The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-03-07
GRETCHEN BEYER'S DEATH
Did a Jealous Lovers Quarrel Drive
Her TO Suicide?

Another supposed suicide is reported
from the Sixth Police precinct
Gretchen Beyer, a native Of Germany +.
and pretty young domestic employed by
the family of Shoe Dealer Andrew Dieck-
mann, Of No. 3l5 Central avenue. was
found dead in her bed yesterday morn
ing. The room was filed with gas whi ch
was still escaping from burner. Gretchen
had been in this country but eight months.
Since her arrival she has lived with
the Dieckmanns. Sh e has a sister living
with the family of Adolph Walter. an
iron founder, at No. 237 Central avenue.
Gretchen was well thought OF by her en-
ployers. She retired Saturday night. ap-
parently in good spirits. She bad made
the Kitchen ready for the usual Sunday
morning work, and the fact that she had
not made her appearance at eight O'CLOCK
led Mr.. Dieckmann to knock upon the
door. There was no response. A strong
odor of gas emanated from the room, the
door was forced and Gretchen was found
as though asleep in bed. An effort was
made to arouse her, but 1t was soon dis
covered the young woman was dead.
A LITTLE JEALOUSY.
Whether her death was the result OF
CaFel l0SSu6SS OF bUe COuilHllbtu ouiOiuoi ishSs
definitely known. 1t is known, however.
that she had falling out with franz
Meyer of Hoboken, to whom she refers IN
an unfinished letter written in German TO
friend in Europe. She had not seen
Meyer since they attended New Years
party on last New Years eve.
The Dieckmanns believed Gretchen
committed suicide. though they cannot
fully account for the deed, as the girl was
of a cheerful, sunny disposition. Annie
Beyer the sister of Gretchen, scouts the
idea that Gretchen killed herself. She
does not believe Gretchen cared straw
for Meyer. She believes that her sister
went to sleep with the gas burning, ana
that the light was blown out by draught
OF wind.
The letter which helps to strengthen the
theory of suicide, imperfectly translated,
reads something like this:-
JERSEY CITY HEIGHTS January g. 1892.
MINE BELOVED LENA
Your loving letter have received and hope
you will have luck. have waited for an answer
to my letter. l ask you not to be angry.
would have written to you before if could.
had lots of joy but more of sorrow. Twas very
sick just before Christmas with diphtheria and
was in bed fourteen days didn't care FOR all
that, only that had to miss great ball where
my brother-in-law and sister were. had to
lay home in bed Although 1 paid doctor
S24.6O didn't care for all that. wished my
parents and relations happy new year which
ended very SCfroW1ully.
DEAR LENA-Christmas l got some very nice
presents which never expected from the peo-
pie live with:-Six aprons, six shirts, pair OF
slippers, pair of nice ball slippers and fine
photo album from Mr.. Deckman's brother.
got one pair of white and pair of black
gloves from Mr.. Dieckmann's two sisters. One
clerk or salesman made me present of some
silver. My sister gave me pair OF long -sleeved
gloves got nothing from my mother-in-aw.
Now comes the main thing:-One pair of ear
rings and gold necklace from my sweetheart,
had fhriSf Sftrana VI n
was great If you could only have seen it!
Everything went all right for eight days until
a certain night when l went to Walters to have
a ice New Years night. Everyone was there
wien got there. They sang and my brother
in-law played me music, and there was dane
ing. Evening wore on until tive I've
O'Clock, the railroad whistles and everything
else began to blow and 1t lasted half an hour.
Then we started in for good time in the New
in-law was fooling with me and fell. The
scissors went into my arm. 1t swelle6 all of a
sudden. All hands went home very sorry that
anything had happened When going home
spoke to my beau about it. Instead of giving me
sympathy he said it served me right, and be
hoped the arm would get worse-that was too
crazy with my brother-iu-law. He advised me
to leave off fooling with my brother-in-law and
said if we ever get married he'd tell me then l
should have nothing to do with my brother-i law
any more.
The brother-in-law referred to is son
of Adolph Walter. to whom Aunie Boyer
is engaged to be married.
Gretchen's body was removed to Un-
dertaker Valh's establishment. Mr..
Walter will defray the funeral expenses.