The morning times., 1897-02-26
POLICE SUSPECT MURDER |
Without a Permit Henry Kopp
Buried His Infant Child.
THE BABY'S HEAD CRUSHED
Youthful Indiscretion Followed by
Compulsory Marriage, "a Birth and
Death-The Attending Physician
and Friends of the Couple Scout
the Idea OF Foul Play.


looking young man, who has just passed
his twenty-first birthday, is behind tn,
bars OF the Second precinct station await
ing the result OF police Investigations OF
two serious charges, while on the blottel
the simple word assault" is written
opposite his name.
Violation OF the health ordinances. in
carrying tile body OF u dead infant through
the streets without the necessary permit
is the first OF the charges while back
OF this loomSup the ominous on e Of murder.
for the police suspect that the infant came
TO its death at tile hands -of its father
young Kopp.
Iothe first charge the young man pleads
guilty, but denies the more serious charge
ana In his denial is upheld by his wife
and the many friends of the couple.
The story briefly told opens with a
chapter OF youthful indiscretion. A COM
pulsory marriage, birth, death, and a
burial follow, the latter surrounded by
such suspicious circumstances, that u
police investigation is necessary.
Among the many lady friends Of
young Mr.. Kopp, who, as genial COM
paniOn and attentive escort has en- loved
wide acquaintance, not only about his
home, but in the city, was Miss Marie
Schwler, a pretty Maryland girl, who, how
ever, has spent the major part of the last
ten years in this city, living with rela-
tiyes
Her home principally has been with an
uncle, Mr.. William Lacy, of 500 Grant
avenue northwest, ana here young Kopp
was frequent visitor Their acquaintance
led eventually l o anmtimacy which resulted
on the evening Of December % last, in a
marriage, brought about by the uncle, Mr.
Lacy.
MISS schwier, now MIS-. kopp, left her
uncle's home at this time, and has since
found shelter in the family Of MIS- Pearce,
at No. 81 7 street northeast, who opened
her home to the friendless girl through
sympathy
On Saturday morning last, the child was
born, prematnrely, however, and DR. Brad
field, of North Capitol and Q streets, who
attended the mother, stated that il would
noch live under any circumstances, more than
two days, while the possibilities Were that
in half Tour the little one would cease
TO breathe.
on Sunday evening the infant was still
alive, but on the following morning the
father announced that il had died during
the night lie left the house, sa wing that
he would send an undertaken for it, but
in a short while returned and placing the
tiny body in a box, left the house with it.
His subseque Mt actions are unknown, except
to- himself, as he refuses to make known
the burial place of the body, and the val
f,i,
investigation of its condition.
According to the evidence in the hands
of the police. and the admissions of per
sons who saw the remains, the skull of
the child was badly crushed, as if from
O blow Of considerable force, and the ef-
forts OF the police have been employed to
substantiate, If possible, the truth Of the
suspicion that kUpp caused the death Of
his child. Without the evidence, however,
than an examination Of the remains could
or could not furnish, it is probable that
the Investigations will fail in their
purpose, and that fine for the viola
ton of the health ordnance will be the
extent of the young mans punishment
Mrs Pedrce, in those house the child was
born, Mrs. Kopp, the mother, and DR.. Brad
field, the attending physician, .Tere each
interviewed yesterday in regard to the mat
ter by representative of The Times
Both of the ladies indignantly denied the
truth or the charge, Mrs. Pearce none the
less warmly than the mother.
The chid's head" she said, was crush
ed, but that could easily have been done
by the mothers arm or shoulder during the
night l know Henry Kopp and this girl
well enough to know that neither one Of
them could have intentionally killed that
baby
Mrs. Kopp is in a state OF nervous and
physical prostration, butin brief fcOnvcrsa
ton gave some account of her acquaintance
and marriage with her husband. When
asked as to the truth of the serious charge
against him, she said, "Such an idea never
crossed our minds"
DR.. Bradfield. when called on, had not
heard OF the charges preferred against
young Kopp. and expressed great surprise
and incredulity.
Il was not called in." said he, until
several hours after the birth of the child,
and saw at once that it could not live.
1t did not surprise me, therefore, when
on Monday morning the young man called
here and asked for certificate Of death.
/ gave him one at once. He asked ne
during the course of the conversation
whether or not he could take II away him
self. / asked him if he meant out of the
city. and he said yes l told him that
the best thing to be done was to give
the certificate at once to his undertaken.
Since that time I have not seen him or
heard anything of the case, and / sup
posed that it was all settled"
The fact that Kopp was given a death
certificate by the doctor will prove u
stumbling block in the way of the police
in their efforts to prove that the child
met its death through other than natural
causes, and this, coupled with Mr.. Kopp's
determination not to give the whereabouts Is
of the body, may quash the entire charge.
AT any rate the first charge can be proved,
and the entire matter will be aired in
police court this morning.
A Projected Land Deal.
Philadelphia, Feb. CSC. B. Wright,
ex- nrpSidpnt of the Northern Pacific Rail-