New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-13
ANOTHER KILLS HER BABES
LEAPING WITH THEM DOWN AN AIR SHAFT
DANGEROUSLY INJURED HERSELF BY THE
FALL-CRAzEp BY FEVER

DANGEROUSLY INJURED HERSELF BY THE
FALL-cRAzED BY FEVER
Occupants of the tenement-housc No. 434 East
Scventy-sixth-st were horror-struck yesterday af
tsrnoon. when a woman threw herself and her two
small children down an air shaft from the fourth
story, killing the children and injuring herself
dangerously The woman was Mrs Caroline
Schmitt She married nine years ago in
Stuttgart Germany, TO Joseph Schmitt, glass
worker. Five wears ago the couple came TO this
city. leaving their little boy in the care OF his
grandparents. Schmitt found employment IN the
manufacture OF glass signs and earned good wages
lie has been a good husband The family in this
city had increased to four persons when they
moved into rear rooms on the fourth floor of the
house in Seventy -sXth-st. six months ago. The
children were Jennie. pretty child. two years old,
and her baby sister, MolIie
Mrs. Schmitt was a thrifty housewife and did all
her work. About a week ago Mollie was
weaned ard Mrs. Schmitt attacked with milk
fever. and day or two ago she began to act
qucerly. Schmitt was anxious about his wife. but
went to his work every day. Yesterday morning
Mrs Schmitt went about the DELAYED family wash
ing but she talked nonsense to herself and made so
MANY queer remarks to her husband that he was
alarmed. lie quit work and determined to
STAY with his wife and children the rest OF the day
The family ate dinner together and Schmltt noticed
that his wfe's mind seemed to be wandering more
than ever He kept watch of her for an hour or
two.
AT 80 p. m. he sat by window of the sit
ting room, looking out at the rear ends of the
houses in Sevcnty-ffth-st. Jennie was amusing
her baby sister in the bedroom. the middle room
OF the set, while Mrs. Schmitt was sweeping the
kitchen floor Soon Schmtt heard a noise like
that made by broom thrown violently against
the wall A moment later he heard Jennie cry
Papa. Papa" Hc got up and walked TO the
kitchen, calling out: " What is the matter ?"
The kitchen was empty. Schmitt noticed that
the bed in the middle disordercd and
the window just above 1t was open. That win
dow opened into the airShaft, the bottom Of
which was sixty feet below. Springng upon the
bed. the frightened man leaned over the window
sill and looked down. At the bottom Of the
shaft he saw the battered forms OF his wife
and children.
Ills shouts for help alarmed everybody in the
house, aS he ran downstairs to the basement
where there opening into the Shalt lie
was beside himself with grif. Two "om
helped hin, drag The limp and bloody forms into
The bas, mont Little Jennie dead Her neck had
been broken in the fail The bahys skull was
fractured but there were signs Of lie IN thr lltic
boGl. MIS-. S"hmitt'S skull was fractured, her
shoulder was diSlocItl j, hcr let leg was broken
and there Wcr" many cuts ana Dru!sCS on hef
lodv vet She still brcathcd An ambulance was
call1d quickly. The surgeon said Jennie had
loon killed instantly. He thought the baby was
dyinc Too. hat he placed her u the ambuIance
with her ,n>pu.illr rnoihor. MGlIc died at tho
Prs y:er.an Hospital hIlf m hour later. Mrs
ScIDtt r covered cCn>ciouSnos>. and thr surgeons
led some hope 0f saving her life last evening,
hat her reason had not returned she recoshlnG,I ~,
h.! husband and s1oke to him. but sud She coad
lot ,cll why she Jumped down he air SHAFT SAe
thought she codld not help 1t.