Arizona republican., 1920-06-08
COUPLE FATALLY BEATEN r FOUND ON BED
MT. and Mrs. Jacob Erhardt Victims of Unknown Assailants In One of Most Cold-Blooded Attacks Re- Ported In this City

Victims of the most cold blooded and brutal murders ever recorded in this vicinity, MT. and Mrs. Jacob Erhardt, pioneers of Phoenix. were slain some time Monday night at their home, 1922 West Van Buren street. by some fiend or fiends who apparently had entered to rob. Mrs. Erhardt died shortly after being taken to St. Joseph's hospital The husband lived until 5:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
 Robbery is believed to have been the motive for the staying as the house was thoroughly ransacked. This. how ever, took place after the attacks, as several articles of wearing apparel were found to have been handled by bloody hands.
 Mrs. Erhardt was attacked while in the kitchen adjoining the screened porch where both slept Terribly wounded and almost unconscious, she had crawled in her blood to the bed where she laid down beside the hus- band who had been fatally attacked as he slept.
 Discovered by Son
 The murderous assaults had been made after the assailant had gained entrance through a window on the west. single jack, a blunt miners tool, was used in beating Mrs. Erhardt, and a shingle or lathipg hatchet is thought to have been the weapon used in at tacking MT. Erhardt. The discovery of their bodies, lying in pools of blood, on a bIood-Eoaked mattress was made by the eldest son, Jacob Erhardt, Jr.s lieutenant at Central fire station, at about 40 o'clock yesterday morning.
 Lieutenant Erhardt left the fire sta- tion shortly after o'clock to go to the home of his parents to take breakfast. When he drove along the drive on the east side of the house, which passes the screened porch, where his parents slept. Mir. Erhardt noticed that his fathers face was covered with blood ana he rushed into the house, passing the pool of blood in the kitchen, and into the porch. Both parents were still breathing though unconscious and Mir Erhardt at once called the police 1 The couple were moved to St. Joseph's s hospital where Mrs. Erhardt died shortly after her arrival.
 While the sheriffs office and the police are making every effort to find definite clue to the murderer or mur- derers, they are making public all the l developments in the case. Knowledge that horror and gathering indignation ! that such a terrible double crime could l be committed in this city leads the of fieials to be doubly careful that nOth- ! ing is done which would encourage mob rule.
 l Arrest Is Made
 ] It is known, however, that man was arrested last evening by the police 1 in Room 9 of a certain botel in this city. In the room were found several | blood stained garments.
 ss@T4 been occurring in that neighborhood ! recently. MT. Erhardt. at the solicita- i tion of his sons, loaded a sawed-off shotgun with large buckshot and kept it by his side. For the past few nights he has laid this gun Sn the porch rail 1 within reach of his hand. The gur was not disturbed. and had not been moved by the murderers, giving rise to the theory that Mir Erhardt was struck while asleep.
 A single jack hammer weighing four pounds was found by Chief of Police Brisbois on the lawn in the front part 1 of the home. It was covered with blood and is thought to have been the instrument used in the murder. The hammer found does not belong to the Erhardt house and is a blunt, fist like instrument. which miners use 1T driving their drills.
 From wounds found on the skull oi
 
 or lathing hatchet was used. On the left cheek Of Mrs. Erhardt is a shary incision made by some very sharp in strument, all other wounds on her body were made bX the use of the blunt in strument. This gives srise to tho theory that they were attacked by two men. one striking Mrs Erhardt a blow with the lathing hatchet as he passed her in the kitchen. The Wielder of tho lathing hatchet, then passed into the screeend porch and assaulted Mir. Er- hardt while he lay asleep, leaving the other fiend to silence Mrs. Erhardt.
 Finger Prints Taken
 Shortly after the aged couple were found officers from the sherifTs office the police department detectives anC representatives from the county attOr. ney's office were at the scene making thorough investigation OF the affair Finger prints and other clues wer, being taken by the officers.
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