Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-11-14

I Upon his release Pfaffendorf started
back for North Arlington with the
prosecutor and County Detectives
Courier and Blauveit. He deciarca
that he wanted TO help the aufhoIz-
ties. and denied that his disappear
ance after the finding Of Rfttenbach'a
body Tuesday morning was Inspired
by fear. He merely left home, he
said. because he was aware that tire
feud between him and the murdered
man was matter of common gossip
and wanted to be placed under the
least Inconvenience possible II the
authorities should come to believs
that he knew anything OF the crime.
Prosecutor Wright. before he STAR
ed for North Arlington. said he had
the whole case well in hand, and was
confident he could make public hiz
solution Of the mystery in a short
time.
The coroner's jury. which acted Il
the inquest held At Coroner Collins
morgne in Rutherford last night.
brought in a verdict of murder by :
person or persons unknown,
The members Of this jury were
Mayor William Brandenburg. Of
North Arlington: Tax Collector Rich
ard Smith. Edward Moskowitz. Nil
ton Strauss. Edward j. Kramer and
Arthur z. Auth
Before this County Physician Arna-
strong had performed the aztopsy.
This showed that Rittenbach had met
his death from A single bullet, which
entered his body near the left shoul-
der blade and ploughed through the
heart and lungs. finishing its course
within a qnarter-inc OF the right
breast. Death, the county physician
said. must have been instantaneous.
Fix Time of Murder.
The findings OF the county physi-
clan substantiated to a great degree
the theories of the authorities with
regard to the time of the shooting.
1t is believed that Rittenbach met
his death late Saturday night or early
Sunday morning. The condition OF
the body. the county physician said.
showed that he had been dead for
forty-eight hours when the body was
/ found on Tuesday.
Persons who witnessed the autop-
sy, or who viewed the body OF the
murdered man as it lay IN Coroner
Coilins's morgue, have commented
ons the magnificent physique of Rif-
tenbaeh- Although not tall he was
powerfully built. with big bulging
muscles, a deep chest and shoulders
of abnormal broadness.
A friend of Rittenbach In North
ArliuUfAr1 foGaz-
dered mans magnificent PROPORTIONS
Rittenbach, he said was for three
years champion light heavyweight
wrestler of Germany. and at one time
was in line for the worlds champions
ship.
He wrestled George Hackenschmidt.
the Russian Lion" and former
champion OF the world. when the big
grappler was in his prime. and was
more than holding his own when he
was forced to give UP on account of
a broken arm.
Rittenbach's earnings as wrestler
were large his friend said, and he
cannot explain how it was necessary
for him to earn his living as a porter
in saloon and by doing odd jobs
after coming to this country.
Prosecutor Wright would not saw
whether the warrant on which Pfaf-
fenforf was arrested might be
changed to hold him on any more
serious charge The authorities say
they are convinced that Pfanendorf
knows the whole story OF the mur-
der. They base their assumption On
the close connection that existed be-
tween Rittenbach and the hotel keep
er prior to their quarrel Of last June.
which resulted in Rittenbach's ar
rest in charge Of attempted arson
and threatening to kill.
Rittenbach formerly lived at Pfaf-
fendorf's hotel The man now being
held as a witness Is said to have
shown Rittenbach the oor when the
former wrestler displayed too great
a fondness for Mrs Pfaffendorf. and
is also believed to have inspired the
charges which his wife brought
against Rittenbaeh. and which result
ed In him being locked up for four
months in the Bergen county Jail
Rittenbach Was held at the jail fo7
four months after his arrest on June
6. on his release he came directly
back to Arlington. and get employ
ment in the saloon OF Joseph Fine Al
Midland avenue and Elm street lie
left there Thursday night. acnordine
10 Fine. on the receipt Of a messas9.