The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-08-13
MERCHANT MURDERED
WITHIN A BLOCK OF
NASHVILLE SQUARE
ABRAHAM HENNlNo STABBED TO
DEATH BY AN UNKNOWN
HAND.
ROBBER7 WAS TIKI MOTIVE
Aqed Jewish Tradesman Asked 10
Show Trousers And While Doing
So Was Assassinated in Most Cow
ardIy Manner.

N II v
ham Henning, one o. the proprietors
~ the clothing store, H. Henning &
Co. 2O2 Second avenue, north, was
stabbed through the heart and instant
" killed in his store Friday evening
shortly after o'clock. There is no
clue that sheds the least light upon
the identity Of the murderer. Inc
purpose of the murder was robbery.
Returning from shopping trip 10
the market house, after an absence
from the store of not more than fifteen
minutes. Mrs. Henning and a young
daughter, Miss Ada, found the body
upop the floor. Mr.. Henning had fall
len after the fatal knife thrust and
was lying upon his side. The hfeless
hands grasped pair of trousers
which he had evidently been trying TO
sell to the murderer
There we're three wounds, only one
of them being of serious nature. The
latter was knife stab below the
left nipple and Immediately above the
heart. Bleeding from the wound was
internal. The upper portion of the
lower lin was cut clearly away. The
left side of the face was slightly
gashed. A pool Of blood had gathered
on the floor from the two latter
wounds.
Mr., Henning had been attacked
within twelve feet from the Second
avenue entrance to the store. He mad
uncovered a stack of mems trousers
and was evidently showing them with
the endeavor TO make sale when ne
was assaulted. The exact manner OF
the murder will most probably remain
a mystery unless told by the murder
er himself.
Near the street door, and BEHIND
the counter, is the cash drawer. Ihls
had been opened and the days sales,
amounting TO some $35, had been ia
ken. Almost within reach of the cash
drawer is the safe. Although this was
omen at the time of the tragedy its
contents were untouched. Besides
papers and account books there was
the sum of $500 in currency in the
unprotected receptacle. All the cash
in the drawer was taken except two
five-cent coins and half dollar. A
check was also left behind.
Immediately upon finding the body,
Mrs. Henning and her daughter gave
the alarm. Acting Chief Of Detectives
Irwin and the officers of the beat were
summoned. 1t was seen at once that
life was extinct, and every effort was
made to secure some clue that might
lead to the apprehension OF the per
petrators of the deed.
Absolutely nothing of a personal
nature had been left behind by the
daring murderer. A thorough search
for the knife which must have been
of long, keen blade, was unsuccess-
full All that could be learned was
that two white men had been seen TO
enter and leave the store while Mrs.
Henning and Miss Ada were absent.
This statement was made by Ed
Bufcrd, a negro, employed at the Nv
cry stable of B. F. Wilkerson, imme-
diately across the street. No descrip'
ton of the men, beyond the fact that
they wore blue overalls, could be OBJ
tanned from Buford. Many people en-
ter the place each day, and the negro
paid little attention to these particular
individuals. Their entrance and exit
1t was calm and unhurried, he stated.
It was understood that, when closely
questioned, Buford was not positively
certain whether the men were white
or black
The crime was evidently the result
of a carefully planned and well exc
cuted plot. The Hennings live on the
floor above their store. All day and
night, except for time in the after
Moons, there are several people in the
building. The habits of the family
were unknown to. the murderers. ana
When Mrs. Henning and Miss Ada
left for the short walk to the market
house for the next days vegetables
Mr.. Henning was seated before the
door in chair. Evidently the muir
derer entered the place followed by
Mr.. Henning Asking to be shown
pair of trousers he was led back to
the proper counter and allowed his
victim to uncover the pile. While Mr..
Henhing was using both hands to dis.
play the garments, he evidently struck
with the knife, inficting the face
wounds.
The clothing of the dead man was
not disarranged or ill-used. Except