The Courier-Journal (Louisville KY), 17 August 1889, Sat, pg 2
ADAM BEUTEL'S MAD DEED.
A German Farmer's Frenzied Attempt at Murder and Suicide
Crazed With Passion, He Shoots and Dangerously Wounds His Wife,
And Then Holds His Pistol to His Own Head and Fires.
The Bloody Tragedy Enacted In a Lonely House Five Miles From the City.
DETAILS OF THE CRIME.
_____________
Shortly before 2:00 this morning a mounted messenger arrived at Mr. F. X. Wolpert's drugstore, corner of Seventeenth and Kentucky streets, his horse reeking with foam, and excitedly sought assistance, saying a terrible tragedy had been enacted late in the night at a secluded spot about five miles out from the city. The messenger, who was a farm hand and lived on an adjoining place, said that Adam Beutel, a farmer, whose place is near the river, a mile and a half from the main road, down a dark, illy-defined and lonesome lane, diverging from the pike beyond the intersection of the Cane Run road, was dead and his wife wounded, while in the same house lay a son, Henry Beutel, at the point of death.
The messenger sought a physician and left word to have Coroner Miller called early this morning to hold an inquest on Beutel's remains. The man was very much wrought up by what had occurred. He had been aroused from his slumbers by the terrible occurrence, and did not tarry to learn many details before starting to the city to get a physician and to leave word with Mr. Wolpert to have the Coroner called.
He said that Beutel and his wife had quarreled, and that the former had become enraged and made a determined attempt to kill his helpmate, firing several shots at her.
Mrs. Beutel fled for her life, but one of the shots striking her in the leg, near the foot, she fell, crying. "My God, Adam, stop! I'm shot!"
Beutel, thinking he had, in his rage, accomplished the evil promptings of his fury, was at once seized with remorse. Thinking he had killed his wife and not waiting to investigate, he turned the muzzle of the revolver upon himself and pulled the trigger, the ball making a death wound, from which he was expiring when the messenger started post haste to the drug store of Mr. Wolpert, with whom most of the farmers and truck gardeners in that section of the county adjoining the city limits, trade.
While this fearful tragedy was being enacted, there lay in the house where Mr. and Mrs. Beutel's heretofore ordinary farm life was principally spent, their son, who a couple of weeks ago received wounds which now promise to terminate fatally. Young Beutel quarreled with a negro farmhand, and was attacked by the negro with a pitchfork, the prongs of which were thrust far into his breast and abdomen. He was gradually sinking and required attention at night, and it is presumed that Mrs. Beutel was watching at her son's bedside when she incurred the anger of the head of the family, which came so near resulting in the death of the wife as well as the husband.
After Beutel had shot himself, Mrs. Beutel hobbled to her feet and with great difficulty and pain reached his side, crying aloud for help. She continued her calls until neighbors arrived, and then she submitted to something being done for herself.
The poor woman was so agitated and unstrung by the terrible calamity, following so closely on the expected death of her son, that she could tell but little of how the whole thing occurred.
The location of Beutel's farm house rendered it impossible to get full particulars, as the place is very difficult to access. The man who came to the city for a physician was nearly two hours in reaching Mr. Wolpert's drug store, and it was impossible to learn more than what little he knew of the occurrence.
The messenger left for the scene with a physician, a few minutes after he reached Wolpert's drugstore. In his very critical condition, the dreadful occurrence, it is feared, will cause the death of young Wolpert [sic-Beutel], and it is not improbable that the funeral services for both father and son will be preached at the same time. Coroner Miller will be notified early this morning, and he will go down to the residence of Beutel to investigate the case and hold an inquest.
[NOTE – In the next news article it was stated that young John Beutel's injuries were over exaggerated.]
The Courier-Journal (Louisville KY), 18 August 1889, Sun, pg 14
BEUTEL'S BLOODY DEED
Some of the Circumstances Which Attended Friday Night's Tragedy.
Coroner Miller's Investigation and the Arrangements for the Funeral Monday Morning.
_____________
An inquest was held yesterday morning on the remains of Adam Beutel, the account of whose bloody deed Friday night was published exclusively in yesterday's Courier-Journal. Coroner Miller, who had been summoned by Mr. F. X. Wolpert, the druggist at Seventeenth and Kentucky streets, to whom a messenger brought the first intelligence of the tragedy, drove to Beutel's home shortly after sunrise and at 7:00 impaneled a jury consisting of Thomas Bosshart, Charles Plaggenburg, Louis Clayton, James Farris, James Rudd and James Edmunds. The verdict was that Beutel had come to his death by suicide, superinduced by drinking.
When the Coroner reached Beutel's house, he found all the dead man's relatives and a number of the neighbors there, while Beutel's body lay on the lawn in front of the house, where he had fallen when he shot himself. The statements of the family were to the effect that Beutel had hitched up his team about noon Friday, and came to the city to get money from bank to payoff his farm hands yesterday. On his way he met John Beutel, a married son, who operates the Shanks farm, near Paddy's Run, and appeared to be in good spirits. After Beutel's return home, he frolicked some with his younger children, and then began to tipple from a jug he kept in the cellar. By supper time he was drunk, a condition in which he frequently got of late.
After supper the family tried to get him to go to bed, but he refused, and hitching up his team, drove away again to return an hour or two later. His eyes sparkled, and his whole appearance was that of a man who was bordering on delirium tremens. At bedtime, Beutel told his children good night, and he and his wife retired to their room in the main house. Beutel's grown children slept in a cottage in the yard. Shortly before 12:00 they were awakened by shots, and Charles, one of the sons, arose and saw his father firing a pistol in the air. Beutel seemed to be quieted when he saw Charles, and he sat down on the porch steps. He had arisen a few minutes before from his bed, half waking his wife, who heard him talking, but in her drowsiness knew not what he said. She saw him go down in the cellar where he kept his whisky jug and then fell asleep again, to be awakened by the shots. At this noise the baby, Amy, who had a fever, awakened and cried for water.
Mrs. Beutel stepped out on the porch to get it, when her husband arose and began to quarrel with some imaginary enemy, apparently having the delirium tremens. Mrs. Beutel tried to quiet him, when Beutel suddenly drew his revolver again, and shouting: "Look out!" fired. The bullet struck Mrs. Beutel in the leg and she fell. Her daughter, Rosa, opened the door and Beutel pointed the pistol at her. The girl pulled her mother inside and slammed the door to. Both remained there trembling, and a moment later the report of another shot followed by a moan reached them, then all was quiet. A minute later, the son found his father lying on the floor dying. By his side was a thirty-eight caliber British bulldog revolver.
The messenger who came to Wolpert's drug store was soon dispatched for aid, and when he returned about daybreak, Dr. Trunnell was with him. The physician extracted the bullet from Mrs. Beutel's leg, but Beutel was dead. His body was not moved from where he fell till Coroner Miller arrived. Mrs. Beutel's wound was merely a flesh one. The first report of the condition of Beutel's son, who was stabbed with a pitchfork by a negro a couple of weeks ago, was exaggerated, and he is in no danger. Beutel had placed the revolver in his mouth pointing upward and backward, and the bullet had lodged behind his right eye.
Beutel was fifty-five years of age, and his wife is fifty. He came to this country at seventeen years of age and began working for gardeners. He was thrifty, and accumulated enough in the course of time to set up for himself, finally buying the place on which he lived. He was very prosperous, and had gathered together a fortune of perhaps $30,0000 or $40,000. He did not begin to drink to excess until three or four years ago, but the habit grew upon him, and with it came spells of despondency, and his potations were undoubtedly the cause of his awful end. Beutel had eight children, two of whom, John and Lizzie – now Mrs. Rogers, living with her husband a half mile from her father's house – he had given good portions when they married. The other children are Charles, Rose, Deenie, Louis, Lulie and Emma.
Christ. Miller took charge of the funeral arrangements, and the services will take place at 10:30 tomorrow morning from St. Peter's church….Rev. Waldman will conduct the obsequies, and the interment will be made at Cave Hill cemetery.
-----------
MARRIAGE
Kentucky, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1783-1965
Adam Betle [sic-Beutel] married Catherine Johnson on 10 Feb 1859 in Louisville KY
1860 U.S. Fed Census of Louisville Ward 8, Jefferson, Kentucky
Adam Betel, 26, gardener, b. Hesse-Darmstadt; wife, Catherine 19; and Elizabeth 11 months.
1880 U.S. Federal Census of Cane Run, Jefferson, Kentucky
Adam Bredel 49, b. Germany; wife, Kate 36; Children: Lizzie 21; John 19; Mary 18; Edward 12; Chas. 10; Rosa 8; Dena 4 and Louie 1
[Researched by CatheaC #47339429]
ADAM BEUTEL'S MAD DEED.
A German Farmer's Frenzied Attempt at Murder and Suicide
Crazed With Passion, He Shoots and Dangerously Wounds His Wife,
And Then Holds His Pistol to His Own Head and Fires.
The Bloody Tragedy Enacted In a Lonely House Five Miles From the City.
DETAILS OF THE CRIME.
_____________
Shortly before 2:00 this morning a mounted messenger arrived at Mr. F. X. Wolpert's drugstore, corner of Seventeenth and Kentucky streets, his horse reeking with foam, and excitedly sought assistance, saying a terrible tragedy had been enacted late in the night at a secluded spot about five miles out from the city. The messenger, who was a farm hand and lived on an adjoining place, said that Adam Beutel, a farmer, whose place is near the river, a mile and a half from the main road, down a dark, illy-defined and lonesome lane, diverging from the pike beyond the intersection of the Cane Run road, was dead and his wife wounded, while in the same house lay a son, Henry Beutel, at the point of death.
The messenger sought a physician and left word to have Coroner Miller called early this morning to hold an inquest on Beutel's remains. The man was very much wrought up by what had occurred. He had been aroused from his slumbers by the terrible occurrence, and did not tarry to learn many details before starting to the city to get a physician and to leave word with Mr. Wolpert to have the Coroner called.
He said that Beutel and his wife had quarreled, and that the former had become enraged and made a determined attempt to kill his helpmate, firing several shots at her.
Mrs. Beutel fled for her life, but one of the shots striking her in the leg, near the foot, she fell, crying. "My God, Adam, stop! I'm shot!"
Beutel, thinking he had, in his rage, accomplished the evil promptings of his fury, was at once seized with remorse. Thinking he had killed his wife and not waiting to investigate, he turned the muzzle of the revolver upon himself and pulled the trigger, the ball making a death wound, from which he was expiring when the messenger started post haste to the drug store of Mr. Wolpert, with whom most of the farmers and truck gardeners in that section of the county adjoining the city limits, trade.
While this fearful tragedy was being enacted, there lay in the house where Mr. and Mrs. Beutel's heretofore ordinary farm life was principally spent, their son, who a couple of weeks ago received wounds which now promise to terminate fatally. Young Beutel quarreled with a negro farmhand, and was attacked by the negro with a pitchfork, the prongs of which were thrust far into his breast and abdomen. He was gradually sinking and required attention at night, and it is presumed that Mrs. Beutel was watching at her son's bedside when she incurred the anger of the head of the family, which came so near resulting in the death of the wife as well as the husband.
After Beutel had shot himself, Mrs. Beutel hobbled to her feet and with great difficulty and pain reached his side, crying aloud for help. She continued her calls until neighbors arrived, and then she submitted to something being done for herself.
The poor woman was so agitated and unstrung by the terrible calamity, following so closely on the expected death of her son, that she could tell but little of how the whole thing occurred.
The location of Beutel's farm house rendered it impossible to get full particulars, as the place is very difficult to access. The man who came to the city for a physician was nearly two hours in reaching Mr. Wolpert's drug store, and it was impossible to learn more than what little he knew of the occurrence.
The messenger left for the scene with a physician, a few minutes after he reached Wolpert's drugstore. In his very critical condition, the dreadful occurrence, it is feared, will cause the death of young Wolpert [sic-Beutel], and it is not improbable that the funeral services for both father and son will be preached at the same time. Coroner Miller will be notified early this morning, and he will go down to the residence of Beutel to investigate the case and hold an inquest.
[NOTE – In the next news article it was stated that young John Beutel's injuries were over exaggerated.]
The Courier-Journal (Louisville KY), 18 August 1889, Sun, pg 14
BEUTEL'S BLOODY DEED
Some of the Circumstances Which Attended Friday Night's Tragedy.
Coroner Miller's Investigation and the Arrangements for the Funeral Monday Morning.
_____________
An inquest was held yesterday morning on the remains of Adam Beutel, the account of whose bloody deed Friday night was published exclusively in yesterday's Courier-Journal. Coroner Miller, who had been summoned by Mr. F. X. Wolpert, the druggist at Seventeenth and Kentucky streets, to whom a messenger brought the first intelligence of the tragedy, drove to Beutel's home shortly after sunrise and at 7:00 impaneled a jury consisting of Thomas Bosshart, Charles Plaggenburg, Louis Clayton, James Farris, James Rudd and James Edmunds. The verdict was that Beutel had come to his death by suicide, superinduced by drinking.
When the Coroner reached Beutel's house, he found all the dead man's relatives and a number of the neighbors there, while Beutel's body lay on the lawn in front of the house, where he had fallen when he shot himself. The statements of the family were to the effect that Beutel had hitched up his team about noon Friday, and came to the city to get money from bank to payoff his farm hands yesterday. On his way he met John Beutel, a married son, who operates the Shanks farm, near Paddy's Run, and appeared to be in good spirits. After Beutel's return home, he frolicked some with his younger children, and then began to tipple from a jug he kept in the cellar. By supper time he was drunk, a condition in which he frequently got of late.
After supper the family tried to get him to go to bed, but he refused, and hitching up his team, drove away again to return an hour or two later. His eyes sparkled, and his whole appearance was that of a man who was bordering on delirium tremens. At bedtime, Beutel told his children good night, and he and his wife retired to their room in the main house. Beutel's grown children slept in a cottage in the yard. Shortly before 12:00 they were awakened by shots, and Charles, one of the sons, arose and saw his father firing a pistol in the air. Beutel seemed to be quieted when he saw Charles, and he sat down on the porch steps. He had arisen a few minutes before from his bed, half waking his wife, who heard him talking, but in her drowsiness knew not what he said. She saw him go down in the cellar where he kept his whisky jug and then fell asleep again, to be awakened by the shots. At this noise the baby, Amy, who had a fever, awakened and cried for water.
Mrs. Beutel stepped out on the porch to get it, when her husband arose and began to quarrel with some imaginary enemy, apparently having the delirium tremens. Mrs. Beutel tried to quiet him, when Beutel suddenly drew his revolver again, and shouting: "Look out!" fired. The bullet struck Mrs. Beutel in the leg and she fell. Her daughter, Rosa, opened the door and Beutel pointed the pistol at her. The girl pulled her mother inside and slammed the door to. Both remained there trembling, and a moment later the report of another shot followed by a moan reached them, then all was quiet. A minute later, the son found his father lying on the floor dying. By his side was a thirty-eight caliber British bulldog revolver.
The messenger who came to Wolpert's drug store was soon dispatched for aid, and when he returned about daybreak, Dr. Trunnell was with him. The physician extracted the bullet from Mrs. Beutel's leg, but Beutel was dead. His body was not moved from where he fell till Coroner Miller arrived. Mrs. Beutel's wound was merely a flesh one. The first report of the condition of Beutel's son, who was stabbed with a pitchfork by a negro a couple of weeks ago, was exaggerated, and he is in no danger. Beutel had placed the revolver in his mouth pointing upward and backward, and the bullet had lodged behind his right eye.
Beutel was fifty-five years of age, and his wife is fifty. He came to this country at seventeen years of age and began working for gardeners. He was thrifty, and accumulated enough in the course of time to set up for himself, finally buying the place on which he lived. He was very prosperous, and had gathered together a fortune of perhaps $30,0000 or $40,000. He did not begin to drink to excess until three or four years ago, but the habit grew upon him, and with it came spells of despondency, and his potations were undoubtedly the cause of his awful end. Beutel had eight children, two of whom, John and Lizzie – now Mrs. Rogers, living with her husband a half mile from her father's house – he had given good portions when they married. The other children are Charles, Rose, Deenie, Louis, Lulie and Emma.
Christ. Miller took charge of the funeral arrangements, and the services will take place at 10:30 tomorrow morning from St. Peter's church….Rev. Waldman will conduct the obsequies, and the interment will be made at Cave Hill cemetery.
-----------
MARRIAGE
Kentucky, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1783-1965
Adam Betle [sic-Beutel] married Catherine Johnson on 10 Feb 1859 in Louisville KY
1860 U.S. Fed Census of Louisville Ward 8, Jefferson, Kentucky
Adam Betel, 26, gardener, b. Hesse-Darmstadt; wife, Catherine 19; and Elizabeth 11 months.
1880 U.S. Federal Census of Cane Run, Jefferson, Kentucky
Adam Bredel 49, b. Germany; wife, Kate 36; Children: Lizzie 21; John 19; Mary 18; Edward 12; Chas. 10; Rosa 8; Dena 4 and Louie 1
[Researched by CatheaC #47339429]
The Courier-Journal (Louisville KY), 17 August 1889, Sat, pg 2
ADAM BEUTEL'S MAD DEED.
A German Farmer's Frenzied Attempt at Murder and Suicide
Crazed With Passion, He Shoots and Dangerously Wounds His Wife,
And Then Holds His Pistol to His Own Head and Fires.
The Bloody Tragedy Enacted In a Lonely House Five Miles From the City.
DETAILS OF THE CRIME.
_____________
Shortly before 2:00 this morning a mounted messenger arrived at Mr. F. X. Wolpert's drugstore, corner of Seventeenth and Kentucky streets, his horse reeking with foam, and excitedly sought assistance, saying a terrible tragedy had been enacted late in the night at a secluded spot about five miles out from the city. The messenger, who was a farm hand and lived on an adjoining place, said that Adam Beutel, a farmer, whose place is near the river, a mile and a half from the main road, down a dark, illy-defined and lonesome lane, diverging from the pike beyond the intersection of the Cane Run road, was dead and his wife wounded, while in the same house lay a son, Henry Beutel, at the point of death.
The messenger sought a physician and left word to have Coroner Miller called early this morning to hold an inquest on Beutel's remains. The man was very much wrought up by what had occurred. He had been aroused from his slumbers by the terrible occurrence, and did not tarry to learn many details before starting to the city to get a physician and to leave word with Mr. Wolpert to have the Coroner called.
He said that Beutel and his wife had quarreled, and that the former had become enraged and made a determined attempt to kill his helpmate, firing several shots at her.
Mrs. Beutel fled for her life, but one of the shots striking her in the leg, near the foot, she fell, crying. "My God, Adam, stop! I'm shot!"
Beutel, thinking he had, in his rage, accomplished the evil promptings of his fury, was at once seized with remorse. Thinking he had killed his wife and not waiting to investigate, he turned the muzzle of the revolver upon himself and pulled the trigger, the ball making a death wound, from which he was expiring when the messenger started post haste to the drug store of Mr. Wolpert, with whom most of the farmers and truck gardeners in that section of the county adjoining the city limits, trade.
While this fearful tragedy was being enacted, there lay in the house where Mr. and Mrs. Beutel's heretofore ordinary farm life was principally spent, their son, who a couple of weeks ago received wounds which now promise to terminate fatally. Young Beutel quarreled with a negro farmhand, and was attacked by the negro with a pitchfork, the prongs of which were thrust far into his breast and abdomen. He was gradually sinking and required attention at night, and it is presumed that Mrs. Beutel was watching at her son's bedside when she incurred the anger of the head of the family, which came so near resulting in the death of the wife as well as the husband.
After Beutel had shot himself, Mrs. Beutel hobbled to her feet and with great difficulty and pain reached his side, crying aloud for help. She continued her calls until neighbors arrived, and then she submitted to something being done for herself.
The poor woman was so agitated and unstrung by the terrible calamity, following so closely on the expected death of her son, that she could tell but little of how the whole thing occurred.
The location of Beutel's farm house rendered it impossible to get full particulars, as the place is very difficult to access. The man who came to the city for a physician was nearly two hours in reaching Mr. Wolpert's drug store, and it was impossible to learn more than what little he knew of the occurrence.
The messenger left for the scene with a physician, a few minutes after he reached Wolpert's drugstore. In his very critical condition, the dreadful occurrence, it is feared, will cause the death of young Wolpert [sic-Beutel], and it is not improbable that the funeral services for both father and son will be preached at the same time. Coroner Miller will be notified early this morning, and he will go down to the residence of Beutel to investigate the case and hold an inquest.
[NOTE – In the next news article it was stated that young John Beutel's injuries were over exaggerated.]
The Courier-Journal (Louisville KY), 18 August 1889, Sun, pg 14
BEUTEL'S BLOODY DEED
Some of the Circumstances Which Attended Friday Night's Tragedy.
Coroner Miller's Investigation and the Arrangements for the Funeral Monday Morning.
_____________
An inquest was held yesterday morning on the remains of Adam Beutel, the account of whose bloody deed Friday night was published exclusively in yesterday's Courier-Journal. Coroner Miller, who had been summoned by Mr. F. X. Wolpert, the druggist at Seventeenth and Kentucky streets, to whom a messenger brought the first intelligence of the tragedy, drove to Beutel's home shortly after sunrise and at 7:00 impaneled a jury consisting of Thomas Bosshart, Charles Plaggenburg, Louis Clayton, James Farris, James Rudd and James Edmunds. The verdict was that Beutel had come to his death by suicide, superinduced by drinking.
When the Coroner reached Beutel's house, he found all the dead man's relatives and a number of the neighbors there, while Beutel's body lay on the lawn in front of the house, where he had fallen when he shot himself. The statements of the family were to the effect that Beutel had hitched up his team about noon Friday, and came to the city to get money from bank to payoff his farm hands yesterday. On his way he met John Beutel, a married son, who operates the Shanks farm, near Paddy's Run, and appeared to be in good spirits. After Beutel's return home, he frolicked some with his younger children, and then began to tipple from a jug he kept in the cellar. By supper time he was drunk, a condition in which he frequently got of late.
After supper the family tried to get him to go to bed, but he refused, and hitching up his team, drove away again to return an hour or two later. His eyes sparkled, and his whole appearance was that of a man who was bordering on delirium tremens. At bedtime, Beutel told his children good night, and he and his wife retired to their room in the main house. Beutel's grown children slept in a cottage in the yard. Shortly before 12:00 they were awakened by shots, and Charles, one of the sons, arose and saw his father firing a pistol in the air. Beutel seemed to be quieted when he saw Charles, and he sat down on the porch steps. He had arisen a few minutes before from his bed, half waking his wife, who heard him talking, but in her drowsiness knew not what he said. She saw him go down in the cellar where he kept his whisky jug and then fell asleep again, to be awakened by the shots. At this noise the baby, Amy, who had a fever, awakened and cried for water.
Mrs. Beutel stepped out on the porch to get it, when her husband arose and began to quarrel with some imaginary enemy, apparently having the delirium tremens. Mrs. Beutel tried to quiet him, when Beutel suddenly drew his revolver again, and shouting: "Look out!" fired. The bullet struck Mrs. Beutel in the leg and she fell. Her daughter, Rosa, opened the door and Beutel pointed the pistol at her. The girl pulled her mother inside and slammed the door to. Both remained there trembling, and a moment later the report of another shot followed by a moan reached them, then all was quiet. A minute later, the son found his father lying on the floor dying. By his side was a thirty-eight caliber British bulldog revolver.
The messenger who came to Wolpert's drug store was soon dispatched for aid, and when he returned about daybreak, Dr. Trunnell was with him. The physician extracted the bullet from Mrs. Beutel's leg, but Beutel was dead. His body was not moved from where he fell till Coroner Miller arrived. Mrs. Beutel's wound was merely a flesh one. The first report of the condition of Beutel's son, who was stabbed with a pitchfork by a negro a couple of weeks ago, was exaggerated, and he is in no danger. Beutel had placed the revolver in his mouth pointing upward and backward, and the bullet had lodged behind his right eye.
Beutel was fifty-five years of age, and his wife is fifty. He came to this country at seventeen years of age and began working for gardeners. He was thrifty, and accumulated enough in the course of time to set up for himself, finally buying the place on which he lived. He was very prosperous, and had gathered together a fortune of perhaps $30,0000 or $40,000. He did not begin to drink to excess until three or four years ago, but the habit grew upon him, and with it came spells of despondency, and his potations were undoubtedly the cause of his awful end. Beutel had eight children, two of whom, John and Lizzie – now Mrs. Rogers, living with her husband a half mile from her father's house – he had given good portions when they married. The other children are Charles, Rose, Deenie, Louis, Lulie and Emma.
Christ. Miller took charge of the funeral arrangements, and the services will take place at 10:30 tomorrow morning from St. Peter's church….Rev. Waldman will conduct the obsequies, and the interment will be made at Cave Hill cemetery.
-----------
MARRIAGE
Kentucky, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1783-1965
Adam Betle [sic-Beutel] married Catherine Johnson on 10 Feb 1859 in Louisville KY
1860 U.S. Fed Census of Louisville Ward 8, Jefferson, Kentucky
Adam Betel, 26, gardener, b. Hesse-Darmstadt; wife, Catherine 19; and Elizabeth 11 months.
1880 U.S. Federal Census of Cane Run, Jefferson, Kentucky
Adam Bredel 49, b. Germany; wife, Kate 36; Children: Lizzie 21; John 19; Mary 18; Edward 12; Chas. 10; Rosa 8; Dena 4 and Louie 1
[Researched by CatheaC #47339429]
ADAM BEUTEL'S MAD DEED.
A German Farmer's Frenzied Attempt at Murder and Suicide
Crazed With Passion, He Shoots and Dangerously Wounds His Wife,
And Then Holds His Pistol to His Own Head and Fires.
The Bloody Tragedy Enacted In a Lonely House Five Miles From the City.
DETAILS OF THE CRIME.
_____________
Shortly before 2:00 this morning a mounted messenger arrived at Mr. F. X. Wolpert's drugstore, corner of Seventeenth and Kentucky streets, his horse reeking with foam, and excitedly sought assistance, saying a terrible tragedy had been enacted late in the night at a secluded spot about five miles out from the city. The messenger, who was a farm hand and lived on an adjoining place, said that Adam Beutel, a farmer, whose place is near the river, a mile and a half from the main road, down a dark, illy-defined and lonesome lane, diverging from the pike beyond the intersection of the Cane Run road, was dead and his wife wounded, while in the same house lay a son, Henry Beutel, at the point of death.
The messenger sought a physician and left word to have Coroner Miller called early this morning to hold an inquest on Beutel's remains. The man was very much wrought up by what had occurred. He had been aroused from his slumbers by the terrible occurrence, and did not tarry to learn many details before starting to the city to get a physician and to leave word with Mr. Wolpert to have the Coroner called.
He said that Beutel and his wife had quarreled, and that the former had become enraged and made a determined attempt to kill his helpmate, firing several shots at her.
Mrs. Beutel fled for her life, but one of the shots striking her in the leg, near the foot, she fell, crying. "My God, Adam, stop! I'm shot!"
Beutel, thinking he had, in his rage, accomplished the evil promptings of his fury, was at once seized with remorse. Thinking he had killed his wife and not waiting to investigate, he turned the muzzle of the revolver upon himself and pulled the trigger, the ball making a death wound, from which he was expiring when the messenger started post haste to the drug store of Mr. Wolpert, with whom most of the farmers and truck gardeners in that section of the county adjoining the city limits, trade.
While this fearful tragedy was being enacted, there lay in the house where Mr. and Mrs. Beutel's heretofore ordinary farm life was principally spent, their son, who a couple of weeks ago received wounds which now promise to terminate fatally. Young Beutel quarreled with a negro farmhand, and was attacked by the negro with a pitchfork, the prongs of which were thrust far into his breast and abdomen. He was gradually sinking and required attention at night, and it is presumed that Mrs. Beutel was watching at her son's bedside when she incurred the anger of the head of the family, which came so near resulting in the death of the wife as well as the husband.
After Beutel had shot himself, Mrs. Beutel hobbled to her feet and with great difficulty and pain reached his side, crying aloud for help. She continued her calls until neighbors arrived, and then she submitted to something being done for herself.
The poor woman was so agitated and unstrung by the terrible calamity, following so closely on the expected death of her son, that she could tell but little of how the whole thing occurred.
The location of Beutel's farm house rendered it impossible to get full particulars, as the place is very difficult to access. The man who came to the city for a physician was nearly two hours in reaching Mr. Wolpert's drug store, and it was impossible to learn more than what little he knew of the occurrence.
The messenger left for the scene with a physician, a few minutes after he reached Wolpert's drugstore. In his very critical condition, the dreadful occurrence, it is feared, will cause the death of young Wolpert [sic-Beutel], and it is not improbable that the funeral services for both father and son will be preached at the same time. Coroner Miller will be notified early this morning, and he will go down to the residence of Beutel to investigate the case and hold an inquest.
[NOTE – In the next news article it was stated that young John Beutel's injuries were over exaggerated.]
The Courier-Journal (Louisville KY), 18 August 1889, Sun, pg 14
BEUTEL'S BLOODY DEED
Some of the Circumstances Which Attended Friday Night's Tragedy.
Coroner Miller's Investigation and the Arrangements for the Funeral Monday Morning.
_____________
An inquest was held yesterday morning on the remains of Adam Beutel, the account of whose bloody deed Friday night was published exclusively in yesterday's Courier-Journal. Coroner Miller, who had been summoned by Mr. F. X. Wolpert, the druggist at Seventeenth and Kentucky streets, to whom a messenger brought the first intelligence of the tragedy, drove to Beutel's home shortly after sunrise and at 7:00 impaneled a jury consisting of Thomas Bosshart, Charles Plaggenburg, Louis Clayton, James Farris, James Rudd and James Edmunds. The verdict was that Beutel had come to his death by suicide, superinduced by drinking.
When the Coroner reached Beutel's house, he found all the dead man's relatives and a number of the neighbors there, while Beutel's body lay on the lawn in front of the house, where he had fallen when he shot himself. The statements of the family were to the effect that Beutel had hitched up his team about noon Friday, and came to the city to get money from bank to payoff his farm hands yesterday. On his way he met John Beutel, a married son, who operates the Shanks farm, near Paddy's Run, and appeared to be in good spirits. After Beutel's return home, he frolicked some with his younger children, and then began to tipple from a jug he kept in the cellar. By supper time he was drunk, a condition in which he frequently got of late.
After supper the family tried to get him to go to bed, but he refused, and hitching up his team, drove away again to return an hour or two later. His eyes sparkled, and his whole appearance was that of a man who was bordering on delirium tremens. At bedtime, Beutel told his children good night, and he and his wife retired to their room in the main house. Beutel's grown children slept in a cottage in the yard. Shortly before 12:00 they were awakened by shots, and Charles, one of the sons, arose and saw his father firing a pistol in the air. Beutel seemed to be quieted when he saw Charles, and he sat down on the porch steps. He had arisen a few minutes before from his bed, half waking his wife, who heard him talking, but in her drowsiness knew not what he said. She saw him go down in the cellar where he kept his whisky jug and then fell asleep again, to be awakened by the shots. At this noise the baby, Amy, who had a fever, awakened and cried for water.
Mrs. Beutel stepped out on the porch to get it, when her husband arose and began to quarrel with some imaginary enemy, apparently having the delirium tremens. Mrs. Beutel tried to quiet him, when Beutel suddenly drew his revolver again, and shouting: "Look out!" fired. The bullet struck Mrs. Beutel in the leg and she fell. Her daughter, Rosa, opened the door and Beutel pointed the pistol at her. The girl pulled her mother inside and slammed the door to. Both remained there trembling, and a moment later the report of another shot followed by a moan reached them, then all was quiet. A minute later, the son found his father lying on the floor dying. By his side was a thirty-eight caliber British bulldog revolver.
The messenger who came to Wolpert's drug store was soon dispatched for aid, and when he returned about daybreak, Dr. Trunnell was with him. The physician extracted the bullet from Mrs. Beutel's leg, but Beutel was dead. His body was not moved from where he fell till Coroner Miller arrived. Mrs. Beutel's wound was merely a flesh one. The first report of the condition of Beutel's son, who was stabbed with a pitchfork by a negro a couple of weeks ago, was exaggerated, and he is in no danger. Beutel had placed the revolver in his mouth pointing upward and backward, and the bullet had lodged behind his right eye.
Beutel was fifty-five years of age, and his wife is fifty. He came to this country at seventeen years of age and began working for gardeners. He was thrifty, and accumulated enough in the course of time to set up for himself, finally buying the place on which he lived. He was very prosperous, and had gathered together a fortune of perhaps $30,0000 or $40,000. He did not begin to drink to excess until three or four years ago, but the habit grew upon him, and with it came spells of despondency, and his potations were undoubtedly the cause of his awful end. Beutel had eight children, two of whom, John and Lizzie – now Mrs. Rogers, living with her husband a half mile from her father's house – he had given good portions when they married. The other children are Charles, Rose, Deenie, Louis, Lulie and Emma.
Christ. Miller took charge of the funeral arrangements, and the services will take place at 10:30 tomorrow morning from St. Peter's church….Rev. Waldman will conduct the obsequies, and the interment will be made at Cave Hill cemetery.
-----------
MARRIAGE
Kentucky, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1783-1965
Adam Betle [sic-Beutel] married Catherine Johnson on 10 Feb 1859 in Louisville KY
1860 U.S. Fed Census of Louisville Ward 8, Jefferson, Kentucky
Adam Betel, 26, gardener, b. Hesse-Darmstadt; wife, Catherine 19; and Elizabeth 11 months.
1880 U.S. Federal Census of Cane Run, Jefferson, Kentucky
Adam Bredel 49, b. Germany; wife, Kate 36; Children: Lizzie 21; John 19; Mary 18; Edward 12; Chas. 10; Rosa 8; Dena 4 and Louie 1
[Researched by CatheaC #47339429]
Gravesite Details
Burial Date: 08/19/1889, Ref: Cemetery Records
Section P Lot: 600 has no stones at all, for anyone, per photo volunteer
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
