
that different men were paying atten-
tions to Mrs. Lutz in his absence, even
going so far at times as to insist
that the curtains on the windows
should be raised to their full height,
so as he came near the house he could
see whether any men were there ore
not. The neighbors, however, say that
Mrs. LutZ was a very Industrious wo-
man and was perfectly innocent of the
accusations of her husband. Although
at times LutZ threatened to abuse his
wife he is not known to have threat
ened her life.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
The deed was committed at 1890
o'clock Tuesday night and the only in
formation as to the events leading up
to the affair is obtained from the chill
dren
A Tribune man had talk with Hen
rietta Lutz, the only daughter, aged
about II years, who was asleep in a
bed with her mother. Her story Is sub
stantially as follows: Mr.. Lutz had
been working yesterday and came
home for supper at the usual hour.
After supper the discussion of family
matters led up to an argument which
resulted in Mr. Lutz leaving the house
In somewhat of a temper. He returned
shortly afterward. He requested his
| daughter to play the organ for him.
| She was tired and sleepy and didn't
| care to do 1t.
Lutz reprimanded her and Mrs. Lutz
| took the girls part Shortly after
ward the children were taken up stairs
| to bed by their mother. Lutz remark
| ed when he came into the house that
| If his wife didn't have breakfast ready
| for him in the morning, the next day
would be an unhappy one for them.
| Two of the children slept in one bed
room and Henrietta, the daughter
slept in another room>in which tho
baby slept in a crib. Mrs. Lutz took
off her shoes and, with her clothes on
| laid down on the bed alongside oi
Henrietta, the husband being as yet
| downstairs. Later Henrietta was
awakened by the crying of the baby
and as she raised herself to a sitting
position she placed her hand in 2
pool of blood in the bed She heari
footsteps in the hall and then heard
something like an axe drop in another
! room, and her father got into bed
Her mother had uttered no scream, bu
was moaning.
Through fear of her father the cir
said nothing for few minutes. Final
! ly by the dim rays of a light in the
hallway she saw blood flowing from
cut on her mothers ear She calleC
to her brother who Immediately arose
and in coming to her aid passed the
room in which was the bed where tht
father lay, an axe by his side and
pocketknife on the floor. Hurrying tc
his mothers room he saw the condition
she was in and ran out for a police
officer, who Immediately sent for doc
tors, and rushed to the scene.
A CHASTITY sight met the gaze of the
physicians as they entered the room
In which was Mrs. Lutz. She lay or
the edge of the bed. big pool of blood
on the floor, the pillow and bedclothe
all soaked with the life giving ele
ment and the wall at the head of tn,
bed bespattered with blood. The
young girl in the meantime had ariser
and. taking the babe from the crib
went back into bed and was seated II
the blood, with the babe in her arms
alongside her bleeding mother. Al
examination showed the woman to b.
in a horrible state, She had two ugl,
gashes on the right side Of the head
her ear was split and there was a dec
cut between the first and second fin
gers.
No one saw the deed committed, bu