The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-22
CLENMER'S CONSPIRACY.
The Arch Oonspirator In the Murder
Of Mrs. Emma Kaiser.
TESTIMONY OF LIZZIE DE KALB.

She Declares Under Oath That Glenn
mer Admitted to Her That 1t Was
He Who Fired the Shot That Killed
Mrs. Kaiser.
Norristown, Pa, Dec. 22.-James A.
Clemmer, who has taken Charles o.
Kaiser's place as the central figure in
the murder of Mrs. Kaiser on the night
of Oct. rs, 1896, was yesterday given a
final hearing before Justice of the
Peace Lenhardt and committed to
prison to answer at the March term Of
court for the killing of the woman.
Lizzie De Kalb, Cemmer's one time
mistress, was the principal witness
against Clemmer and despite the eff
forts OF the latters counsel to waive
a hearing the justice allowed the
"woman in black" to tell the story Of
her association with Ciemmer before,
on and after the night of the mur-
der.
Her evidence was damaging and
startling. She told of plan Kaiser
and Clemmer had agreed upon to dis
pose of Mrs. Kaiser. She was to be
chloroformed while In bed. after which
the bed was to be set on fire. This
failed through Kaiser losing his nerve.
Miss De Kalb' told of several carriage
rides she took with Mrs. Kaiser, all Of
which were planned by Clemmer. The
commonwealth believes that all of
these unforeseen circumstances pre-
vented the murder of Mrs Kaiser.
Then Mrs. DE kalb told of her drive
on the night on which kaisers wife
met her death.
Before proceeding she told of an oc-
casion on which Clemmer had purpose
ly injured himself in order to collect
benefits accrulng from an accident in
surance policy held by him, and that on
the night Of the murder she was told
that Mrs. Kaiser was to be shot and
slightly wounded. so that some money
could be realized in the same manner.
The witness said that she and Glenn
mer rode In a carriage some distance
behind the carriage containing Mr.. and
Mrs. Kaiser. The latter carriage stop
ped on the road. and when witness and
Clemmer were short distance away
Clemmer alighted and went forward.
A few moments later witness heard
two shots, and Clemmer soon returned,
and they drove back to Norristown.
On the way back Clemmer gave her a
watch and chain, and later on got out
of the carriage and wiped blood from
his hand Miss De Kalb asked him
what he had done. and he told her to
wait until they got home. Then they
took another drive that night, and
when they returned to Norristown they
we're told of the murder. Witness and
Clemmer then went to Philadelphia.
Here, she said, Clemmer washed blood
from his coat and burned his cuffs
Witness began crying and Clemmer
sitting beside her, said that he and
Kaiser had arranged to shoot Mrs Kali
ser for the insurance money, and that
he had shot her behind the ear and shot
Charlie in the arm.
When Clemmer got up the nextmorn
ing and read the story in the papers
of the highway robbery he said every
thing Nas ;ii right, and went to work.
Before doing so he cleaned his trousers
and shoes, which were full Of blood.
On the following Tuesday he sert her
to Pottsvile with the watch, with In
structlons to drop 1t where 1t could be =
found. Just before this he wanted wit
ness to kill him with chloroform and
afterwards kill herself. Miss De Kalb
concluded her testimony by stating
that on the Wednesday after her return
from Pottsvile she and Clemmer went
to Princeton. where she secured en-
ployment under the name Of Bertha
Lambert, and he drove a team. Later
she went to Trenton, whore she was
located by the police.
Immediately after Clemmer had been
committed Miss De Kalb was arraigned
ber,>, Justice Lenhardt, but was allow
ed to waive Earring, and was COM
mitted for trial at The ~ arch term or
court also. 1t Is the general iror. esslon
that the commonwealth has agreeu
to allow Miss De Kalb to plead guilty !
as accessory after the fact and thus
escape the death sentence. In return for
her testimony to convict Clemmer, who |
is now looked upon as the arch GRIM
inal of the trio.