_The Miser's Wealth._--_Over Fifty Thousand Dollars Stolen from the
Murdered Man._--_A Strange Financial Transaction._--_A Verdict, and
the Arrest of Bucholz._
Meantime there existed a necessity for some action in regard to the
effects of which Henry Schulte was possessed at the time of his
death, and two reputable gentlemen of South Norwalk were duly
authorized to act as administrators of his estate, and to perform
such necessary duties as were required in the matter.
From an examination of his papers it was discovered that his only
living relatives consisted of a brother and his family, who resided
near Dortmund, Westphalia, in Prussia, and that they too were
apparently wealthy and extensive land-owners in the vicinity of that
place.
To this brother the information was immediately telegraphed of the
old gentleman's death, and the inquiry was made as to the disposition
of the body. To this inquiry the following reply was received:
"TO THE MAYOR OF SOUTH NORWALK:
"I beg of you to see that the body of my brother is properly
forwarded to Barop, near Dortmund, so as to insure its safe
arrival. I further request that you inform me at once whether his
effects have been secured, and how much has been found of the
large amount of specie which he took with him from here? Have
they found the murderer of my brother?
Signed, "FREDRICK W. SCHULTE."
Had those who knew the previous history of Henry Schulte expected to
have received any expression of sorrow for the death of the old
gentleman, they were doomed to be disappointed, and the telegram
itself fully dissipated any such idea. The man was dead, and the
heirs were claiming their inheritance--that was all.
Shortly after this a representative of the German Consul at New York
arrived, and, presenting his authority, at once proceeded to take
charge of the remains, and to make the arrangements necessary towards
having them sent to Europe.
The iron box which had proved such an object of interest to the
residents of South Norwalk, was opened at the bank, and to the
surprise of many, was found to contain valuable securities and
investments which represented nearly a quarter of a million of
dollars.
It was at first supposed that the murderers had been foiled in their
attempt to rob as well as to murder, or that they had been frightened
off before they had accomplished their purpose of plunder. The
finding of twenty thousand dollars upon his person seemed to be
convincing proof that no robbery had been committed, and the friends
of Bucholz, who were numerous, pointed to this fact as significantly
establishing his innocence.
Indeed, many people wondered at the action of the State's attorney,
and doubtfully shook their heads as they thought of the meager
evidence that existed to connect Bucholz with the crime. A further
examination of the accounts of the murdered man, however, disclosed
the startling fact that a sum of money aggregating to over fifty
thousand dollars had disappeared, and, as he was supposed to have
carried this amount upon his person, it must have been taken from him
on the night of the murder.
Here, then, was food for speculation. The man had been killed, and
robbery had undoubtedly been the incentive. Who could have committed
the deed and so successfully have escaped suspicion and detection?
Could it have been William Bucholz?
Of a certainty the opportunity had been afforded him, and he could
have struck the old man down with no one near to tell the story. But
if, in the silence of that lonely evening, his hand had dealt the
fatal blow, where was the instrument with which the deed was
committed? If he had rifled the dead man's pockets and had taken from
him his greedily hoarded wealth, where was it now secured, or what
disposition had he made of it?
From the time that he had fallen fainting upon the floor of the
farm-house kitchen, until the present, he was not known to have been
alone.
Tearful in his grief for the death of his master, his voice had been
the first that suggested the necessity for going in search of him. He
was seen to go to the place where he usually kept his pistol, and
prepare himself for defense in accompanying Samuel Waring.
He had stood sorrowfully beside that prostrate form as the hand of
the neighbor had been laid upon the stilled and silent heart, and
life had been pronounced extinct. He had journeyed with Sammy Waring
to the village to give the alarm and to notify the coroner, and on
his return his arms had assisted in carrying the unconscious burden
to the house. Could a murderer, fresh from his bloody work, have done
this?
From that evening officers had been in charge of the premises.
Bucholz, nervous, and physically worn out, had retired with Sammy
Waring, and had not left the house during the evening. If he had
committed this deed he must have the money, but the house was
thoroughly searched, and no trace of this money was discovered.
His bearing upon the inquest had been such that scarcely any one
present was disposed to believe in his guilty participation in the
foul crime, or that he had any knowledge of the circumstances, save
such as he had previously related.
Where then was this large sum of money which had so mysteriously
disappeared?
A stack of straw that stood beside the barn--the barn had been
thoroughly searched before--was purchased by an enterprising and
ambitious officer in charge of Bucholz, and although he did not own a
horse, he had the stack removed, the ground surrounding it diligently
searched, in the vague hope that something would be discovered hidden
beneath it.
But thus far, speculation, search and inquiry had availed nothing,
and as the crowd gathered at the station, and the sealed casket that
contained the body of the murdered man was placed upon the train to
begin its journey to the far distant home which he had left but a
short time before, many thought that with its departure there had
also disappeared all possibility of discovering his assassin, and
penetrating into the deep mystery which surrounded his death.
An important discovery was, however, made at this time, which changed
the current of affairs, and seemed for a time to react against the
innocence of the man against whom suspicion attached.
In the village there resided an individual named Paul Herscher, who
was the proprietor of the saloon in which the deceased and his
servant had taken their drink of beer, after leaving the train upon
the night of the murder.
During the residence of Mr. Schulte at Roton Hill, Bucholz and Paul
Herscher had become intimate acquaintances, and Bucholz had stated
upon his examination that during the month of the previous October he
had loaned to Paul the sum of two hundred dollars. That the servant
of so parsimonious a man should have been possessed of such a sum of
money seemed very doubtful, and inquiries were started with the view
of ascertaining the facts of the case.
The investigation was still going on, and Paul was called as a
witness. His story went far towards disturbing the implicit
confidence in Bucholz's innocence, and caused a reaction of feeling
in the minds of many, which, while it did not confirm them in a
belief in his guilt, at least made them doubtful of his entire
ignorance of the crime.
Paul Herscher stated that on the morning after the murder Bucholz had
entered his saloon, and calling him into an adjoining room, had
placed in his hands a roll of bills, saying at the same time, in
German:
"Here is two hundred dollars of my money. I want you to keep it until
I make my report to the coroner. _If anybody asks you about it, tell
them I gave it to you some time ago._"
Here was an attempt to deceive somebody, and, although Paul had
retained this money for several days, without mentioning the fact of
its existence, his revelation had its effect. Upon comparing the
notes, all of which were marked with a peculiar arrangement of
numbers, and by the hand of the deceased, they were found to
correspond with a list found among the papers of Henry Schulte, and
then in the custody of his administrators.
To this charge, however, Bucholz gave a free, full and, so far as
outward demeanor was concerned, truthful explanation, which, while it
failed to fully satisfy the minds of those who heard it, served to
make them less confident of his duplicity or his guilt.
He acknowledged the statements made by Paul Herscher to be true, but
stated in explanation that he received the money from Mr. Schulte on
their way home on the evening of the murder, in payment of a debt due
him, and that, fearing he might be suspected, he had gone to Paul,
and handing him the money, had requested him, if inquiries were
instituted, to confirm the statement which he had then made.
That this statement seemed of a doubtful character was recognized by
every one, and that a full examination into the truthfulness of his
assertions was required was admitted by all; and, after other
testimony, not, however, of a character implicating him in the
murder, was heard, the State's attorney pressed for such a verdict as
would result in holding Bucholz over for a trial.
After a long deliberation, in which every portion of the evidence was
considered by the jury, which had listened intently to its relation,
they returned the following verdict:
"That John Henry Schulte came to his death from wounds inflicted with
some unknown instrument, in the hands of some person or persons known
to William Bucholz, and we do find that said William Bucholz has a
guilty knowledge of said crime."
This announcement occasioned great surprise among the people
assembled; but to none, perhaps, was the result more unexpected than
to William Bucholz himself. He stood in a dazed, uncertain manner for
a few moments, and then, uttering a smothered groan, sank heavily in
his seat.
The officers of the law advanced and laid their hands upon his
shoulder; and, scarcely knowing what he did, and without uttering a
word, he arose and followed them from the building. He was placed
upon the train to Bridgeport, and before nightfall the iron doors of
a prison closed upon him, and he found himself a prisoner to be
placed on trial for his life."
[Illustration: "_The officers of the law advanced and laid their
hands upon his shoulders_"--]