Year: 1873




Those Who Knew Him Best


Few OF the many murders which have happened
during the past few years ever excited such great
wonder and horror as that which on Tuesday
evening was committed by Michael Nixon uvon
Charles II. Pfeifer. The culprit is notoriously
known as a ruflan, thief and "heelern among the
good-natured 'gangs" Of the Sixth ward, always
ready by foul words and insults to get into fray,
and never scrupulous about attacking persons
who resented his brutality. In contrast his victim
is now proven by the good words OF all those who
ever knew him to have been


A QUIET, CHEERFUL AND HONEST MAN,
who worked hard for his livelihood, and never in
any instance would accept challenge to com.
mence quarrel, but was always in the habit when
subjected to blackguardism from the lips OF men
with whom his vocation forced him TO associate
OF giving hard sayings the go-by by laughing at
them and treating them as jests.


Some five or six months ago Pfeifer moved from
Fourth street, Williamsburg to the house where he
was residing at the time OF his DEATH at the corner
Of Third and South Eighth streets This Is an aged
wooden structure, which must have been erected
when that portion of Brooklyn was In its infancy.
1t is of dull, brown color, with gloomy windows
and frowning porch, which once might have



The bell knob Is hung with


SOLEMN BLACK GRAPE.


A HERALD reporter yesterday pulled It softly
after having been assured by German grocery
man who keeps shop in the basement that Mrs.
Pfeifer would like very much 10 see him. little
wide-eyed and rosy-lpped child opened it
with smile on her face, and in the
hall were assembled several other children
engaged in a sort OF half timid sport, as II they
felt the dread presence that was in the house. The
stranger Slowly mounted the old and creakine
stairs, which, however, were very cleanly, and
ticed as he went the cracked and broken walls,
which once were mild azure in.coor but now
were of dirty, ugubrious gray. The children fol-
lowed silently at his heels. Arrived at the top
floor, he found here rather cherries garret, into
which the light of day struggled through chinks in
the closed blinds of solitary window. There were
three doors opening from the empty garrett At
one Of these, which seemed the entrance Of rear
room, the visitor knocked. The summons was
answered by


A SMALL, sAD-LoOKING WOMAN,
dressed In dreary black, who asked him kindly to
come in and to take seat In response to an
apology for his intrusion she said she desired very
much to say something to him, and then, while
she could restrain the tears no longer she poured
out the story OF her grief in an affecting and sim
pie manner which could not but touch the heart.
The room was small, and in one corner, near the
window supported by two chairs, lay long, rec
tanguar object, covered with a coarse white Sheet
That was the conln. The furniture was meagre,
but everything was orderly and neat. An open
door showed the interior OF small chamber, which
is the sleeping room Of the family


lifting the white cloth from the upper part, dis
closed to view the cold and rigid face Of her hus-
expression there was never anything more calm,
peaceful and kindly than the pale counte-
nance and the marks ;a Of character which IT
unskiiful student OF human nature could
make no mistake regarding the heart OF the man.
The muscles about the eyes were in the posture
which is Indicative OF customary good humor and
cheerfulncss The forehead Is broad and full, the
lips have kind and honest expression, and, but
for the ugly stain left by the penetrating bullet
and the enlargement OF the side OF the head where
1t lodged there was more the look OF srumbering
life than OF unwaking DEATH


'POOR, DEAR CHARLIE !"


The widow leaned over him, saying, .'There he
to any one that they should kill him. never heard
marsh word from him IN his life Oh, 1t is fearul,
At this moment the door was opened and lady
entered, the sister OF the bereaved vile. They
rushed into each others arms and for short time
wept violently together. Then, as she turned to the
corpse, Mrs. Pfeer said with shudder OF horror =
"look over here where the ball entered. You
see,u she continued in piteous tones, "they cut
his head In pieces and put M It together again"


"COMiNg HOME AFTER HIS DAYS WORK"


ale was just coming home after his days work,
too.n


The scene was too narrowing to the feelings to
be a desirable one to paint with the pen. In o
short time the women were more composed, and
then Mrs. Pfeifer sent for her children to show
them to her visitors. The baby which Is q boy,
she brought from the bedchamber, and the three
little girls came up stairs and bashfully entered
the room. The eldest Is about nine years old, and
has quite pretty face, with large brown eyes,
One OF them has hair OF rich auburn hue and
eyes OF deep, changing gray. All OF them are
too young to understand fully the meaning OF the
tragedy which has been their loss, and to know
that they are henceforth fatherless by the bullet


FELLOW WORKMAN.


Leaving the house visit was made to the stable
OF Mr. John Cassidy, who was the employer OF the
murdered man. Here was found the groom
of the eer waS x,nas hs
regret, and spoke earnestly Of his many
good qualities. He said that he had boarded
Peifer always went In and ont OF his house with
the quietness OF child-never talking loudly or
having anything offensive in his manner or habits.
and when others were cross and attempted to
make him angry he always had pleasant word
aud laugh with which to disarm them.


BLOOD ON THE HORSE HE RODE.


In one OF the stalls Of the stable stood large
white horse called Harry" the one which the
deceased rode in the Bowery when he was shot
by Nixon. It's mate was at the time out or the
stable. "Harry" has on the right shoulder a large
in the straw but still plainly visible 1t was caused
by the bleeding or the wound la the head OF his
rider on that fatal night, and disproves with damn
ing certainty the story OF Nixon that his victim
dismounted rom his horse before he was shot 1t
would be impossible for the blood to be there unless
1t dripped from above.


OBSEQUIES


The funeral or Charles Pieifer will occur on Sun
day morning, in the North Fifth street Methodist
church. and the ceremonies Will he in charge Of the
Montauk Lodge Of the order OF Red Men. The re-
mains win then be conveyed to the Evergreens,
where they will be Inferred aud those OF an INFANT
son, who died few months ago, Will be placed Dc-
side them. Prefer had been member OF the
above church for about three years and bore good
reputation in the congregation





THE THOMPSON STREET HOMICIDE.