THE EFFECTS OF AVARICE,

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1851, 7 September 1874, Page 3

THE EFFECTS OF AVARICE,

At Brooklyn, New York, a family of five —consisting of father, mother, and three childreu—have been murdered by a cold blooded villain, who anticipated finding a lot of money iii the house, but was disappointed, there only being 15dol. The following account of the tragedy is from an American paper "The black-hearted fiend who butchered aud burnod the Hamuet family was arrestod iu Alloghany city on 2nd May, and at present lies in gaol at this city. When it became generally known that the murderer had been captured the greatest excitement prevailed, aud the Tombs in Alleghany were soon surrounded by au excited throng, It was feared that efforts would be made to lynch the prisoner, and it was found necessary to place a strong guard of police along the corridors of tlie Tombs, He gave his name as Ernest Ortweiu, and his appearance, was not calculated to impress one favourably. This fiend, who murdered a family of five for 15d01., is about sft. Bin, in height, hoavily built, aud would 175 pounds. Ho has a big, rouud, bulldog head, rathor broad, flat nose, low forehead, and small eyes. His face is large, red, appears puffed up by drink, and bears overy,evidenc3 that ho had been spreeing for a day or two past. He has a aUorfc, sandy moustache, and a little tuft of hair in llu> dimplo of his elun, l-To wns

fc. -5? dressed in a fine black froctcoat, dark figured pants, white sbirfc, and small, silk necktie. He has a very short, thick neck. He said he was a native of Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, and came to this country about a year ago, and first worked as a farm hand with Peter Earnsay, at Brooklyn, N. Y. It was no use, he said, to conceal the crime; ho committed tho murder. He said he left Hamuet'g dwelling jast after supper on the night of the murder, and weut directly to the village of Homestead. He drank, two glasses of beer in a saloon by thowayeido, which is all the beverage ho had that uight. After quitting tho saloon ho went to a grocery store, where he got some cigars, also some candy for the Hamnot children. He then goes on aud tells tho following story to the press representative through an interpreter' Just as I was leaving it came into my head that I must have Hamnet's money. I thought ho had a great deal of money in the house, and I felt so queer all at once in my head, I thought I must get it. I went directly to the house, but don't know how I got there. I suppose I must have been out of my mind. After getang into tho houso I found Mr and Mrs Hamnet had not come home. It occurred to me that to get the money I must kill tho children. I found an axe in the kitchen, and taking that with mo I went up to the room over the kitchen, whore 'Robert Smith and myself slept. I took a position at the front of the bed, and with one blow killed the boy; he never moved. I can't say how it was that the boy's throat was cat. I may have struck him twice, but ho never groaned. After the boy was dead I went into an adjoining room, where Ida and little Emmie were sleeping. There were two beds in the room, one in a corner, and the othor, the one occnpicd by tho children, near the centre. Both of the little girls were sleeping. I crept over cautiously to where they slumbered, and I dealt Ida a fearful blow, which silenced her for ever. She never moved a muscle; she was dead in a minute. I then raised the axe and struck at Kmmie. She uttered a cry, and I hit her the second time. She did not groan again. After this I went downstairs and took a position just inside the door of the room adjoining the kitchen, aud waited for Mr and Mrs Hamnet to come home. God knows my feelings when concealed there. I was desperate now, and thirsted for more blood. After waiting a long time I heard the footsteps of the couple coming up the lawn. They came nearer and nearer, and I clutched my axo handle tight. At last they were here. Mr Hamnet came into the room first, I was standing so that he could not see me, and I struck him from behind, using the same axe, and he fell to the floor. Mrs Hamnet then came rushing into the room, and as she passed through the door I struck her, but did not kill her. She shrieked out once or twice, 'Oh God, John!' and then I struck a second blow, which killed her instantly. Mrs Hamnet and the baby where the only ones I struck twice; tho others were killed with one blow. I used the axo all the time. I committed the deed to get Mr Hamnet's money. I searched Mr Hamnets pockets, and obtained his pocket-book. It coutaiued only 15dol. in paper money. I found Mrs Hamnet's pocket-book on the sewing-machine, l'here was only 50 cents in it. I looked over the house, but all the money I got was 15dol. The silver money I spent 1 brought with mo from Germany. I did not get it from the house. My only mitive for doing this deed was to get the money.'"