Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-02-28
DEVILIsR DEEDS
In the Moral City OF ChieasO-A Doe
tor and AIS Alleged PaTRmOur Ac-
cused OF Double Murder.
Special to the Cincinnati Enquirer

Special to the Cincinnati Enquirsrl
CHICAGO, February 2i.-Hsnry Colder
man, well-to-do German, died quite sud-
denly at his home, No. sos SedgewIck street.
on the fourth day of October, after N illness
Of just five days, during which time he was
afflicted with cramps and vomiting. He was
attended by DR.. Henry Meyer, who had been
the family physician for some years, and the
latter returned a certificate tnat the deceased
had died OF Bright S disease of the kidneys.
Tie would allow no one to see the sick man,
and used chloroicrm freely. Ten days later
Mrs. Meyer, wife OF the physician, was taken
Ill likewise, suffering from cramps and severe
vomiting. Chloroform was also Used IN her
case, and the same treatment was observed
with her that DIR. Meyer used in MIR. Gelder-
mans case. The woman lived bat short
time, and passed away. The burial CsrtltI-
cate in this case stated that the deceased had
come to her death from compound attack OF
metro-pe-ltonltls and gasrIts-twO diseases
which some physicians say are never BsscCi-
ated together IN any case. The two deaths,
with the attending circumstances, formed
the subject of considerable gossip among
the neighbors and friends OF Gelderman, and
various and dark were the hints thrown out
that everything was not as it should
be. Parties were found who were ready to
affirm that criminal relations existed between
| Mrs. Gelderman and her family physician for
| some time previous to the death of her hus-
/ "
| the deceased woman that the latter had told
| her con6dentially that she had detected the
| two IN improper relations IN the Office of her
husband one day, by looking over the tram
| som, and she said she had nothing to live Tor
now. Furthermore, Il WAS alleged that DR..
| Meyer had produced an abortion on his wife
previous to her DEATH and called it a mis-
carriage. Gelderman was known 10 be worth
| about two hundred thousand dollars. He
| was not robust man, but was inclined to
| delicate health for years before his death.
| The surviving couple have been closely
watched all winter. 1t is alleged that the in
| timacy between them has been kept up
without intermissiop, aud of late sus-
| picions have been prevalent that
| they were making preparations to dispose
| of their property and depart for un known
| quarters. A short time ago Mrs. GeideIman
| sold two houses and lots fer thtee thousand
| eight hundred dollars, receiving therefor one
| thousand dollars III cash and a note for the
| remaining two thousand eight hundred dol
| lars, running to next October. The neigh
bors felt that the time for definite action had
| arrived, and they accordingly placed the mat
ter in the hands Of the city detectives.
| About ten days ago 1t found out that
DR.. Meyers name was not registered with the
county clerk, an Irregular thing Of itself, as
! all practcing physicians IN the city are re-
| quired by law to do this. As the officers pro-
| gressed the plot thIckened, and these men,
| familiar with crime 10 all It's hideous forms
| as they were, were amazed at the apparent
inhumanity and the audacity of the parties
implicated. Facts upon facts were discov-
| cred which led them to believe that the ac-
| Cused were black with guilt, and yet there was
| no absolute proof TO be had of the alleged
murder. At length parties were found vino
would swear that DR.. Meyer used the aston
| ishing quantity OF eighteen ounces of chloro-
form upon Mr.. Gelderman, and that between
the hours of ten in the morning and four in
| the afternoon, on the last day of his sick
ness, the doctor stood over him, and held a
| saturated sponge to his mouth and nose till
| the patient sank away from sheer exhaustion
| Other parties were found willing to stake
| their regulations on the assertion that an
abortion was performed on Mrs. Meyer before
| her death, and that she was taken i'll with
| the same symptoms as Gelderman had tX-
| perienced-sntfering with cramps and Vomit-
| ing, and passed away IL like manner under
| the IL luonCe of chtorOturm administered IN
der similar circumstances. Enough was dis
| covered, in the opinion OF the detectives, to
| Justify them IN causing heir arrest; warrants
| were accordingly sworn out against them.
| At about balt-past six o'clock tn officers ap-
| !eug3 a Toe residence Of Meyer, and he was
! !uVitgd 10 take walk with them. He sub
! rnitted without resistance. He was taken to
| the central station and locked in a cell, and
the keeper was instructed to allow nobody to
| see him. On his person were found several
railroad maps of eastern roads, a United
States bond, receipts fer large sums of money,
and notes and drafts on Hamburg and Bre
men banks. The police authorities intend to
have the bodies of the deceased exhumed.
and what remains OF them subjected to an
analytical examination, in the hopes of de-
tecting mineral poison. Should this fact be
established, the proof of guilt will he sufi-
GENTLY strong to induce the widower and
the widow to defer their intended trip to
| Germany, and may abruptly close their al
| legged intimate relations with each other.
The whole affair has caused the most intense
excitement IN the neighborhood in which the
| parties resided