The Northern News. — 1898-11-19 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

THE HAMPSTEAD TRAGEDY.  VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER. An inquest was held on Monday afternoon into the death of Conrad Berndt, aged 19, journeyman baker, who was murdered and placed in a baker's oven at William-st., Hampstead-rd., London, on Friday morning last. Richard Mandllkon, alias Johann Schneider alias Riolunond Montagu, stands remanded from Marylebone Police-court on the charge of wilful murder and of attempting to murder William Roes, master baker, and also of stealing a watch and chain belonging to the deceased. Prisoner declined to attend the inquest and give evidence. The story of the tragedy, as told by the witnesses at the inquest, was that deceased came from Germany two and a half years ago, and for the past few months had been in the employment of Mr. ROM, being described by his master and relatives 38 a quiet, inoffensive yount fellow. E3chneider was • former employe at the bakery, and called there on Thursday evening, and obteilied permission from Mr. Ross to spend the night in the bakehouse on the pretext that he had a job in Oxford-st. early next morning. Mr. Ross was aroused at 3 a.m., and on going downstairs found the bakehouse empty. He called out deceased's name, and Schneider then came downstairs and said Berndt, being unwell, had gone upstairs. Mr. Ross walked towards the oven, and suddenly received a blow on the head. Turning round, he saw Schneider with a life-preserver in his hand. He rushed up the staircase shouting for help, and was followed by Schneider, who put his arm around his waist, and stabbed him. Schneider then ran out of the house, but he was stopped in another street by a policeman, who saw him throw away an open clasp-knife wstli bloodstains on it. On the police going to the assistance of Mr. Ross, search was made in the bakehouse, and when the oven-door was opened the ghastly spectacle was seen of the charred remains of Berndt lying inside doubled up. The face was unrecog. nisable, and the fire was so fierce that the body could not be immediately removed. The right portion of the unfortunate man's skull had becii forced into the brains, evidently as the result of a tremendous blow, and a hatchet with blood and hair adhering was afterwards found on the premises, while traces of blood were everywhere apparent. The doctors who conducted the post-mortem examination thought death occurred before the both was placed in the oven. When charged at the pol costation with the crime, Schneider replied that he knew nothing about it, and did not know where the bakery was. The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against the min Schneider.  Heinrich Stern, !neater of the German steamer Alqon.-lea.‘ fined £5O at Yarmouth, on Monday, for overloading his vessel. On the arrival at Ramsbottom of the 848 train from Snminer.eat on Sunday, a Danger Tumuli Thomas Heaton, 65, worker in a woollen mill, was found to be dying. Dr. Deans was sent for but death took place before his arrival. The body was taken home on a stretcher to 93, Stubbins-lane.  Three fishermen were drowned on Saturday in Mae Duff Harbour, their names being John West and William West. brothers, residing in Low Shore. and William Lyall, son of Mr. Andrew Lysll, of Low Shore. It is not known how the brothers West got into the water, but it is suppsh.e(l they had been mooring their small boat, and that ono slipped into the harbour, the other lo•ing his life in attempting a rescue. Lysll, who was very shortsighted, is thought to have stumbled over the quay into the water.