The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-18
MRS. SCHAEFFER'S SUICIDE.
LEATING HER HOME TO THROW HER
SELF INTO THE NORTH RIVER.

The funeral Of Mrs. FrCderika Schaeifer
whose body was found in the river at the foot Of
Wust Forty seventh street on Friday. is to take |
place from the residence OF her husband. 512 /
West Forty-fourth street. at noon to-day. A |
week ago Yesterday she told neighbor that she |
was going to Greenwood Cemetery to look at |
the grave Of her dead child and that after that /
she would not care how things might 20. When /
she married Mr.. William SchaefHcr fifteen years /
ago she was widow with one child. n little /
girl named Mathilda. Mathilda's brother
whose grave it was the mother re-
Gently visited in Greenwood. had already
died. Mrs Schaeffer had inherited some money
from her first husband. which she invested in a
house on the rear OF lot in West Forty-fourth
street. II is said that Mr.. Schaeffer also put
some money in this house. Each OF them was
frugal and industrious. and after clearing off a
mortgage that remained on the property they
built n nve-story tenement on the front OF tho
lot. The title OF the property was put in the
wife's name. Lately. the tenants say. no name
has been signed to the receipts for rent II the
title remained in the wife ut the time OF her
DEATH her daughter will, OF course, inherit tho
property. For some time before Mrs Schaef-
ier's death husband and wife had frequent
alterations. though It is not affirmed that
pecuniary affairs had anything to do in pro-
ducing them, On Saturday. Feb. Is. the
daughter. under pretence Of going con-
cert, went away from the house in =
carriage. and was married to Charles Il.
Kob. who keeps a cigar store on the west side
OF Tenth avenue. near Forty-third street Mr..
Schaeffer. her stepfather. says that Mr.. kolh is
consumptive that he is old enough to be the
brides father, and that his stepdaughter's
marriage and whereabouts were kept secret
from him and her mother for long time. His
idea Of the cause OF his wife's uicde is that
she was henrthroken at the conduct of her
daughter. Mutual friends say that both Mr..
and Mrs. Schaener had quick and high tempers.
tOupthpr they la
version Of the causes that led to the suicide:
The husband appears TO be under 40 years OF
age. He is intelligent and prepossessng. The
wife. though only 10 years old, appears in size.
features, and demeanor. to be several years
fathers accounts. and was soprano singer in
the choir of church in Lexington avenue. Mr..
good health. and young and vigorous enough
to support his wife comfortably. AT ? o'clock
a letter to Mr. schaefrer, informing him
that he had married his daughter II was
not true therefore that Mr.. Schaeffer had been
ignorant OF his stepdaughter's whereabouts.
MIR. Koh said his first wife died year ago. As
Schaefrer had called there and had not been ,ro-
ceived her daughter said II was not true. Her
mother. though she was Mt first opposed to the
mitch, was aiterward reconcled TO IT, and had
visited her several times. Each time she WIS
properly received Her ,steptather, Mrs. Kob
said would become vsXed with the way things
went In his pinno mandatory At 524 and 526
West Forty-uhird street and then would
mother aud her. though they had not
given him any cause OF offence. She related
several Instances OF his conduct toward her
mother. to show the violence OF his temper. As
70 his conduct toward herself. she said that on
the afternoon OF March 25 he had come to her
house in her husbands absence. aud had re-
Quested Der to quit her husband. She refused,
ring She Wore. She re- said she Would not. and
thereupon, she alleges he struck her. Mr..
kolb procured warrant and he was taken into
and on April IS Mrs. Koib was summoned be-
lore thai body 70 give evidence in the case She
lpaFna1 nr M hn xrn ipIi tad
On the evening Of March 81 while she was
walking with her husband across Tenth ave-
nue.. she says her stepfMher called her vile
names and struck her. adding that he would
strike her husband. too. If he were not con-
next morning the Court discharged'him.
Mrs Rupert, a German woman. occupies the
FSrg street, sae she It IL 6eSved last .sw
Mrs. Schaefrer alive. She says that after the
Cemetery she lived with her and Mr. Rupert.
sleeping on a lounge in the sitting room. She
Schaeffer. Once before she had asked Mrs.
Rupert to leave her door open at night so that
necessary. Once Mrs. Rupert had found her
with her back black aud blue. and was told 10y
poker. Mr. Schaeffer claimed she had inf icted
the blows upon herself Once Mrs schaefer
lip swollen malt as large RS her eenched
hand. She told Mrs. Rupert that her
time she showed Mrs. Rupert and some St ten.
ants a hole in the plastering. which she said
had been made 10y an carmen dlsh thrown al
Rupert says Mr.. Schaeffer found his wife in
the yard between the two houses and beat her
with n stick. Hence. she says. II is not true
that Mr.. Schaeffer missed his wife on Saturday
and did not discover her until Thursday
On the morning OF last Thursday Mrs. Rup-
pert was going to see a friend in Brooklyn
Mrs. Schaeffer proposed to accompany her. and
scented. Mrs. Schaeffer agreed to meet her on a
neighboring corner. because she was afraid
that II they went together openly her husband
might street
While Mrs Schae1er was walking down the
street. on her way to meet Mrs. Rupert. her
husband accosted her. After words Mrs
schafi-r gave The following account OF her in
terylew TO Mrs Rupert:
Ny husband CAME up and asked me to come
home with him, because there was some money
there Tor me. told him would not. and thai
would never give him another chance TO strike
me-, Then he struck me- with his hand and
strike me again. We both went into Mr.. Haag's
butchers shop. where he took my umbrella ant
Mr.. Haag SAYS he saw 90 blows struck. bu
that MI; sehaener wa' very earnest IN his argu
her sim umbrella that he woke 1t 10y striking
with II against the floor. He told his wife thai
she ought 10 come home TO attend to his wants
there, and that il she did not come home. be
would quit housekeeping ana take away the
Mrs, schaefIer and Mrs. Rupert went tc
Brooklyn together. and returned about {
O'clock. On the corner Of Forty-flrst street and
Tenth avenue she left Mrs. RUPERT. telling heI
she was going to see a friend at $50 West Forty
first street and requesting that at 9o'clock
little girl living in the same house with Mrs
Rupert might be sent there TO accompany hel
home. She was at this time quite cheerful. A
9o'clock Mrs. Rupert went herself to 500, tn,
house mentioned but Mrs. SchaiIers frienC
said she had seen nothing OF her; nor WA
there any trace of her found thereafter unit
her body hoated 10 the top Of the river OF
the following day. She had often spoken e
Mrs. Rupert OF putting an end 10 her life
Once when Mrs. Rupert asked her why sh'
did not have her husband arrested. she told he
she knew better way to stop all the trouble
Mrs. Schaeffer had no relative in this countrl
except her daughter
Mr.. Schaeffer said that his wife has not beer
In her right mind since her daughters mar
rlaRe. and to this he attributes the stories o
cruelty she has told about him.