Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-11-06
A SHOCKING HOMICIDE,

al sentiment as the details were related.
Nicholas Offutt is the son Of the late N.
D. Ofutt, Jr. He was born here and has
resided here all his life. He will have reach.
ed his twenty fret birthday on the 18th oil
the present November. He is young man
OF fine appearance and has borne credita-
BILE reputation. He resided with his mother
and two sisters and an elder brother In this
town.
Frank Krachmer was Russian Jew, and
about two months ago he started In to con-
duct green grocery for Lewis Pachino, OF
Halpine, this county, in small storeroom
on the main street in this town, opposite the
Corcoran Hotel, assisted by Rosa Pachino
a sister of the proprietor of the store. He
was in his twentieth year and popular az
business man.
The night OF the shooting the young peo-
pie OF the town were celebrating Halloween
in the fearful costumes appropriate to the
occasion. They visited Krachmer's store
as they did other public and private houses.
While the party was in the store, Krach
mer playiully took hold OF Ellen Ofutt's
falseface and raised 1t slightly from her face
to peer under It, The mask fell to the floor.
Krachmer picked it up and handed 1t to her.
She accepted 1t and went out of the store
with the party celebrating.
When her brother Nicholas was told what
Krachmer had done, he received 1t as an in
suit and at once repaired to Krachmer's place
OF business to resent the misconceived af-
front. After assaulting him with his fists,
he shot Krachmer three times in the body
with pistol bullets. Brachmer was at once
taken to the Georgetown University Hospi
tai at Georgetown, D. O., where he died on
Sunday night about half-past 8 o'clock,
which was Just about twenty.four hours
after he was shot.
Offutt left on the electric Car and went to
Bethesda to give himself up to Deputy Sher-
If Mervin Councilman. The deputy was
not at home. Offutt met Deputy Payton
Whalen at Bethesda and surrendered to
him. Whalen brought Offutt In convey
ance to jail here. AS they were about to
go through the outer jail-door with Whalen
leading, Offutt struck him back OF the ear
knocking him to the floor In dazed condi.
ton, and threw an overcoat over his head.
when Whalen recovered q few seconds later
he rose and found Offutt gone. 1t was about
half-past four o,lock In the morning, and j..
in his pursuit Of Offutt, Whalen fred three
| pistol shots to alarm the citizens of the
neighborhood with the hope OF some OF them
catching Ofutt. But no one came out and
with the start Offutt had he made his es
cape completely. AS Offutt had given him
self up, Deputy Whalen explains that he
did not apprehend any further resistance on
his part and therefore did not handcuff him,
and he was thus unprepared for the attack
Sunday morning the lawful authorities
here notified the police departments of va
rious cities, Of Offutt's criminal deed and
cautioned them to be on the lookout for
him.
Monday afternoon q coroner's inquest
was held at the undertaking establishment
OF W. r. Humphrey, in this town, after the
body of Krachmer was brought back from
the hospital. Justice Of the Peace Joseph
Reading acted as coroner, assisted by States
Attorney Bowie F. Waters. Messrs. Edw.
Q. Peter and Outerbridge Spates represent.
ed the defense, and were permitted by the
courtsy Of the coroner to question some of
the witnesses.
Mr.. John Hilton was the fret witness.
He said: was in the store OF Krachmer on
the night Nicholas Offutt assaulted him. A
gentleman came to the front door and said
some one wanted to see Krachmer out In
front. Krachmer started out and got to the
door. There he met Nicholas Offutt. l
was ready to leave the store and followed
Krachmer to the door. heard OfRutt ask
him why he insulted his sister. Before
gave him a blow In the eye with his fist,
cutting cash under the eye. Krachmer
stepped back against the counter and said
that he did not want to fight and pushed
the door shut. Offutt remained on the
street, swearing violently at Krschmer. Mrs.
Beavers, who was in the store at the same
time, advised Krachmer to go after Balliff
Hewitt and have Offutt arrested He put
on his hat to go, but l advised him not to
go out as Offutt would catch and beat him.
Krachmer did not go out. ORutt went
away and went home. 1 did not see the
shooting
Rosa Pachno next testified that she saw
Offutt hit Krachmer the first time that he
was at the store and saw him shoot Krach-
mer the second time he came to the store.
Offutt lked in the store on his second
visit an found Krachmer behind the coun.
ter ru lg lengthwise Of the storeroom.
He sske, 2rachmer how he felt and struck
| him several times with his fist. Krachmer
placed himself against the wall to get out OF
Ofutts reach. 0ffutt picked up weight
| lying the counter and told Krachmer
that if be "a not come near to him that be
would knock his top off with the weight.
Krachmer passed from behind the counter
and took position behind another counter
standing crosswise OF the store. was stand.
| ing in the passageway between the two
counters and Offutt tried TO push me aside
to go after Krachmer, but be did not sue
coed. Krachmer started to go out through
back door and OfRutt told him II be went
out the door he would shoot him. Krach-
mer went through the door and Offutt fired
through the glass, which fills the upper part
oil the door, five pistol shots at him. ran
out 10 the street and screamed al the top Of
my voice, in my excitement, for help. When
1 returned to the store 1 found Krachmer
lying wounded In the door, which he pushed
open when he fell against it.
Clinton Poole, third witness, testified that
be was In the store when Offutt came back
the second time. He corroborated Miss Pa
chino's testimony Of Offutt's assault with his
a. Kracbroar and hia thraat tn kill