The Washington Union

A most thrilling and terrible tragedy has just transpired at Cincinnati. The papers are filled with particulars, and the proceedings before the coroner. It occurred on Tuesday morning.

A German named Joseph Loeffner and a girl named Francesca Koehler were employed by Mr. Nicholas T. Horton, on Vine Street Hill, the former in the capacity of gardener and hostler, and the latter as a domestic. Becoming attached they were married, although their tempers are represented to have been uncongenial. On account of manifestations of temper, Loeffner was dismissed, but reinstated. He withdrew his wife from regular service, but she occasionally did work in Mr. Horton's family, and had been temporarily engaged there during Mrs. Horton's confinement, which had recently taken place. She, too, was enceinte.

Not to pursue the details, Loeffner believed his wife guilty of infidelity, and that her transgression was shared with Mr. Horton.

In the vicinity of ten o'clock, on Monday night, the residents of the building No. 623 Vine street heard loud and angry talking in the room occupied by Loeffner and his wife. Loeffner was heard to say, "I have seen it, and now I know it," and other similar expressions; and shortly after all was quiet. At seven o'clock in the morning the woman was found dead in her bed, having been strangled to death. She had nothing upon her save a short chemise and her shoes. Loeffner, after being found and sufficiently revived, answered by signs and by means of a slate that he murdered his wife about two o'clock in the morning, and choked her to death while she was asleep, by pressing on her throat with one hand.

It seems that after the murder of his wife Loeffner locked the door, and proceeded to the residence of Mr. Horton, (who was the contractor for the iron fence around the State-house yard,) to which he attempted to set fire, immediately beneath the chamber of Mrs. Horton. Alarmed by the smoke Mr. Horton attempted to ascertain the cause, when he was met in the hall by Loeffner and assassinated, receiving a wound in the hand and another in the abdomen, severing the external iliac artery, inflicted with a sharp butcher's knife. He died in a very few minutes.

Mr. Horton, from the cut in his hand, made a struggle, and then staggered back into the narrow hall, where he was found by Mrs. Wilder. The murderer ran out by the side door to the rear garden, a distance of nearly one hundred yards, and upon the slope of a hill made the attempt upon his own miserable life by cutting his throat with a razor, and attempting to sever the artery of his left arm, near the wrist. After that he ran around behind the green and up towards the gate, where he fell--a distance of over one hundred and fifty yards.

The knife used by Loeffner was an ordinary butcher knife, which he appears to have sharpened for the purpose; and the razor a common instrument, hardly keen-edged enough to make a suicidal purpose sure. They were both found not far from Mr. Horton's house, where Loeffner had thrown them.

The Cincinnati Enquirer furnishes the following further particulars:

"Mrs. Loefner was about twenty-three years old, very prepossessing in appearance, finely formed, and is spoken of as exceedingly intelligent for one occupying the position of a domestic. She was reared in this city, and contributed to the support of her aged parents, who resided on Hamilton road. Loeffner has resided here about six years, and for the most of the time has been engaged in gardening. He is about thirty years old, dark hair, black goatee, has a vicious expression of countenance, sullen and morose looking.

"We visited Loeffner at the Commercial Hospital yesterday afternoon, about three o'clock. He lay upon a cot in the upper ward, and was attended by Drs. Rooker and Hays, the resident physicians of that institution. Dr. Rooker informed us that Loeffner had answered many questions asked him by writing 'yes' or 'no' upon a slate; but becoming feeble he was unable to respond except by shaking his head. His throat was cut terribly, the wind pipe being severed and the veins and arteries protruding. He was yet bleeding profusely, and water and light soap were administered to him through a tube. He appeared perfectly sensible and cognizant of what was going on.

"He was asked, 'Did you kill them?' meaning his wife and Mr. Horton. He wrote on the slate 'yes.'

"Ques. 'Did you kill your wife first?'

"Ans. 'Yes.'

"Ques. 'Did you know that Mr. Horton had slept with your wife?'

"Ans. Yes.

"In answer to many other questions by signs and the slate, he said that he had caught Mr. Horton with his wife several times. He said he did the deed coolly and deliberately, and was not sorry, and wanted to die.

"We give his statements for what they are worth, confining ourselves to the facts as they were related to us.

"Mr. Horton was a gentleman of unimpeachable character, and has been in business in this city for over twenty-five years. He has been extensively engaged in the manufacture of iron railing, mantles, and grating, on Plum street, near Columbia. He was a director in the Ohio Life Insurance Company, in which he had a large life insurance. Among all his friends and acquaintances he was highly esteemed, not only as a prompt business man, but a gentleman of strict moral character, and possessing a kind, benevolent disposition. He leaves a wife and six children, four of them young in years, to mourn his sudden death.

"Loeffner may have committed the double murder under the belief that his wife and Mr. Horton were too intimate, and while maddened with jealous phrensy; but that such was the fact we are satisfied the many friends of Mr. Horton cannot believe. On the other hand, he may have been prompted to commit the deed for the simple reason that Mr. Horton did not want him about his premises, and had endeavored to get rid of him. The murderer has frequently abused his wife, and the family of Mr. Horton have expressed their sympathy for her, and, as we are informed, advised her to leave him. This may have been another inducing cause.

"The affair has cast a gloom over the city, and during yesterday scarcely anything else was talked of in the streets and business places.

"At a late hour last evening Loeffner was more comfortable and apparently improved, but the prospects of his recovery are almost next to an impossibility."