Year: 1871

SUSPECTED MEN ARRESTED
| Once more we are called on to relate de-
tails of a horrid murder, one that is shock


ing to the last degree, the victim being a


woman seventy-eight years old, and the


object evidently money.


The first intimation given the public was


about six or seven o'clock yesterday morn


ing, when old Anton Zollinger returned to


his home, No. Gil Annunciation street, from


his nights work, he being watchman in the
Fassman cotton press, near the jackson


railroad deDot.
Arriving at his gate before many people


were moving, he saw nothing unusual, but
his attention was attracted to his little dog,
which was whining, not barking. Looking


around the yard, he saw nothing out Of
place, but Immediately entered his bed


room and there discovered the furniture dis


turbed-a large chest open and box out of
its regular position, the armoir doors wide
open. His first act was to call his wife, as


he partly saw her form on the bed. Hur-
riedly raising the mosquito bar and laying
his hand on her, he was astonishe'l at re-
ceiving no response. His aged hand, trem-


bling with emotion, impulsively drew off
the cover, when his eyes were blinded by


the awful disclosure that his faithful wife


Of half q century had been cruelty muir


dered- -suffocated by an assassin's hand.


The husband stood as a statue by that bed


side, unwilling to believe his senses. and for


the space Of two minutes he was perfectly


unable to move or speak. Finally obtaining


power to utter q word, he ran to the gate.


way and gave an alarm in incoherent words


Neighbors called and examined the sur


roundings ninutely, and the police were


sent for. 1t was discovered that the furni


ture had been tumbled about slightly, and


that a heavy pillow was lying on the poor


woman's face. Her withered features wore


CHASTITY look, and told of violence and


strangulatiop. Life was easily crushed out


of her, for she had already seen seventy


eight toiling years. The murderers were


not compelled to struggle long or hard, nor


did they fear that their weak victim would


harm them, for her strength was as broken


straw in their wicked hands. She must be


killed, or else they would be exposed and
perhaps be compelled to fly before securing
the money they were intent on stealing.


This aged husband and wife have lived
here thirty four years, having come from
Germany, and by slowly toiling through
that time have purchased the little home
and saved about thousand dollars. This
sum of money, secreted in large chest in
the bedroom, was the cause Of the murder;
the knowledge Of its presence there was
the assassins incentive. 1t may be that the
robbers did not intend to commit so foul
deed as to take a human life. and for
charity's sake let us think they did not.


Possessing knowledge that money was
kept in the room, they perhaps thought to
steal it without awakening the old lady,
and this supppsition is confirmed by the
manner of her death. An entrance was
apparently effected through back way, as
a picket had been torn from the fence.
Tracks of mems feet were visible in the soft
ground of the yard by the church, which
faces Sixth street near the corner of Annun-
citation; yet an entrance might have been
made through the front gate by any person
who understood its fastenings. A bolt in
side could be drawn out by cord attached,
and which could he easily reached. This
would require care and an acquaintance
with the premises. for a common jingle bell
is attached; but the gate can be opened
without sounding it, if proper. caution is
taken.


The house is of one story and has four or
five rooms. In the rear half live the ZOl- |
fingers the front portion is occupied by
Charles Earle, with his wife and child |
When Superintendent Badger and Captain
Malone visited the little dwelling, they |
questioned Earle's wife about her husbands |
She stated that he did not |
come home until morning, and then changed. !
his clothing, saying that he was going on
the levee to seek work; if he succeeded he
would not return until noon, otherwise he |
would be at home in an hour. The pan
falcons he had taken off were inspected, and
On them were found drops of sperm, exactly
in color and quality with
candle used by the assassins in the death
1t must be known that bit of
candle, about two inches long, had been
found on a stool near the coveted chest.
Drops were abundant near the armoir, on
The chest and on the floor. Suspicion at
'uce rested on Earle, and as he was
formerly on the police he was we'll
Known to many of the men. an
'rder was issued for his arrest, and scarcely
wo hours had passed before he. was cap
ured in a barroom on the levee, playing
billiards, and it was evident he had been
Thinking. Taken to prison, he was closely
nterrogated, but gave prompt answers until
Questioned concerning the sperm on his
lOthing. This confused him. He was told
. take off his shoes, that they might be
ompared with the tracks in the church
ard. On one cfthem acre found more drops
sperm, these also corresponding in color
nth those seen on his pantalOOns and on |