conradchristmurderpg

Some notes on the murder of Conrad Christ 6/19/1841 It becomes our painful duty to state that a horrible murder has been committed in this county--the first willful murder within our limits during a period of twenty-nine years. The circumstances are calculated to excite more than the ordinary indignation due to this dreadful offense. It seems a couple of Germans, not long in the county, were lately known to be in treaty for renting the farm of Mr. Conrad Christ, an elderly man, residing in Bern township, who was known to have saved a few hundred dollars, and to have retained in his possession the accumulations of his industry. As Mr. Christ, who lived alone, had not been visible to his neighbors for some days, on Friday last, his house was visited for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of his seclusion. He was found lying on his bed, with his skull broken--quite dead and the body in a state of incipient putrefaction. The men, whose names are John Dick and Frederick Oshman, left the neighborhood on Friday night and it is since ascertained, that a gun belonging to the deceased, was sold by them as Lash's Tavern about 3 miles from the place where the murder had been committed. Immediate pursuit of these persons has been made and we presume will be continued until they shall be arrested, in order that the question of their guilt or innocence of this horrid offense may be duly investigated. We have not, as yet, heard of their arrest.

Trial of Nicolaus Reinhardt, for the Murder of Conrad Christ, of Bern Township, Berks County
    This day, Thursday, Nov. 4th, 1841, having been fixed upon for the commencement of the trial of the prisoners, Jno. Frederick Oschman and Niclaus Reinhardt, charged with the murder of conrad Christ were brought into Court. (Both plead not guilty) The indictment contains three counts: the first count charges the murder to have been committed by the inflection of bruises, etc. upon the right and upper part of the frontal bone of Conrad Christ., by Oschman, Reinhardt being present, aiding, abetting, etc. The 2d charges the murder to have been committed by strangulation, Oschman being the agent, Reinhardt being present, etc. The 3d count charges the murder to have been committed by each of the means, charged in the former counts conjointly-Oschman being the agent-Reinhart being present, aiding, etc.
    By this form, Oschman & Reinhardt are charged equally as principals. (Trails are set separately) (Jury is picked) (Witnesses questioned-trying to determine the last time Christ was seen alive) (Daniel Wortman rented land from Conrad. He plowed the fields several days and saw no movement. On Friday he noticed a window was open but still no movement.) I got Henry Grimes to accompany me. They looked in the window and Grimes said there was a pair of shoes on the bed. I looked and said they are not shoes, they are feet. Grimes called Christ by name twice but received no answer. He then went to John Grimes and told this and after putting the horses away and taking dinner, went back. Henry and John Grimes, Jacob Klein a boy and witness went back. This was Friday after dinner. John Grimes and myself came there first. John called and knocked at the window but received no reply; John G. then crept into the window which was open and unlocked the kitchen door by the key which stuck inside. All then went into the house. John G went first and I next to him. The room door was open and there the old man lay dead on his bed on the floor. The bed was a chaff bag on the floor covered with a feather bed. We then went out and I went to Bernville for Squire Boyer; I did not go back with Boyer, returned to my plowing..
    Christ looked black and smelt so offensively that I did not stoop long. John g. took the cover back off him and I think he was turned on his belly. Observed no blood....John grimes, sworn-I came first to Christ's house on Friday noon, when I came there I looked in through the room window and saw Christ's feet-said he is lying in bed, but can't say whether dead or alive. Wortman also looked in and saw him; I then told the others to look in and observe whether he moved, while I knocked at the door-I knocked, but he made no motion. I then went around to the kitchen window and got in and unlocked the door. Then I opened the door, and a great stench came out. i then drew away the cover so as to see this face-it was black. We went right in and I went to Stump's and sent Warmth to Bernville to get the people together.
    The deceased lay pretty much on his belly, with his face on his arm; saw no blood; went away immediately i was there afterwards but did not go in; outside of the window was a bucket, coffee pot, piggin, etc. Can't say when I saw Christ before; was well acquainted with him; he was an old man-60 or more; I was often at his house before this-he lived alone. he was a tall and stout man.
    Michael K Boyer, Esq., sworn: I held the inquest over the body; come to the house of Christ on Friday, June 11th. Mr. Wortman had given me notice that Christ was lying dead there; I summoned an inquest; we found Christ lying dead in his room on a chaff bag on the floor. He was lying rather on his right side with his head on his arm. One of the Jurors turned him up a little, and it appeared as though there were marks of blows on the right side of his head; can't say whether he was bald headed-he had grey hair; his tongue was swelled and out; his face looked quite black. bed didn't appear to be much tangled; there was some blood on it; blood was where the marks was on his head; saw no blood on any other part of the bed; body smelt very bad; the weather was very warm; tongue was swelled like a big lump before his mouth; am a Justice of the Peace.

More notes from newspaper:

1. George Meyer (looks like Meyer in the newspaper but hard to read) he was turned down for a jury because he
      was the brother-in-law of Conrad
2. Age at least 60. Another report 60 or more
3. Lived alone 1/2 mile NE from Bernville
4. Conrad was tall and stout
5. Reinhart and Bernhardt Hettinger lived with Conrad at one time.
6. David Remo and Daniel Bentz set off in pursuit of Ochman and Rheinhardt. Found him in Dayton      Ohio.
     Arrested and returned to Reading
7. Gave Reinhardt and Ochman gin and whiskey to make them drunk so they would talk
8. Trial continued 11/5/1841
9. Stoudt's paid the men to go after Rheinhardt and Oschman
10. Reinhardt also known as John Dick
11. Oschman had a wife near Hyotsville, Ohio
12. Lewis Christ's name was mentioned (just as being present when something was said.)
13. Oschman's trial came later

This is just a brief account of the murder of Conrad Christ. It can be found in the Reading Newspaper.

From the book Scaffold and Chair, A Compilation of Their Use in Pennsylvania 1682-1962

Reinhardt, Nicolaus, executed April 1, 1872; Berks; for the murder of Conrad Christ of Bern Township on June 11, 1841; John Osman, a co-conspirator, was acquitted; both were Bavarians; they attacked Christ who lived alone with robbery the motive; apprehended near Dayton, Ohio; Reinhardt was convicted November 13, 1841; warrant issued, Febuary 9, 1842; he attempted to escape from jail while awaiting execution but was shot in the thigh; executed in "old jail at 5th and Washington"; about 400 persons witnessed the affair but with the military holding back crowds outside the jail.

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