The record-union., 1897-11-07
THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER.
SHOCKING CRIME OF A JEAL-
Gus HUSBAND.
Stefan Baumann Murders His
Wife and Then Tries to
Kill Himself.

A terrible tragedy was enacted III 'ii.o
city yesterday afternoon at 90
street. where Stefan Baumann snoe
and killed his wife and then shot MIN
self with suicidal intent, but ne stii
lives and is likely to recover.
Very little could be learned IN the
peighborhood as to the cause OF the
murder. as the BaumannS had HVed
there but a couple of weeks and the
neighbors all said they knew very Ut
tie about them. From inquiries MADE
of persons who knew them, however,
it was ascertained that Baumann was
Jealous of his wife, and furthermore
that he has of late been despondent anu
morose, and had been more or less un-
der the influence of liquor.
Some time ago Baumann was pro-
prietor of the Old William Tell House
at Ninth and streets, but failed. Since
then he has been employed as barkeeper
and waiter in various places, but has
not been getting on we'll. Mrs. Bau-
mann is said to have been much young
er than he and of lively disposition,
and that her taste for dancing, ETC.,
had caused her husband to become very
Jealous of her.
In the, neighborhood of their home and
made inquiries as to where Mrs. Bau-
manns lived Whether or not this fact
had anything to do toward angering
her husband could not be learned, as
Baumann has steadfastly refused TO
speak of the terrible affair, though it
is believed he is able to do so ii he
would.
About a quarter past l o'clock yester-
day Baumann went to his home. Per-
sons who met him on the way say he
appeared to be sober. He had not been
long in the house when two pistol shots
We're heard, and the neighbors saw
Baumann staggering about the back
yard with blood streaming down his
face. He soon re-entered the house.
An alarm was given and people
hocked into the house, where a ghastly
sight met their eyes. Mrs. Baumann
lay dead on the floor just inside the
kitchen. and her husband near by, hav-
ing fallen on re-entering the house.
Officer Hardy soon arrived, and when
he stopped to pick up a pistol that lay
on the floor near Baumann the latter
made a feeble effort to get possession
of it.
Mrs Baumann was found to have
been shot just in front of and little
above the ear. The bullet evidently en-
tered her brain and death must have
been instantaneous.
Baumann's wound was of the same
character, but lower, but instead Of
piercing his brain the bullet
entered the cavity of the mouth
and was elected therefrom. The
jaw was found to have been badly
shattered. The murdered woman was
removed to the Morgue, and Baumann
to the Receiving Hospital, where his
wound was dressed by City Physician
Nichols and Assistant Physician Ogden.
a few hours later he was able to walk
about the room, and unless blood
poisoning should set in he will recover.
The Baumanns have two children, a
boy and a girl. The former Benjamin,
is Is or IA years of age, and is en-
ployed in Crockers printing Office. The
latter. Mary, is but 10 years of age.
Neither were at home at the time Of
the tragedy, the boy being at his work,
and his sister having been sent to a
store up town.
1t was but a few minutes after the
mother had been murdered that the
poor child returned and found a crowd
Of people gathered in front of the
door. When she learned of the shock
ing crime that had been committed.
and that her mother was dead, the lit
tie one became frantic from grief and
neighbors had to remove her from the
spot.
Benjamin Baumann, the son, says
that when he left home, an hour before
the shooting, there were no indications
of trouble between his parents. Bau-
mann must have gone away after that,
for, as stated above. he was seen TO
enter the house only few minutes
before the murder was committed.
Mrs. Baumann was apparently en-
gagged in cleaning the kitchen after the
noon meal when the fatal shot was
fired, as a coffee-pot and dish-cloth
which she had in her hands lay on the
floor beside her.