The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-07-31
TRYING TO CLEAR
A MURDER MYSTERY
Prominent Warren, Pa, Man
Charged with Staying
One of His Employees.
National News Associatioul

tNatlonAl News ASS0ClA tla01
Warren. Pa. July 31.-Arguments
were heard today by Judge Hinckles
in this city on the application for a
new trial in the case of John Nj. An
drews, former superintendent of the
Warren waterworks, convicted OF the
| murder of Emile Amann. one of his
| former suhordinates. Owing to the
many peculiar and highly mystifying
| features OF the case the trial of An
drews attracted a great deal of atten-
ton throughout the state and the de-
selopments since the trial, upon which
| is based the motion for new trial
! for the convicted Andrews. have ad-
ded materially to the mystery sur
| rounding the case and to the state
wide interest aroused by it.
The interesting history Of the case
dates back several years, and person
al jealousies and political and social
intrigues seem to have played an i'm
portant part in it. Andrews and Am
ann We're friends several years ago,
when both entered the field OF poll
tics and Andrews won out by being ap-
pointed superintendent of the Warren
waterworks, which are owned by the
American Water Works company of
Pittsburg, Pa, while Amann was as
signed to a subordinate position. AM
AIMS jealousy over the success of his
former friend is said to have caused
a serious breach in the relations of the
two men.
Caused Many Deaths
\
demic broke out in Warren, which
caused the death of more than seven
ty persons. After the epidemic had
been stamped out by heroic methods
and the excitement somewhat subsid-
ed, Amann produced tremendous SEN
sation by pointing out that foul and
tagnant well, full of the fever germs,
had been allowed to drain into the res
ervoir and had thus contaminated the
drinking water of the citizens of War
rem. Amann stated at the time that
Andrews knew of that fact and had
intended to dam the connection be-
tween the we'll and the reservoir be-
fore the investigation could be made.
So great was the indignation of the
citizens against Andrews in conse-
quence of Amanns statement, that
there was an open talk of lynching
him. Andrews, who was never very
popular, as he was too exclusive, de-
MED the truth of Amann's story and
charged that it was Amann who had
known of the we'll, but had never re-
ported its existence, as he should have
done The investigation by the au-
thorities showed that the we'll was re-
sponsible for the epidemic, but for
some reason no legal steps were ever
taken against Andrews or Amann.
On March 25, 1910, President A. w.
Lynn, of the Water Works Company
arrived in Warren and, after brief
examination of the accounts of the
officefi which is said to have shown a
discrepancy in the figures, he dis
charged Andrews, who was bonded for
5000. There is a story that Amann,
7 after a conference with Andrews,
wrote and signed confession, admit
!, ting that he and not Andrews was re-
sponsible for the shortage.
Some time in January of this year
Amanns friends sought to persuade
him to withdraw his alleged confes-
sion, and it is said that Amann prom
, ised to follow their advice. This was
never done, however, for on the fol-
lowing night, January q, 1911, Amann
: was killed by three shots from an au-
tomato pistol, after he had visited the
: reservoir during a severe storm. There
was strong feeling against Andrews
and the public suspected him of hav-
ing killed Amann. He was carefully
watched for several days and finally
arrested on the charge of murder.
A Sensational Trial.
The following trial was full of inter
esting and sensational features, An
drews tried to prove an alibi, which he
partially established, but there was
; some conflicting evidence, to the eff
feet that he had been seen coming
from the direction of the reservoir