Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-12
Night Of Reyelry Is End
ed by the Death
OF Hostess.
MRS. BEHRENS SHOT DOWN
IN WASHINGTON ST. HOUSE
Charles W. Todd Locked Uh
Without Bail Accused
of the Crime.

At the height of merry gathering
in the big clearinghouse she conduct
cd at 50s-5Ob Washington street.
Meta Frances Bebrens. known some
times at Stafford, was shot and
almost instantly killed early this
morning. Charles W. Todd. boarder,
is held without bail. charged with her
murder
She died in the ambulance on the
way to ST. Barnabes's Hospital from
the wound the bullet had torn in the
side of her head.
Todd was quickly arrested. He pro-
tseted his innocence. but at least
woman among the jewellers swore she
had seen him fire the shots, and Judge
Hahn held him without bail IN the
First Precinct Court on a charge or
murder. Four others OF the party were
locked up as witnesses
In Todds pocket the police say they
found a bloodstained So bill, which will
be used as evidence against him In the
trial
Man OpeB AJEasres.
The slain woman, though As years
old, was strihngly beautiful. Todd
had been one of her fourteen boarders
Tor three years, and he was an open
sdmirer Of Mrs, Behrens.
The landlady invited him, among
The rest of her tenants, to attend
party in the big parlors last night.
\ elf-playing piano ground out hum
dreds Of tunes. Liquor flowed freely.
end by o'clock in the morning the
lnelrimont had reached such a height
that the neighbors were disturbed.
rnf1e other members of the party say
it was sometime between 8 and o'clock
this morning when Todd. who is eccen-
tric. and had been left somewhat to
himself on that account, arose from
his chair and walked over to the couch
ON which Mrs Behrens sat talking to
another man.
Demands Woman's Attention.
why don't you talk to me instead
of him?" he began, jealously, but the
other man only laughed and the woman
told him to go away and mind his
business He walked from the room
and the revelling party promptly for
got the incident.
But twenty minutes later Todd re-
appeared. Some Of the earlier board
ers were about to retire, and one or
two visitors were ready to depart. Mrs.
Behrens stood Just beyond the portiers
of the parlor door saying goodbye to
one of them, when the guests say,
Todd stepped in from the hall, leveled
the revolver and fred two bullets at
the woman point blank. Only one bull
let struck her. but she fell to the floor
unconscious with a fearful wound In
the side of her face and head.
Calls Police Headquarters.
Some of the boarders screamed. and
one rushed to a phone and called
frantically over the line to police head
quarters. But some of the others had
already left the room or the building
and did not hear the shot.
Miss Viola Christopher. %, of 4S9
Washington street, was standing near.
Todd turned upon her, then pointed to
the body on the floor and said:
Don't you dare tell you saw me do
this or I'll finish you, too" Miss
Christopher ran shr1eking from the
room.
Five minutes afterward i5ergeants
Koerber and Walzer dashed up to the
house In the patrol wagon. The woman
was still breathing, but II was plain
she could not survive.
While she was hurried to an ambu-
lance Roundsman Dauth, with Patrol |
men Dunn, Dyer and Skillman reached
the scene.
Sergeant Koerber found Todd in an
other part of the house and arrested !
him. He protested that he had not
killed the woman. but the pistol was
found and other boarders identified it
as belonging to him.
Held as witnesses.
He was taken to police headquarters |
along with Mrs. Christopher. Frederick
Van Kurer. %; James Wolff, 25, and |
Walter e. Peck, all of whom were
named as witnesses
Todd continued to declare that he |
had not fired the fatal shot, but Mrs. |
Christopher gave him the lie, and so
much other evidence developed against
him that the police brought the murder
charge at once.
Todd is a glassblower. The woman
was said to own several houses in the
neighborhood and to entertain lavishiy
among her friends.
Mrs. Behrens leaves three brothers.
Henry, John and Otto, all of whom
live in New York She has three sis
ters also, but their names and resi-
dences could not be obtained.
Todd Engages Lawyer.
Todd is to be represented by Attorney /
Frank McDermit, who said his client
will plead not guilty at the hearing TO
be NeId tomorrow morning. Frank Nc
DerAnit and Chauncy Beasley appeared |
for tAe witnesses.
lFcrse Blankets, New stock. |