The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-02-15
ACCUSED OF
FRATICIDE
Alexander Legler Was Ar
rested on Exchange Place
Yesterday on a Charge Of
Burning His Brother Carl
DEATH OCCURRED In DECEMBER

a So,VOV INSURANCE DhAN N IN
FAVOR OF THE PRISONER
SUSPICIOUS LETTERS FOUND.
Accused of having burned his brother
Carl to death, Alexander Legler, twenty
two years old. Of NJ. 403 Washington
street, Hoboken, but formerly Of this
city, was arrested in Exchange place by
Detective Sergeant James Larkins.
The motive of the alleged terrible
crime is said to be that of securing the
money on $1,000 insurance policy which
the prisoner held on the life of his
brother. The burning took place at the
boarding house of Mrs. Henry Ruther-
ford, No. 419 Summit avenue, in Decem-
ber last
The first inSimation that Chief Murphy
received of the alleged crime was In the
shape oz tip from citizen who told
him inst the circumstances attending the
burning of Carl Legler were suspicious.
An investigation was made and the re-
ports the Chief received were such as to
at least justify the arrest of Alexander,
the brother of the dead man. The latter
was one year older than the prisoner.
The prisoner is employed in the equip
ment department of the New York and
New Jersey Telephone Company in Dey
Greet, New York. His dead brother
was an assistant steward on a steam
ship running between Colon and New
York
The prisoner told Chief Murphy that
ho and his brother agreed to have their
Ewes insured in each others favor. Carl
was insured for $1,000 in the Metropol-
itan and for 81 GOO in the Fidelity and
Casualty Company. He admitted that
he had made application for policy
but did not go any further. So far he
has been unable to collect any insurance
money due on his brothers death.
The story related by the prisoner was
to the following effect, That he went
hoIhe~at 1890 P. NJ. on December IA,
and Went to bed. He was in the habit
Of sleeping On the outside and his broth
er next to the wan. He was sound
asleep when Carl crawled in beside him.
About 11.30 O'Clock he suddenly found
himself on the floor and he believed that
be had been kicked out of bed. He saw
Carl enYeloped in a pillar of flames"
leap over the footboard of the bed. He
screamed and the Rutherfords rushed in
from an adjoining room and heiped
smother the blaze. He ran downstairs
and returned with pail of water. which
hepoured over his brother.
DR.. a. ". A. Smith attended Carl,
who died five days later. but the physi
clan did not report the case, believing
the FIRE 70 have been an accident
Chief Murphy says the prisoner gave
his brother powder shortly before he
died, claiming that the doctor had or
dered it.
In responding to the screams of the
burning man. Mrs. Rutherford said she
kicked over a bottle that had contained
benzine and which was lying on the floor.
This the brother Alexander had osten-
sibly secured to remove some grease
stains from his clothing.
That the bed was burned only on the
side on which Carl slept looks suspicious
TO Chief Murphy
How do you suppose your brother got
on FIRE in bed?" asked the Chief of the
prisoner.
II think it must have been two match
eg rubbing together"
The two brothers came from Baxley,
Georgia. Their father, Alexander Leg
Ter, Sr., Is promoter. Among the pris-
oner's effects was found letter written
on paper Of the National Hotel, Wash
ington, dated January I. which said,
among other things! that 'sif We three
startef3 up with $1,000 we could make
lot Of money "We three" appeared
to consist of the two Leglers and a Mr..
Howe The father adds in closing: Il
hope you are well and getting things in
good shape with the insurance compa
snies.'
When Detective-Sergeant Larkin went
to Legler's boarding house in Hoboken
last night he found party in progress.
Guests hooked on while he removed u
trunk containing the prisoners effects,
which he brought to police headquarters
IN this city.
Legler was arraigned before Police
Justice Higgins in the First Criminal
j Court this morning, and or the advice
Of Chief Of Police Murphy the hearing
was postponed until next Monday. The
Chief said the evidence was such as to
put the defendant on the defense and
that he was satisfied a prima-faeie ease
could be made against him, but that
depositions would have 10 be made BY
Witnesses IN Georgia as well as in this