The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-09-01
Litchfeld County.
NEW MILFORD.

On thursday night, August "a,
10 10 p. M, occurred one of the mos
terrible tragedies ever enacted in this
town. X. Trenkaus, who conducted the
bakery and ice cream saloon in the MY
gait block, corner of Bank and Railroad
streets, and under F. G. Bennett & Sons
furniture store, was shot and badly
wounded, and his wife killed by a shol
in the breast by e. Trenkaus, a brothel
of the proprietor, who afterwards CON-
mitted suicide by shooting himself
through the head. The causes that led
to the horrible crime are not clear al
present, but 1t is rumored, and generally
believed that the murderer, who had
been working for his brother but short
time, demanded money to go to New
York with, and becoming Infatuated up
on his refusal to let him have the same,
drew his revolver and fred three shots
at Mr. Trenkaus, one taking effect in each
arm and the third in the breast. He then
turned on Mrs Trenkaus, his sister-in.
law, who tried to help her husband, and
fired at her, the ball entering her breast,
killing her almost instantly. The broth
er, wounded tn ugh he was, managed to
reach the street and shouted for help.
His cries were quickly answered by a
| score of men, who rushed to the scene of
the crime, Just as the murderer dashed
out, and fed, saying that he intended to
| 90 to his brothers. house and kill the
rest of the family, which consisted of his
two children and his sister-in-law. A
brakeman on one of the trains saw the
murderer as he ran, bent on carrying out
his terrible threat, and pluckily gave
chase, and was soon joined by Constable
Bruce Nearing and James Mullins, who
rapidly gained on the fleeing man. The
murderer, realizing that escape was i'm
possible, when in front of the residence
Of J. A. Bodies, turned his weapon upon
his miserable self and blew out his
brains. Frank Evitts and G. Hipp were
the first ones to respond to the cry Of Mr.
Trenkaus for help,and Mr. Evitts reached
the side Of Mrs Trenkaus just as she ex-
PRED, lying on the floor where she had
been shot down. The physicians did all
In their power for the wounded man,
who bore up bravely under the terrible
ordeal, but his sorrow for his dead wife
caused many hearts to ache for the grief
stricken man. He was afterwards taken
to his home on South Main street and
Friday morning DR. Griswold accompa-
MED him to the Danbury hospital. The
remains of Mrs Trenkaus were taken to
the undertaking rooms of Hubert Thorn
as, as was also the body of the murderer.
The remains of the wretched man were
surrounded by large crowd until the
arrival of Medical Examiner r. E. King,
who gave permission for their removal.
After shooting himself through the head,
he evidently fell on his face, badly dis
figuring 1t and presenting shocking
sight. Little is known of the dead man
other than that he came from New York
less than one month ago, and expected
to assist his brother in the bakery. Cor
oner Higgins arrived, Friday morning,
and after getting all the information pos
sible and viewing the remains, did not
deem it necessary to have q hearing.
The murderer was buried from the under
taking rooms on Friday. A sight not
soon to be forgotten was witnessed the
morning following the tragedy when the
husband on his way to the train that was
to take him to the. hospital, stopped to
take the last look at the face of his MUIR
dered wife, who had probably sacrificed
her life in trying to ward off the terrible
danger that threatened him. Her furer-
al service was held on Saturday, followed
by the burial. Mr. Trenkaus is reported
as improving rapidly and is expected
home the last of this week, bat it will be
sad home coming even though his
friends will do all in their power to make
his burden as light as possible. He will
be sOrely handicapped even il he decides
OpCh Alh DdhCl dkhluy &c hlo "llS was
his clerk, besides assisting him q great
deal in the bakery. Mr. Trenksus first
started in business in the basement of
Neisner's block, and finding the need of
larger quarters removed across the street
to the Eddy block, in the store now
occupied as fruit stand, and later to
the scene of the recent tragedy. Both he
and his wife have been known as hard.
working, industrious people, and had the
respect and good will of everyone, and it
is hoped that Mr. Trenkaus will soon be
able to resume business at his old stand.
The rumor that the murderer had been
drinking was not correct, as far as could
be learned, as it was denied by those
who bad seen him shortly before the
shooting, and the. general opinion ex.
pressed is that he committed the deed in
fit of ungovernable rage. Not word
of pity was expressed for the wretched
man even after he had taken his own
life, for he could not in the least by go
doing, atone for the terrible injustice
done his own brother. Too much credit
cannot be given his pursuers, for they
evidently thwarted him from carrying
out the remainder of his murderous
work, namely, killing the two innocent
hchildren and the sister-in-law, and it
must have been evident to them that
they were taking dangerous chances with
a desperate man and that they escaped
unhurt is q source of gratitude to their
many friends. We read of similar trag-
edies daily in the papers and soon forget
them, but this revolving crime has taken
place in our very midst and we are still
unable to realize it in it's full meaning.
| We cannot forget tive can only hope
and trust never to witness another such
sight. D.. +.. ...