Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1922-01-03

1t was later learned that the mur-
der was the result of brawl taking
| place at Szt.er's home on the morn
ing CT December 20. He said he had
| ,berated his Jilia, who ,vae' 10
! years old, for getting drunk so early
| in the morning and that following
| his rebuke sh cursed him and began
! to throw various articles of furniture
at him. Tue killing occurred when
Szeler seized his w.fc by the throat
choEed her until she was uncon-
scious and struck her twice on the
head with "a small hatchet after
throwing her body to the floor.
The carrenter then removed his
wife dead body to the cellar, ac-
cording to his story, where he COW
cred it will a shee. taken from her
bed and placed four boards over her.
SZeler then went to the home of his
cousin at Keasbey.
When TIL. police finally gave cred
ence to the story related by Szeler
Officer Frank Seiboth and Chauffeur
William Clooney were detailed to
the Stockton stree. nome with the
confo ssed murderer to investigate
the strange tale. Clooney and Sell
bots: were ta.ken up stairs and shown
the room where Szeier said he chok-
ed mis- wife and then to the cellar
where the man revealed the body,
which was doubled up in corner.
Seiboth picked up a hatchet lying
nearby and SZeler is declared to have
idehtified the weapon as the one he
had used t. kill his wife when he
didn't want to see her suffer" as
he put it later.
Coroner Edward Hanson was no.
tified by the police of the occur
renee and ordered Undertaken
James j. Flynn to take charge OF
! the body An examination late"
conducted showed marks upon the
neck and a fracture of the skull on
the left side where the hatchet
struck. The rest of the body was
consIlrably bruised.
The officers said that at no time
did Szeler show any agitation and
that he was perfectly willing to an
swer all questions put to him by the
| authorities. He told his story in d
! cool. dispassionate way giving every
| detail from the time he arose on the
morning OF the murder until he gave
| himself up. SZeler said he lived
with his cousin at Keasbey all dur
| ing last week, but returned to his
+ home each day in order 20 examine
the body of his wife, He expresscI
| fear that she might revive.
Shortly after the investigation 10y
| Officers Clooney and Seiboth reveal
| ed the fact that Szeler was really
| telling the truth he was subjected To
an examination by Captain Law
| renee A. Long and Detective Lieu
tenant John Murray. Lieutenant
| Michael Muska acted as interpreter
| when Sellers knowledge of Eng
| lish failed to make his statement 5
/ clear. A complete confession aad
account of the strange murder was
obtained. The signed witnesses wecc
! William Clooney, Captain Long and
William Fitzpatrick. of the county
detective force.
"The res son | Li!led my wife -
Szeicr said lis that she has been
drinking for the last three years
and r. nHt been taking the proper
care of In food l have been bringing
to my Il Sh has been going 10
a doctor in Milltowl every week for
some s.omach trouble"
'On tn 25th OF December about
o'clock in the morning I left her
lying in bed. | went out to buy a
paper about . clock. When l
came back to the hc use she was ap
ana was dunk. / said to her:
"'Are you drunl. air eadyY
Sh > starte to curse me and threw
things ct me. | went to the front
room one size followed me. | grab
bed her by the throat and choked
her"
she was breathing yet" Szeler
continued and | got scared, so L
picked up a hatchet and hit her
twice IN the let. side of her head,
near the temple. Then | left her ly-
2 ON the floor, locked the door and
went out. In a half hour / came
back. wrapped her body in a bed
sheet, and put her into a closet. |
then went out of the house and came
back, several times.