MURDER OF AN AUSTRIAN COUNT IN NEW YORK.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 539, 1 July 1869, Page 4

MURDER OF AN AUSTRIAN COUNT IN NEW YORK.

The New York Tribune of the 3lst April says : — "The body which was discovered on Sunday last floating in the water near the Elysian J^ejds, with a knife plunged in the heart, haiji, at last been identified as that of Frederick Wesser, an Austrian nobleman. The face was recognised last evening by Mr Angus Schmeditz, formerly the proprietor of the St. George's Hotel, at the corner of Third and Hudson streets, Hoboken. That gentleman, in company with a reporter, visited the office of the undertaker, Mr Parslow, where the body has been kept since its discovery last evening. From the description which Mr Schmeditz saw in the newspapers, he surmised that the corpse was chat of his former friend, and, upon seeing the face, he positively identified the features as those of Count Wesser. The recognition of the face, and the development of the facts which were related by Mr Schmeditz, will without doubt furnish a satisfactory cine to the murderer. Wesser came to this country in 1866 from Austria, where he belonged to a noble and poor family. He had led a life of dissipation and recklessness at home, and came to this country, it is said, to escape the consequences of some of his imprudent acts. When he landed he was penniless, and being wholly un tittedf orphysical or mentallabor, he was, during his residence here, the football of fortune, and a reckless adventurer. He found a friend in Schmeditz, and was offered a situation by the latter in his hotel. He accepted the offer, and for nearly a year acted in the capacity of clerk and bar-tender in St. George's Hotel. While residing there, hebecame acquainted with a German citizen of Hudson oity,

and frequently visited at his house. He is said to have become intimate with the lady of the house, and a deeperate conflict took place at last between Wesser and the husband of the lady ; but although the latter was severely hurt, no serious consequences resulted other than a deadly enmity between the two men. The husband and wife soon separated, and Wesser subsequently married the woman, living with her until Friday morning last. Her residence was not known to Mr Schmeditz ; but he remembered fully the circumstances of Wesser's acquaintance with her, as they were told him by the latter. The hotel in which Wesser had been employed was sold a few weeks ago, and since that time he had been out of employment. On Friday, he was seen in Hoboken, and stated in reply to inquiries that he was going to New York to obtain a situation in an express office. After that time he was seen no more until his body was found in the river below the pathway that leads to the Elysian Fields."