New-York tribune., 1899-06-10
HEADLE,SS AT HIS DOOR.
CHARLES BRATCH, A GARDENER, FOUND
DEAD NEAR MOUNT VERNON.
POLICE THINK HE BLEW HIS HEAD OFF, OR
WAS MURDERED-HIS WIFE AND AN


WAS MURDERED-HIS WIFE AND AN
OTHER MAN ARRESTED.
The body of Charles Bratch, an old resident OF
Fleetwood, near Mount Vernon was found last
night in CHASTITY condition, lying near his front
door step The man had apparently been muir
dered with some blunt weapon II he was not
murdered. the police say that he certainly put
dynamite cartridge In his mouth and exploded
1t. The entire top Of his head was gone and
the brains scattered about the door yard
Betsy Bratch, the dead mans wife, and John
Adam, neighbor discovered the body. Their
stories were conflicting that they were both
locked up In the Mount Vernon police station
pending an investigation.
Mrs Bratch told the police that she returned
from work about s o'clock and found the body
lying on the doorstep She said that she went
up and put her hand on the forehead to ascer-
tain If her husband was dead. Adam, who Is
gardener and lives near by. also told the police
that he put his hand on the dead mans fore
head. AS a matter of fact Chief Of Police
Foley Of Mount Vernon says that the man had
no forehead as his entire head was severed from
his body and almost completely mashed Off. He
regards the stories told by the prisoners as I'M
probable. The police expected last night 10
make another arrest which may throw some
light on the tragedy
1t was learned that about ten days ago the
dead man had a quarrel with Louis Zabritsls@
German painter. The trouble was over
fence but not much could be learned of the de-
tails. During the quarrel Zabritske struck
Bratch across the arm with a cane, inficting
black and blue mark. Bratch had Zabritske ar
rested for assault in the third degree. and the
case was tried before Judge Schatz, in the
Court of Special Sessions, Mount Vernon The
Judge regarded the case as family quarrel
and dismissed The complaint. Judge Schatz said
last night that he did not inquire into the origin
of the quarrel except to learn that 1t originated
about fence. Detectives secured Mount Yer
non last night for Zabrtske, and 1t was ex-
pected at midnight that he would be taken into
custody before morning,
Coroner Banning placed the body In Burr
Davis & Co.'S morgue. The Coroner was at
first inclined to think that the man committed
suicide by blowing his head off with dynamite
but an examination Of the pockets disclosed no
letter or explanation The only articles con-
tanned in them were putty knife a key and
handkerchief. The police have been unable TO
find that the dead man had any motive for tax
ing his life. He was a gardener about nfty
years old and had always lived contentedly.
The trouble about the fence is the first diff
Guilty he is ever known to have had. Chief
Foley made a careful search OF the spot where
the body was found but unable to discover
any weapon or anything that might furnish a
clew to the tragedy The search. however was
made with lantern. and the CHIEF later de-
tailed two patrolmen to guard the spot In order
to obtain possession Of anything that daylight
might reveal. Coroner Banning late last night
began post-mortem examination. The Coroner
assisted by Drs Newell and Wiess.