Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-20
JENNIE CRAMER,S FATE.
zhe Tragic Story Of her Unfisnely TAX
ing OF Again Revived.

zhe Tragic story of her Unfisnely TAX
ing OF Again Revived.
eHRoUDED IN MYsTERY-TRIAL OF THE MAIIEYs
AND BLANCHE DOUGLASS FOR MURDER.
NEW HAVEN, April Ia, 1882.
IL was a bright, beautiful morning last sum-
mer when pretty Jennie Cramer's body was
found upon the WestHayen shore. Asa Curtiss.
an old fisherman, passed along the beach soon
after sunrise and caught the CLEAN of her white
dress amid the seaweed and drift. The body
was borne to the town, and fast fed the news
for in New Haven where she lived and at the
pleasure resorts along the shore Jennie had been
widely known and as widely admired for her
rare beauty She was young, twenty or so,
handsome alike of face and fgure CAV happy
Careless, fond OF amusements. like thousands Of
young girls, yet not bad at heart and so far as
gossip said, unstained by immoralities or low
dissipation Her father heard of her death
jacob Cfafner, an old New Haven cigar dealer in
moderate circumstances and he came hurrying
to the scene 1t was Saturday the 9th of
August, 1881; and to this day the mystery of her
death is unsolved.
As it lay in the morgue the body was prettily
dressed in white, plated muslin dress and
over-skirt. with figured lace waist a white straw
hat and white mitts. In her pocket was blue
purse, bead trimmed and containing but few
cents There were no marks to Indicate the
eanse of death The face was discolored; upon
the forehead slight bTuise from the sands of
the beach. and slight abrasions OF the left ear
and lower lip. Nothing to indicate death by
drowning was evident
SEEKING FOR LIGHT.
The inquest began that day and the testimony
but deepened the mystery. The aged father
testified that Jennie remained away from home
the preceding Wednesday night; came to the
house the next morning with friend, Blanche
Douglass: was upbraided for her absence. and
then suddenly disappeared. Not returning that
night, Mr.. Cramer sought her on Fri
day at the Elliott house, where the
Douglass girl was stopping, and was told that
Jennie had gone to New York 10 see her brother
The same day Mr.. Cramer received note to
that effect from young man who had been
Jennie companion, James Maey, jr, a nephew
OF Edward Nal ey, wealthy dry goods dealer
and clerk in his store The father knew nothing
further until advised of the finding of the corpse
upon the beach Sheriff Peck told Of eeeing her
at savin Rock Grove Friday night with a young
man resembling James Malley. A Mrs. Blake
heard womans scream about two O'Clock that
night, and wagon soon after passed her house
toward New Haven The physicians who had
examined the body were Of the opinion that ft
had been IN the water less than twenty-four
hours, and that the girl had been chaste to
within about that period.
associate his cousin. Walter Malley Walter is
the son of Edward Malley; he had abundant
means, ana with them aided his cousin on mu-
tuai pleasure trips. The young men were cues
Toned James would not say when he last saw
Jennie. but persisted that he was not with her
Friday night. Walter asserted that he drove to
Branford Point, on the east shore that night
with Blanche Douglass He had not seen en-
NE since wednesday night at the Elliott House.
when she was with Blanche. He wished no
N q lat ter ha nd
send her out of town. Blanche was traced and
found She appeared distressed over the news
of the tragedy. and insisted that she had not
seen Jennie since Thursday morning at her own
house The trio In this early stage of the affair
lied, and lied foolishly.
The following Monday the Jury of inquest met
again, and that Jennie did not pass Wednesday
night at the Elliott house with Blanche was es-
tabiished by witness who saw the girls and
the two Malley boys leave Walter Valleys house
early Thursday morning. Blanche was called
as witness at the inquest. She gave her name
as Annie Blanche Douglass and residence with
Mrs George CASTOR No. 231 east Saith street
New York" She admitted the Wednesday
night visit to Walter Mal!ey's house. the family
being absent, but insisted that she and Jennie
occupied room alone. James Malley also now
admitted this part of the affair." and that the
party had music and wine. He and his cousin
Waiter were positive that they did not see Jen-
ME later than the next morning.
By this time New Haven was terribly excited
0Scf Tie audiI, auu uetcCtiSeS, PROFESSIONAL ana
amateur, We're at work upon every clew and
the newspaper men, local and from the New
York papers, joined in the hunt and fairly kept
ahead of the authorities. 1t was discovered
that Blanche Douglass wore underclOthing
marked Lizzie Bundy," and this led to the rev.
elation that Blanche was an inmate of house
OF lii repute on west 31st street and had long
known Walter Aalley. That her services had
been enlisted in debauching Jennie Cramer be-
came evident. Thursday, August IL five DAYS
after the tragedy. Blanche under the advice of
the Mailey boys, fled to New York and regis
I,red herself at the Hoffman house as Miss
Clements" She was traced by DR.. Painter, of
West Haven who had been active in the case
and to him admitted that the Wednesday
night OF the party at Walters house there had
been improper intimacies. Saturday the 18th,
Blanche was arrested and brought to West Ha-
ven on charge of perjury before the jury of in
quest. Detective researches were now stimu-
lated by the offer of a reward by Walter NaIley's
father OF 81 600 ''for conclusive evidence against
the parties concerned in the death of Jennie
Cramer."
Blanche Douglass was not placed in jail. but
IN the deputy sherif's comfortable summer cot
tage on the shore. The officials wished to treat
her tenderly. She held the key to the mystery,
and she apparently holds it yet Two days after
her arrest the Malley boys were placed in the
county jail The following day Tuesday, the
inquest was resumed, and the persistent state
ments of the trio that they had not seen Jennie
later than Thursday morning or noon preceding
Aei ucatu NtTt met Dy the sworn testimony OF
restaurant manager that the four were at SUD-
per at his place late Thursday night.
THE MYSTERIOUS FRIEND.
By the night train of this Tuesday came a
''frfend" Of Blanche Douglass from New York
He said his name was James Reilly occupation,
yard master Of one Of the elevated roads. He
had a private conference with Blanche The
result was secret hearing by the jury that
night, continuing until nearly morning Blanche
was the sole witness. Her most important
statement was that on that Wednesday night,
at Walters house. she and Jennie retired to-
gether, and that, far in the night, James Malley
entered the room and tore Jennie. screaming.
from her arms and carried her away to his own
room Blanche now gave another name as her
true one-Anne Kearns. or Curran.
The jury was in daily session throughout the
week, and host OF witnesses gave conflicting
testimony as to whether Jennie and James had
been at Sayin Rock Grove the night preceding
her death Those who testified afirmatiyely
were met with the testimony Of James Malley
T-, daughter and several visitors, that James
DaSSead that Friday NIGHT af mis- hon