Details
Title An accurate sketch from nature, of the exterior and interior of the house no. 39, Nth. Fourth St. Philadelphia, where the atrocious murder of Mrs. Rademacher was committed on the night of the 23d, March 1848, her wounds, and exact position when discovered. [graphic].
Publisher [Philadelphia]
Date [1848]
Physical Description 1 print: lithograph, hand-colored; 39 x 23 cm. (15.25 x 9 in.)
Description Sensational print containing two views of the murder scene of Catherine Rademacher, sister-in-law of lithographer Augustus Kollner. Her husband, Charles L. Rademacher kept a bookstore and medicinal shop on the first floor of the Fourth Street address, and his residence with the Kollner family on the second and third floors. On March 23, 1848, the Rademachers were awakened by an intruder searching their bedroom who beat Rademacher unconscious and slain his wife. A broken knife, resembling a shoemaker's tool, but not the only instrument used in the slaying, was found at the scene. A recently released inmate from Eastern State Penintentiary and German shoemaker, Charles Langfeldt was convicted, and executed on October 20, 1848 for the crime despite his declaration of innocence. Upper view shows the murderer, dressed in black, including a top hat, on the rear shed roof of the red brick residence and store. He approaches an upper floor window with a shutter half open. The lower windows of the building are shuttered and a partial view of a leafless vine climbing an arbor (neighbor's yard) is visible in the left of the image. Lower view shows the bedroom and scene of the crime. The murdered woman, attired in a night dress, lies on the floor, face up, with blood surrounding her upper body. The victim has cut marks on her face, chest, and arm.
Her husband lies face down on the bed. His head is positioned near the foot of the mattress. Blood stains his shoulder and the pillows at the head of the bed. Blood splatter is also visible on the wall above and the knob of a door near a dresser in the left corner of the room. Other furniture includes a chair on one side and a night table with wash bowl and pitcher on the other side of the bed. Near another door to the room, the leg of the murderer is visible as he flees through a window adorned with drapery.
Is referenced by Wainwright 17
Notes Manuscript note on recto: Langfelt
pdcc00017
Philadelphia on Stone
POS 9
Free Library of Philadelphia: Castner 19:11
Subject Langfeldt, Charles.
Rademacher, Catherine. d. 1848.
Rademacher, Charles.
Homicides -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Victims of crimes -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Bedrooms -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Geographic subject Fourth Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) -- North -- 100 block.
Genre Lithographs -- Hand-colored -- 1840-1850.
Location Free Library of Philadelphia.| Print and Picture Collection. FLP| FLP Castner 19:11