Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1860-03-21 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

DREADFUL MURDER AT EHRENRREITSTEIX.—TI2c small town of Ehrenbreitstein, which lies at the foot of the gigantic fortress of that name, has been just frightened out of its propriety by the commission of a dreadful murder within its quiet precincts. At the Coblenr Carnival on Shrove Tuesday no character was more conspicuous than Herr Meeks, a well-to-do proprietor of a tavern adjoining the post-offiee in Ehrenbreitstein. Disguised as a buxom matron, supposed to be celebrating her "az/bee-locked," or 25th anniversary of her weddingday, he sat in a huge van drawn by eight horses. Seated by the side of his consort, he dispensed nods and smiles to the admiring crowd. A band of musicians, in grotesque dresses, occupied the front of the vehicle, while a humpbacked cook, in appropriate attire, waited on the wedding , feast, and replenished the spacious bowl of Rhine wine, from which both bride and bridegroom indulged in frequent potations. In the evening, at the bat maser at the theatre, he was again the observed of all observers, , his jovial countenance darkened by no shadow of the fate impending over him. On the Thursday night fol, lowing he was brutally murdered while asleep in his bed. 1 with his wife and child, the occupants of another bed in the same apartment. His head was literally smashed to , pieces with the repeated blows of an axe found lying at the foot of the bed. About 3 o'clock, some hours after the commission of the deed, a servant, who slept in a room above, was attracted by the cries of his mistress. who was found tied hand and foot behind the door of the room. She declared that about 11 o'clock two men suddenly entered the apartment, and at once proceeded to their bloody business, one striking her sleeping husband I a succession of blows, the first of which must have been ' instantly fatal, his companion at the same time threatening her with a similar fate if she made the slightest noise or resistance. She was then gagged and bound. The men then proceeded to rob a secretaire in the adjoining apartment of nearly 200 thalers, and then decamped. It is impossible to describe the sensation occasioned by this shocking tragedy in Coblenz and Ehrenbreitstein. The funeral of the murdered man, who was highly esteemed, was attended by an immense multitude, and gossip was rife as to who had perpetrated the deed. At length, after the country had been scoured for many miles, suspicion fell upon those nearer home. At a respectable school in Coblenz was a teacher named Keler, a welleducated man, of prepossessing manners and person, but of loose morals. I was whispered be carried on a licentious intercourse with the wife of Meder, a young and attractive woman. On the day preceding the murder, j but after the termination of ttie Carnival, he hired a l beard and blouse. The former he returned on the following day, but the blouse has not been forthcoming, and the account he gives of is highly unsatisfactory but suspicion is not confined to him. His paramour, the wife of the murdered man, is deeply implicated. By entries in Keller's memorandum-book it appears he has I lately received considerable sums of money from the • woman; but the darkest discovery is that of a bloody footmark near the eceretaire containing the money of the unfortunate mar., in the room adjoining to that in which he slept, and which exactly corresponds with the foot of woman; but, as she was discovered bound hand and foot and incapable of moving, it is presumed she herself imisted to rifle the seeretaire, and then submitted to be bound, in order to give an appearance of her being rather a victim than an accomplice in the deed. However, Keller is in prison and the woman under strict surveillance. At the July assizes at Neuwied, where the trial will take place, the facts, such as have been collected, will be fully disclosed, .-1(1 the guilt or innocence of the suspected per' sons pronounced. In the meantime the occurrence excites the greatest interest in the neighbourhood.