Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-23
Jenny CRAMER'S MOTHER SUICIDES.
But One of the Inflated Family
Remains.


New HAVEN, CONN, July 16-Mrs.
N Christiana Cramer, the mother of beau
\ tiful, unfortunate Jenny Cramer, the
story Of whose tragic death is known all
over the land, committed suicide to-day
q; by hanging. The deed was committed
In the same house in which but few
IN years ago the happy, contented family
lived. To-days tragedy leaves but one
member OF that home circle in the land
of the living, namely, Mr.. H. Edward
a Cramer, the Oldest son.
Mrs. Cramer's body was found hang
Ing to a closet door in her bed room,
suspended by a clothesline, her feet
being about Is inches above the floor.
Near by lay an overturned stool, off
which she stepped to commit the pre-
meditated deed.
M That the deed was premeditated is
shown by the fact that she had care
Y fully wound towel around her neck
to prevent the pain from the cutting
sope.
Last evening Mrs. Cramer was seen
N the doorway of her home, at No. TAB
Grand avenue, talking with her friends.
She seemed little respondent and re-
marked that her son, Edward Cramer,
did not treat her as she wished Mrs.
Cramer owned the block of buildings
In which she lived, and was considered
well-to-do.
About o'clock this afternoon one of
MIS-. Cramer's tenants, Alden Fristed,
was walking along the hallway in front
of her apartments when he saw note
lying in front of her door, He picked 1t
up and read: "Send for my son, e.
Cramer, care Postal Telegraph Co., 1856
Broadway, New York" Fristed took
the note to Policeman Landrigan, and
he in turn reported at the First precinct.
Landrigan was ordered to return to the
house and make a forcible entrance if
necessary. He did so, and discovered
! the body hanging.
Medical Examiner White was sum-
moned, and as he entered the house
several newspaper men followed him.
lie walked up to where the body was
hanging, and ,lossening the rope, lowered
it slowly to the floor. Just as he did so
handsome man entered the room. He
gazed about for moment, and then
said What does this mean? ?"
Catching sight of the body lying on
the floor, he staggered backward and
moaned, cts my mother"
Who are you," Intercepted DR..
White.
ed Cramer, her son." was the reply
The body was removed to Lewis e.
Maycock's undertaking establishment,
and there prepared for burial. The
news of the suicide spread about the
town like wild fire, and by 6 o'clock the
street in front of Mrs. Cramer's house
was blackened BY people all discussing
the suicide and the death of her daugh-
ter which occurred on or about August
9th, 1885. A squad of policemen were
finally ordered to clear the streets.
Among the idle crowd was Walter
Malley, who was tried for the murder
of Jenny, and is now at liberty on
$780, 900 bond, owing TO disagreement
of the jury on the case. James Malley,
who was also connected with the famous
case, is in the West Indies
Several reasons are given for the sui
eide. Mrs. Cramer's intimate friends
state that she has never forgotten
Jeniiies death, an constantly talked of
1t. She has always believed that the
Malley boys were the cause of her death
Then followed the suicide of her hus.
band year later, and still later her
daughter Carrie died of consumption.
For several years she has lived with her
son Edward in New York, but for some
reason returned to this city about three
weeks ago, and has been living in her
old home.
Others say that the woman was
starved to death. No food was found
in the house, neither was there any
money found. This latter is not be-
lieved to be the true cause of her death,
for she owned the block in which she
lived, valued at $4,000, and upon it
there was mortgage of only $4,000.
The rents furnished her a good living.
Melancholia Is believed to be the sole
cause of the suicide, induced by the
tragic scenes through which she has
passed during the past ten years. Then,
too, there is insanity in the family, and
this bears out the belief of many people
that Jenny Cramer committed suicide.
Blanche Douglass, the other woman
who figured in the famous case, died in
hospital near Chicago about two years
ago. With Mrs. Cramer's death, all the
important witnesses in the famous
Malley trial have died, as old Asa
Curtiss, who found her body on the
beach at Savin Rock, died about year
ago.
H. Edward Cramer of New York, was
seen this evening shortly after he had
viewed the dead body of his mother.
Among other things, he said
"My mother has been living with me
for more than year, but | have watched
her closely. knew that she was ezra
tic, and when she desired to come to
this city and live in her old home |
endeavored TO dissuade her from the
plan. She finally left my home, in New
York, and came to New Haven, unbe-
known to me. Later | learned of her
whereabouts, and visited her once.
Afterward telegraphed and wrote to
her repeatedly.
To-day sent telegram, but received
no answer, except one from the Western
Union which stated that no one could
obtain an entrance to her lodging
dropped my work Immediately and
rushed for the Grand Central Depot,
where l caught train and arrived, as
you saw. Mother has been demented
for over year and Jenny's death, to-
gether with that of my fathers, was the
cause"
Mr.. Cramer's statement is vouched fol
by the fact that five kilograms and three
letters were found in her apartments, all
from him, and expressive of sympathy
and filial affection.