The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-11-29

MISERABLE END OF ONE OF THE ACTORS
IN THE JENNIE oRAMER MYSTERY.

There died in one of the lowest of
the low resorts in Chicago last Thurs.
day woman who at one time filed a
prominent place in one of the most
noted murder trials in the annals of
crime She was Blanche Douglas, who
with the Mslley boys, was indicted in
New Haven for the murder of Jennie
Cramer.
This beautiful girl was found dead,
half covered by the rising tide, at
Savin Rock, Summer resort near
New Haven, Aug. 6, 1881, by Asa
Curtiss, an old fishermen. He dragged
the body up on the sands, and it was
soon identified as that of Jennie
Cramer. Walter Maley and his cous.
in james were at once suspected Of the
crime, and Blanche Douglas was ar
rested with them as an accessory.
When the trial came on it could not be
ascertained just how Jennie Cramer
died. Theories and circumstantial evil
dence there was in plenty, but no
proof.
Blanche, on the witness stand, swore
w ohO satho oIoi bl6O w dltoi tnu
James Mslley had told. They claimed
they did not know how Jennie Cramer
died. The jury disagreed and the
Malley boys went free.
Blanche had falsely given evidence
as to her New York connections. Her
record was exposed and then the whole
story of her relations with Walter NAL
lar- h., k,x,, -,
New York and lie induced her to go to
New Haven to live with him. She, it
was alleged, led Jennie Cramer astray
and helped James Malley accomplish
her ruin. Blanche was taken back to
New Haven tried for perjury aud ac-
Quilted. She then returned to New
York and entered upon a new career
of dissipation aud gradually sunk so
low that she frequented the resorts of
Mott Street. From that city she came
to Chicago, and there, if possible, sunk
even lower
The woman where Blanche Douglas
lived while there knew her true story
and sympathized with her. She had
Blanche taken to St. Lukes Hospital
and did everything that could be done
to bring her back to health, if not
happiness. 1t was in vain, for Thurs
day the girl died. Her secret went
with her.
While in the hospital, and just be-
fore breath left her, she struggled to
speak. The plying, white-capped
nurse, who sat beside her cot, bent low
to bear what she had to say, but it was
too late-the dying girl took her secret
to the grave with her. From having
been beautiful woman Blanche
Douglas had become a wreck She
had no friends who would give her
proper burial. and she is in an unmark-
ed grave in Potters's Field.
Her death closes the only possible
means of discovering the truth regard
ing the murder of Jennie Cramer, for
it is not likely that the Malley boys
will ever say anything about the mat.
ter. They still have hanging over
them indictments which were brought
when they were charged with having
killed the girl. 1t is understood that
TIER lawyer is to move within short
time in the New Haven courts that
these indictments be quashed.
Blanche Douglas real name was
Annie Hines She was born in Mott
Street, New York, Her father was
blind and she used to lead him about
the streets. In 1877 Aruie Hines, then
l8 years old, was married to John
Zimmerman, cook in a restaurant.
He afterwards was a vender of soap
packages. Annie did not live happily
with her husband. Two years after
ward she gave birth to a child, which
died two months later. In November,
1879, she left her husband. A month
af,er she became acquainted with
James Riley in street car, and they
established friendship which contin-
ued long after.
When Annie went to Lizzie Bundy's
house in New York che did not tell
these facts, her story being of much
more romantic and pathetic character,
and her name being given as Blanche
Douglas.
While in that house she met Walter
Malley, who was then going to school
at Seton Hall, in New Je' sey. Their
intimacy lasted until the Cramer murd-
er took place.
James Mally, Jr., is in, Wilkes Barre
Pa. He went to that city to study medi-
cine with relative. About two years
ago he was arrested, charged with hav-
ing performed fatal operation on a
beautiful young girl from Eas5on, Pa.
Walter now lives in idleness with his
wealthy father at New Haven.