The morning call., 1892-05-04
MOST ANXIOUS TO DIE.
Annie Luft Tries to Follow the
Fate of q Tickle Lover.
She Attempts to End Her Miserable Exist
ence by the Double Means OF Strang-
ulat:on and Gas Asphyxiatlon.

Being out of work, Tilted in her affections
and very Respondent in consequence, Annie
Luft, a young German woman, attempted to
commit suicide early yesterday morning by
stranguation and gas asphyxation. AT
80 o'clock she rented room III the New
ton House, at the southwest corner OF
Stockton street and Broadway, and made
request to be awakened six hours later.
Upon retiring to her room she tied hand
kerchief tightly around her neck and turned
on the gas.
The order to awaken her was not 0beyed.
but at o'clock Lawrence Billock, the pro-
prietor of the house, was attracted to her
room by the odor of escaping gas. lie
found her in an unconscious condition and
caused her removal to the Receiving Hos
pital.
When she regained consciousness she was
asked why she had attempted 10 kill her
self. "The man l loved" she sohbed, is
dead and | want to die with him. -,
Later in the day il was learned that the
man she referred to was Lonls Baumelster,
the solicitor who shuttled of the mortar coll
at his residence, 529 Greenwich street, last
Saturday night by sending pistol bullet
through his brain.
AN INTERESTING STORY.
Thereby hangs an interesting story.
Annie Luft left her parents in Germany
four years ago. when she was Is years olu,
and came to this city, living with her aunt,
Mrs. Homann, at 4G6 Tehama street Two
years ago she met Baumelster ana became
infatuated with him. lie represented hi NJ
self as a single man, and was regarded as a
model lover Several times the wedding
ceremony was postponed upon various pre-
texts by Baumeister.
Then he failed 10 visit her, and upon
making inquiries for him Miss Luft dscov-
cred that he was living with his wife at $50
Greenwich street. The shock Frustrated
her and she became very i'll. When she
recovered she still chung TO her tickle lover.
Two months ago, however she abandoned
all hope of ever gaining him for husband,
and tried to end her misery by gas asphyX.
iation. Failing in this attempt she secured
employment as domestic with family
living at 1913 Cough street Then came the
news of Baumeisters death, which in-
creased the unfortunate woman's deSpond-
ency. Monday night she visited Mrs. Suhr
at i209h Mission street and confIed her
troubles TO her.
WOULD NOT ACCEPT ADVICE.
Instead of accepting advice to return to
her home she wandered almlesSly around
until she procured the room III the Newton
House.
In the room she had occupied was found a
letter, written in German aud addressed to
was very short, merely stating that she was
an outcaSt and had trouble enough. she
prayed for forgiveness and appealed to the
undertakes to take charge of her body.
Under the treatment at the hospital she
was soon in fair way TO recovery. When
placed on cot in the ward for females she
said: al have failed twice, but the next
| time will be more successful. l will use a
pistol like he did"
Miss LuTt is not a beautiful woman
| Neither is she regarded as good looking
| but she had pretty blue eyes and blonde
hair, which Baumeister was very fond of
praising. During the afternoon, when she
| fully gained her faculties, she denied that
BaumeiSter had been her lover, and de-
clared that she was friend OF his wife's.
Her friends will take care of her and try to
persuade her that life still has some charms.
Bv peculiar coincidence an inquest was
| held in the Baumeister case while Miss
Luft was being treated at the hospital. The
| Coroner's jury found that he was 50 years
| old, a native Of Germany, and that he COM
mitted suicide willie In state of despOn-
| dency.