The San Francisco call., 1897-11-07
STAYS HIS
Wife With
A BULLET
Then Stefan Baumann
of Sacramento At
tempts Suicide.
FAILS TO END HIS
CAREER.
Sends a Pistol Ball Through
His Temple, but He
Will Recover.
BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN
INTOXICATED.
While in His Cups He Was Wont to
Heap Abuses Upon the
Woman.
Sends a Pistol Ball Through
His Temple, but He
Will Recover.
BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN
INTOXICATED.
While In His Cups He Was Wont to
Heap Abuses Upon the
Woman.
special:dispatch to THE CALL.

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 6.-Two innocent
children left their parents at noon to-day,
and when they returned this evening
there were blood stains on the hearth.
stone of their home. The mother lay
cold in death, while the father, in the
paroxysm of self-inf1 cted pain, could not
recognize them or give any account OF the
awful tragedy. He had taken the life of
his wife ana had then attempted to take
his own. His first attempt was successful !;
the outcome of the second depends upon
the vitality of the man, who Is shot
through the head.
Stefan Baumann was at one time pro-
prietor of the William Tell House, on
Ninth and streets. Connected with this
hotel was bar, and to that may be at
tributed to-day's tragedy. In his sober
moments he was kind, indulgeEt father I;
when drunk he was tiend.
Shortly after he left the hotel he took
up his residence in block just beyond
the one in which he ended the life of his
ity can testify to the abuse he heaped
upon the poor woman who now lies cold
in death.
Their quarrels were frequent. and
he was always the aggressor. In ad-
dition to his dissipation came the
disappointment of business reverses, and
it is supposed that to-day in frenzy of
intoxication and despair, he slew his wife
and attempted to kill himself
Attracted oy pistol shots, the neighbors
fastened to the Baumann home. The
first sight that met them was Baumann
staggering in his backyard, with blood
streaming down his face. He entered the
house, and was followed by the neigh bors.
Within they found Mrs. Baumann lying
in pool of blood on the kitchen floor.
Close to her body were some cooking uten
sils. which would indicate that the poor
woman was preparing the evening meal
for the man who took her Lille.
AS Baumann re'entered the house he
fell from loss of blood and lay upcon-
scious, face downward, few feet from his
murdered wife.
When the officers of the police patrol
picked him MP 1t was found that pistol
ball had entered his right temple The
pistol was found lying by his side. AS an
fficer entered Baumann seemed for min
ute to recover consciousness. and as he did
so he reached for the pistol. He seemed
to suffer greatly from the wound in his
head, and begged piteously Tor some one
to shoot him and put him out of his mis-
cry.
Tine children of Mr. and Mrs. Ba aumann
are girl and a boy-Mary, aged 10, and
B njamin, aged 13. When the children
heard of the tragedy they were overcome
by grief, and Mary became hysteri cal.
She was taken in charge by some neig h.
bors, who have offered her temporary
shelter. and are doing all in their power
to comfort the distracted child.
Baumann is resting easily at the Receiv-
ing Hospital and the doctors in attend
ance announce that his chances for recov-
cry are favorable. An effort has been
made to get him to make statement, but
he refuses to say word.
Baumann's children say that when they
left the house a noon to-day their pa rents
had not been quarreling.