Year: 1866

tie house and committed the deed. The only
reason that can be given for him taking the Hfe
Of his victim was on account of her being &C
quanted with him.


Ifhe had committed robbery alone she would
have appeared as witness against him in case of
arrest, and believing that he could escape en-


irely by the commission OF the double crime, he
coolly cut the old lady's throat after having 6rst
felled her to the floor by blow almost sufficient
TO have rendered the Job complete without the
use of the weapon


On the day following the arrest of Berger, the
detective officers visited his house, wishing to
make thorough search for any evidence that
might implicate him in the affair. His poor wife
was in bed at the time, and hearing the officers
in an adjoining room, came rushing in and most
earnestly prayed for the release of her husband,
whom she stated she knew to be innocent.


She had been made acquainted with the arrest
of her husband by the nurse. In regard to the
money she told the officers the same story as
had been communicated TO her by her husband,
and protested that il was true.


The officers performed their unpleasant duty
of searching the premises, and succeeded in find
ing one of Berger's boots, upon which was the
blood Berger during this time was secured in
the Germantown Station House. Since his con.
fession he has been endeavoring TO act insane.
He goes through all kinds of queer antics and
is quiet, and has but little to say.


He is "a OF dissipated habits, and
questionable morality. By trade he is a worsted
picker, and has worked in the mills near the vii
lage. For the credit of the good name of Ger
mantown be it said that he was not born in that
borough, or been long resident of It, He came
there in July last from Port Richmond. He
married daughter of citizen of Frankford, an
officer of the Reading Railroad and a gentleman
OF undoubted standing and respectability. Ber-
ger was out of employment for months before
the murder. He was offered work. but refused.
His father-in-law procured him an appointment
at the weighscales of the Reading Railroad at
Port Richmond, at highly compensative salary.
The position was declined. Berger stated that
the mills where he had last worked would soon
be running, and he would resume his regular
occupation. He was improyident, and the money
given him by his father-in-law was wasted: The
desire for money was the undoubted cause of the


visit to the house of Miss Watts and the conse-


quent murder.


His wife has one child, two weeks ole. With
tears in her eyes she carried the little one to her
father, and for her sake begged him to give the
child home. She is almost heart-broken at the
terrible termination OF her brief married life,
and sits in sorrow by hearth desolated by
heavier curse than the entrance OF death within
her own home. Berger is German, OF middle
age, and has always appeared sane. He will pro-
badly be arraieued for trial before the termina-
ton of the present court session. term that
has had more homicide and murder cases to con-
| slider than any term in Philadelphia for years.
AfBoLD ATTEMPT AT BURGLARY-As an


evidence OF the fact that the rascals are growing
bolder daily. we chronicle the latest attempt at
| burglary. The restaurant of Andrew j. Seyerns,


in Carter street, is IN one of the most prominent
positions in the CITY. The proprietor LETT the
| place between ten and eleven o'clock. Between
| that time and daylight, some Industrious indivi
dual cut hole in back shutter large enough to
| admit hand and arm. The work was evidently
| done with knife, as there are no cuttings that
| could possibly be made by boring. The work was
] well DONE but the theory is that he was disturbed
| by the watchdog, and either failed to spring the
| bolt or was frightened away. This is supported
| by the fact that the burglar left his cigar stump
| upon the windowsill, and number o. wires
| bent evidently for the purpose of turning the
| bolts of locks inside. There are marks of blood
| on the shutter, which indicate that the robber
received personal injuries in his effort to gain
| entrance. Even if he had effected an entrance
| his errand would be that of fool as Mr.. Sew
erns Is not in the habit of leaving any money in
| the till. BE would perhaps have gotten drink
| and some cigars but nothing more. As spec-
men OF cool impudence this is inimitable.
/