Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1882 — FLORENCE’S BARBER STORY. [ARTICLE]

FLORENCE’S BARBER STORY.

Hon. Bardweit Btote Qaoe Shaved by a Cold Blooded Murderer., The Chicago correspondent of the Courier-Journal could uot help, bqt hear the story that follows, because be was waiting for BiUy Florence to vacate a barber chair, one day last week: “Do you know,” said Floreuce confidentially to the barber, “I never get into a barber chair without thinking of Henry Jumpertz, and resolving to write a barber story.” Gus had, in the meantime, provided Mr. Florence with plenty of lather and taffy and secured passes for two at McVicker’s that evening, when he continued his chatter: “I think It was in ’59. J was on my way west from Detroit, aud occupied a seat with a |quiet, intelligent, gentleman, that I somehow got interested'in after a while, but found it hard work to draw* out. r I tried to size him up, but couldn’t make out whether he was a decent sort of a preacher, a well-be-haved commercial traveler, or' some modest sort of a newspaper man—l knew he wasn’t an actor, or he would have commenced giving me ‘mummer’ wind right off. The fellow knew so much, confound it, I couldn’t mention a subject but what he was ‘up’ in. I never enjoyed a man’s company so much in my life; but there was no use; he w’ouldu’t ‘give up* anything. “We got into Chicago early in tne morning, aud as we actors all used to stop at the old Matteson House I invited my follow-traveler up there to get something warm. After we’d had a drink, as we both needed a shave we started for the barber shop. He got in ahead of me aud got my regular barber’s chair, aud so I took a paper and waited. Then I took my time and went to chatting with Henry—that was his name, Henry Ju-mpertz—just as I always do to the old boys that shave me at different places. “My quiet friend, who had given the name of Brown, courteously waited for me until I was through, and I says to him: ‘Say, Brown, Henry gives a man a mighty good shave, don’t he?’ ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘he’s a splendid wprkman. He keeps sharp razors.’ “Ot course, 1 didn’t pay any attention to such a remark as that at the time. When we got out into the office Mr. Brown thanked me for the pleasure he had had iu my company, aud, just as he was about leaving me, said: ‘Mr. Florence, to be frank with you, I am a detective.. I have been looking for a murderer; 1 have got him. Good day, Mr. Florence.’ “1 bad some engagements further West, and after I had played them I came back, went to the Matteson House, as usual, started iu to get shaved, look around for Henry, couldn’t find him, shouted to the ‘boss’ add asked him where he was. Why, didn’t you know about Jumpertz? Well, well, well! Why Jumpertz"was arrested for murder not fifteen minutes after he shaved you the last morning you were here, aud the man who had his shave ahead of you was the officer who arrested him. ” “Of course, I was pefectly paralyzed, but found, on inquiry, that Jumpertz had been arrested for the murder of of his mistress He was charged with murdering her, cutting her in pieces, packing her in a barrel and shipping her "East. I never heard what became of Jumpertz, „ but the whole business kept running iu my bead ever since, and l never get in a barber chair without I wonder if the man that’s shaving me isn’t another murderer.” “Yes” said Florence, reflectively, as he resigned his seat to ourcorrespnn ent, “J really am going to write a bar ber story and have it published in Scribner's.” Of course, all of this was very inteiesting, but your correspondent thought it would be a good idea to verify it, as actors are rat tup inclined to fiction. Bo I stepped over to Pinkerton’s detective agency and ascertained that Florence had fid the exact truth in the matter. The facts are: Henry Jumpertz had a mistress named Sophie Wener. Tiring of her, as it war conclusively proven, he murdered her in 1859, cut her body in pieces and shipped the remains to Troy. N. Y. This was uuder the police ad ministration or Superintendent <J. P. Bradley, rle was arrested precisely -as stated by Mr. Florence, who will uodoucicdly be gi ,d to get the additional facts in order to complete his story., tried and covicted twice hut on the third trial was acquitted. This case came about through the friendship Jumpertz hail formed for another murderer then confined in the CookC’ounty Jail, who to'k an • ;th that were he acquitted, he would p* ■.u half hD <•'''* •*- w»« a peri wealth —-in bt'.u.nig Jumpitlz’ ouittral. Jumpertz’ plea was ihi the woman committed suicide, .ud that.;fearing lie would be obliged, w ith ber murder, he took tins means oi' disposing of her remains and averting for a time, at least, suspicion’ Mr. 1 William A. Pinkerton, from whom I received the tacts in t,he matter, informed me that, hff last saw of Jumpertz was during fie war in Vicksburg in 1N62, where he was then sergeant in a regiment belonging to t|ie regular army. lam sure Mr, Florence will be obliged foi' the pains taken to secure all the facts in a mktter which has been resting on his. mind for so long a time.