Attempted Murder/Suicide at Crosswicks, 1861
The following news item about Crosswicks appeared in the New Jersey Mirror on 2 May 1861:
Considerable excitement prevailed in Crosswicks, on Monday of last week, in consequence of an attempted murder and suicide. A German shoemaker, named Matthews Blitzer, have some suspicion of his wife's faithfulness to him, determined to kill her, but fortunately, failed in his purpose. He attacked her while she had a young child in her arms, and tried to stab her with a shoemaker's knife--but its bluntness and the thickness of her clothing, prevented the accomplishment of the deed. He then drew the knife across her throat and down her breast, making fearful wounds. Holding her infant in one arm, she applied her apron to her throat to stop the flow of blood, and ran to the nearest neighbor for assistance. Blitzer, immediately after inflicting the wounds upon his wife, cut his own throat, and started across the street, with his hand upon the wound, the blood streaming frightfully down his body. As he was about entering a house opposite his own dwelling, he fell in the doorway, and died almost instantly. The wounds of the wife, were considered dangerous at the time, but at the last accounts, her physicians had strong hopes of her recovery. Mrs. Blitzer, we understand, had always borne a reputable character, and the suspicions of her husband were entirely without foundation.
Considerable excitement prevailed in Crosswicks, on Monday of last week, in consequence of an attempted murder and suicide. A German shoemaker, named Matthews Blitzer, have some suspicion of his wife's faithfulness to him, determined to kill her, but fortunately, failed in his purpose. He attacked her while she had a young child in her arms, and tried to stab her with a shoemaker's knife--but its bluntness and the thickness of her clothing, prevented the accomplishment of the deed. He then drew the knife across her throat and down her breast, making fearful wounds. Holding her infant in one arm, she applied her apron to her throat to stop the flow of blood, and ran to the nearest neighbor for assistance. Blitzer, immediately after inflicting the wounds upon his wife, cut his own throat, and started across the street, with his hand upon the wound, the blood streaming frightfully down his body. As he was about entering a house opposite his own dwelling, he fell in the doorway, and died almost instantly. The wounds of the wife, were considered dangerous at the time, but at the last accounts, her physicians had strong hopes of her recovery. Mrs. Blitzer, we understand, had always borne a reputable character, and the suspicions of her husband were entirely without foundation.
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