The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-10-25
SUSPECT MURDER
IN kARCHER CASE
At WEST ORANGE
Police Seeking Five Men Named
by Victim in Last
Moments.
BELIEVE CARPENTER
WAS BEATEN TO DEATH
Victim Brought Home Thursday
Night by Stranger, Who
Then Ran Away.

Jacob Frederick Karcher, a master
carpenter, lies dead at his home, "a
Whittlesey avenue. West Orange. and
the police of that town and officers
from the prosecutors Office are looking
for the men who 1t is believed caused
his death.
Karcher was brought home on Thurs
day night in badly battered state,
unable to speak. He had been uncon-
scious from that time until his death,
at o'clock this morning, except for
few minutes yesterday afternoon. when
he muttered the names Of five men.
These names have been given to the
police, who are working on the theory
that the men can tell something about
Karcher's injuries.
Cou.sy Physician NJ. Herbert Sim
mons and DIR. William M. Brien, former
mayor of West Orange, made an exam
ination of the body today and found
that Karcher had suffered a fracture
of the skull, a broken left arm and four
broken ribs, besides Internal injuries.
L was ABOUT O.oU " CiOCh oi lhahSO0S
night when Mrs. Karcher, who was in
her home, heard the sound of footsteps
on the porch. She opened the door and
saw her husband lurching up the steps
and MIN assisting him. She asked
what was the matter, but instead OF
replying, the man with her husband
pushed him forward into her arms. she
again asked him what had happened
and the stranger slammed the door and
went down the stoop
\ Mrs ISarcher half carried her hus-
4 band into a bedroom adjoining a sit
ting room on the same floor. While
she was removing her husbands coat
Frederick, the favorite child of the
fathers came into the room and re-
moved his parents shoes. That was as
much as they could do. as the man
was helpless and unable to speak. He
was put to bed. He moaned all night
/ and once signalled for a drink of water.
The next morning Mrs. Karcher saw
that hey husband was breathing heavi-
! lv ft at his face was discolored.
He N It'll unable to talk and held
up his left hand, wriggling the fingers.
His wife took this as sign that his
hand was hurt and applied home reme-
dies.
DR.. Brien was called in and found
that blood was running from the
mans mouth. When he stripped hin,
he found his left arm broken with the
bones almost protruding. The ply
sician used every means to restore con-
sciousness. without success. karcher
fingered in this condition until yester-
day afternoon, when he signalled to
have them raise him in his bed. Police
man George Busold, who was In the
house since Friday In the hope of find
ing out what had happened, was pres
ent when the man was raised in bed.
Karcher was heard to murmur some
thing, and his wife states positively
that he mentioned the names of five
men, indicating that they had beaten
him. Busod could not understand
what the man said. or the men named
by Mrs Karcher one is former po-
liceman, with whom, 1t is said,
Karcher had a fight two years ago,
and another is saloon keeper in west
Orange.
The police are now directing their
search for the man who accompanied
Izarcber home. They believe that he
| knew hdTt1itI dud WiiNiS NV iifSN' hA
the man himself was unable to speak.
Mrs. Karcher describes the man as be-
ing about five feet six inches tall and
wearing a cap and reddish brown over
aIls, among other things. She had only
an indistinct vision of him in the light
of the doorway, she states.
IT is known that Karcher had been
drinking heavily. and it Is believed he
was beaten and kicked. In his drinking
spells, it is said, he was quarrelsome.
The saloonkeeper, who Mrs. Karcher
SAYS was mentioned by her husband,
when seen today said that Karcher
had not been in his place in several
weeks. and that he had not seen him.
Another saloonkeeper in the neighbor-
hood said the man was in his place
on either Tuesday or Wednesday but
not on Thursday.
The theory that the man may have
been struck by an automobile Is not
! considered for the reason that the
roads In the vicinity of his home are
not suited for the travel of motor cars.
Karcher,s home is only a short dis
tance from the Eagle Rock trolley
line and not far from several saloons,
Karcher was 81 years old and Of Penn
sylvania Dutch stock. 1t Is said o
,, him that he was unable to speak Eng
Iish until he was Il years old. Hi
family includes, besides his wife, tive
sons and three daughters. He had re
sided in West Orange for many years
and apparently did prosperous bust
n ness.
Captain Of Police William H. Bam
ford Of West Orange. is leading th
investigation in person, and Detective
, walter Godfrey is representing th'
n,osecutors Office.