The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-04
DIED WITH HER BOY.
Mrs. Kramer Could Not Live and
See Her Child a Cripple.

In recent issue of the Philadelphia
Times is printed the following sad story of
a mother " no preferred death to seeing her
child cripple:
Despondent over the incurable defcrmity
of her four-month- old baby boy Mrs. Maggie
Kramer threw herself and the little one into
the Delaware River, and both were drowned.
The bodies were found off Poplar-street
Wharf by Officers Harry Burkheimer of the
Seventh District and Henry Nedenthal of
the Tenth District whose beats are sepa-
rated by Poplar street
The two officers had arranged to make an
early morning raid on the gang of loafers
who infeSt these wharves. and were scanning
every corner when Burkheimer saw dark
object floating in the dock. Unable to dis
tinguish what it WAS, he called his conf
panion, and together they peered through
the gray mist of early morning, and to their
horror saw that what they had at first sup
posed was log was in reality the body OF Il
woman, at whose breast was clasped the
dead body of an infant.
Hastily securing boat they reached the
body, and soon had it lying on the wharf.
Here it was dis covered that instead of being
clasped by the mothers arms, the little one
was securely tied to her waist. 1t was
determined case of suicide, accompanied by
self, and had taken every precautioa to Sc
cure the death OF her offspring.
Without delay the officers called the
patrol wagon, and the bodies were taken TO
the Morgue. A closer examination of the
bodies here showed that Mrs. Kramer ad
used several yards of Irvine and number
of safety-pins in fastening the baby's body
to her own, making it a prisoner beyond the
possibility of release. There were no signs
OF struggle. the woman's face bearing a
smile which seemed to speak of perfect con-
tentment in the accomplishment of deed
long contemplated. while the baby might
have been thought to be sleeping. When
the body of the infant was released from
its fastenings 1t was found to be cripple
both feet were turned in, while the limbs
were badly twisted. 9
Nothing was found about either of the
bodies which would give a clew to their
identity. The body of the woman was
placed in an ice-box and the little one was
laid in her arms and clasped to her left
breast. So tho bodies might be quickly
identified the doors of the Morgue were
thrown open.
Not since the days when the remains'o IF
Schilling, who.-was hacked to pieces by
Schoop, were placed in the Morgue for iden-
LITIGATION were there sucn crowds to view
the remains. The news spread with great
rapdity and thousands of men, women and
children Of the northeastern section of the
city, more out of curiosity than anything
else, entered the gloomy building at Beach
and Noble and gaZed on the faces of the
dead.
There were weeping women and children
as they were ushered in the dead house and
strong men wiped their eyes as they looked.
The crowds came all the morning, but no
one recognized the bodies.
Charles Kramer, living at 1889 Crease
street, is driver employed at the brewery
of Christian Schmidt, on Edward street, east
of Second. On Saturday night he finished
his work about 10 o'clock and went home.
and neighbor Informed him that she had
seen Mrs. Kramer go down the street about
an hour before with the baby in her arms.
Mr.. Kramer thought that his wife WAS
away making purchases for Sunday, but as
she did not return By IL o'clock he began to
be alarmed. Twelve o'clock came with no
tidngs of wife and child, and Mr.. Kramer
went to bed comforting himself with the
thought that she had gone to a relatives to
spend the night
As she had not returned by 10 o'clock
yesterday morning he made inquiries Of his
relatives. and failing to find any trace Of
her he called at the Eleventh District Sta
ton house. Here lie told Lieutenant futile
OF the disappearance and described his
wife as being IS years of age, of very dark
complexion, about 8 feet inches tall and OF
very slender form. The baby he said bore
very striking resemblance 10 tho mother
and was cripple. 1t was ON this account,
that he was so anxious about his wife, who
was always worrying over their deformed
child. The fact preyed so upon her mind,
he said. that at tines she was incohsolable.
The Lieutenant. who had been informed
OF the finding of the bodies earlier in the
day, knew from the description that they
were those of his missing wife and baby.
lie told Mr. Kramer he might visit the