The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-07-26
Draughtsman Employed in New
York and Living Here Car
ried Jewelry and Money.
GOLD WATCH AND DIAMOND
STUD AND RING MISSING
Miss Ann Maier, His Fiancee,
Gave Him Revolver to Pro-
tect Himself With.

Strong suspicion of murder surrounds
the mysterious death OF Benjamin
Nittinger, q years old of $40 Bergen
street, who was found dead with a bull
let through his head and his pockets
turned inside out in a lot at Al South
Tenth street this morning.
1T was murder" declares Miss Ann
Maier, to whom he was engaged, and
whom he was to have married on
Wednesday Miss Maier was the last
person TO see him alive. when he LETT
her home. at sas South Nineteenth
street. at 1880 this morning She gave
him pistol to protect himself with.
Two threatening messages received N
the last month by Nittinger tend to
bear out the theory that his fiancee
holds. On the other hand his revolver
ives found between his feet with two
empty caasnbers. County Physician
Mckenzie has not made up his mind
whether it is case of murder or sui
eide.
The autopsy was performed at
Holle's Morgue about noon by County
Physician Mckenzie Only one bullet
was found in the mans head. 1t was
Of the same calibre as the revolver
found near the body. This would in
dicate that the man had committed
suicide, were it not for the fact that
there were two empty shells in the
revolver. The man may have shot
twice at his assailants without hitting
them and then have received the fatal
bullet himself, providing that the rnur-
der theory is correct.
When E. H. Goebel, who boarded
with the dead man. was asked over the
telephone about what he knew about
his friend he at first refused to talk
Finally, however, being convinced of
the necessity. he expressed his surprise
over the tragedy. and gave as many
details as he knew.
Il last saw Mr.. Goebel when he left
the house yesterday morning at, as near
as l can remember, about 10 or IL
o'clock You say he had revolver
with him? No. don't think it was a
case OF suicide. Yes, twice he was
threatend with his life. When found
did he have on diamond ring he had
been wearing? l would like to know
that, for when he left the house he was
wearing a valuable diamond ring. He
was employed in New York by a large
civil engineering firm as a craftsman
and made good money. as far as 1
know. He was in good spirits when he
left the house.
Delay In Reporting Case.
There was considerable delay before
the police got TO work owing TO the
fact that although the body was dis
covered at 4:s0 this morning the report
was not telephoned into the Fourth
Precinct station until O'Clock. ami
then by another man than Gottfried
F'ruebiling. of 472 South Tenth street.
who found the body.
Fruebillng is the watchman on the
new houses being constructed in the
lots backing up on the vacant one in
which the body was found. Fruebiling
said this morning that he went over
the house at o'clock last night and
then went 70 bed. At 4:s0 this MORN
ing he again came into the lot to go
through the premises again. when his
attention was attracted to what ap-
peared to be man lying at the foot
of pile of lumber, which is being
used for the building.
The man appeared to be dead. and
Fruebiling stopped a passing peddler
to ask what he should do about 1t.
The latter was in hurry and would
not help him. A few minutes later the
watchman approached a pedestrian
with the same request but met with
no aid.
At $3.50 jacob Mood. who lives at 465,
the house adjoining the lot. came out
and after looking at the body called
the police on the phone
Fruebiling declared that during the
night he heard no shot. Miss Francis
Henneman. of 461 South Tenth street.
stated to the police today. however,
that about midnight she had heard =
report like that Of revolver. She
had been asleep at the time.
IT.