Herman
Rackers
Cincinnati Daily Gazette, Monday, 16 August 1880, page 3
Yesterday morning while the church bells were ringing out their calls to Sabbath duty, the residents of Dayton were horrified to learn a family strife, fatal in results and shocking in it nature, had just taken place in a home not long since as happy as any in their midst. George Rackers, the victim of the affair, is a tailor and has been one of the most substantial men in Dayton. His son, Herman, is twenty-two years of age, regarded as steady and industrious in his habits and has been associated for some time in business with his father, first as assistant and latterly as sole manager.
Some two or three years ago, two brothers in law of the elder Rackers placed with him $1000 cash for the purpose of taking care of it and to better insure its safety, entrusted it to the Church of St Francis. He had at the time $1500 of his own money deposited with Archbishop Purcell in Cincinnati. Shortly after, the church went into bankruptcy and nearly all the $2000 were lost.
This was a severe blow to Rackers, but he still kept on with business until the failure of the Archbishop completely prostrated him. He became melancholy, lost all hope and ceasing to attend to his business, took to drinking. In short he became worthless, grew frequently abusive to his wife and family and was a source of annoyance to all. He has continued this for two years. In the meantime, Herman took his place in business and to him the family was indebted for its support.
Yesterday, while at the breakfast table, the old man entered and began demanding money from his wife, declaring he wanted it for his morning drinks. Mrs. Rackers refused saying she had no money. This answer aroused his anger and he snatched up a poker and was attempting to strike her with it. Herman jumped up and seizing a blade dealth him a terrible blow over his head, felling him to the earth. The wound was on the left sided of the head and the bones of the skull were broken and crushed upon the brain.
Coroner Schoolfield and Dr. Kearns, of Covington, were summoned. Seventeen pieces of bone were removed from the brain but they pronounced the case a hopeless one and gave it their opinion he would hardly survive today. Herman was arrested and place in jail. However, some of the friends of the family, intervened and he was permitted to remove to his home, to be there under the guard of an officer.
The examination will take place before Mayor Maxley this morning. There is a general sympathy for the family, who are all worthy people and the fact the deed was done by a son in the defense of his mother goes far to mitigate its hideousness with the public.