The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-17
DEPUTY HESSER'S DEATH FALL
FROM A LOFTY WINDOW IN A BAL
TIMORE LODGING HOUSE.

About Sending Franck On at Once
Hesser's Body to BE Brought Back
TO Savannah To-day.
The announcement of the death OF Dep
uty Sheriff Simon Hesser, In a dispatch
from Baltimore to the Morning News yes
terday, was a surprise and a shock to
those who knew Hesser as well as TO
many who have taken an interest in the
crazy German sailor, Franck, whom Hes
ser was carrying to Germany.
The report, however, left II in doubt as
10 whether Hesser had been killed by
Franck or had committed sulside or whetn-
er his death was accidental Those Sa-
vannah hans who know Baltimore say that
North Calvert street, where he was found,
is a rather shady locality, and there was
for a time a suspicion that he might have
been foully dealt with.
The investigation which followed the
report. however. appears to have cleared
the whole matter up. Hesser had put
Franck In the police station on his arrival
there, there was no reason for his COM
hitting suicide, and there were no evil
dences of any foul play, nor had he been
robbed. All the kilograms received with
regard to the matter yesterday stated that
ne had fallen from a third story window
in his lodging house, after having gone
there under the influence of liquor
The announcement of Deputy Hesser's
death in the Morning News was brought
to the attention of the county commits
sioners early in the morning. Through
Mr.. Ernst Eichhorn a telegram was sent
at once to Schumacher & Co. of Baltimore,
the representatives, of the North-German
Lloyd line Of steamers, asking for definite
information with regard to the matter
Within a short time the following reply
was received by Mr. Eichhorn:
Simon Hesser was killed last night by
falling from a window of a lodging house
Franck is confined in the police station.
We recommend your sending new keep
err What disposition shall be made of the
body? Answer"
Upon 1e receipt of this telegram which
was shown TO Chairman j. j. Dale of the
county commissioners, a conference OF the
commissioners was held, and the matter
discussed. Two things were decided upon
Immediately. In the first place, il was de-
cided to send Capt. John r. Dillon to
Baltimore to make all arrangements with
regard to sending Franck to Germany.
The commissioners also sent a telegram
to Schumacher & Co, asking them TO for
ward Hesser's body to Savannah at once
at the cost OF the county.
Capt. Dillon had short time in which to
make preparations for his trip. He caught
the 1850 train for Baltimore, however, via
the Plant system, and will arrive there
at o'clock this morning. Capt. Dillon
was given carte blanche by the commits
sinners n take any steDS ne thought nee
essary for the purpose of sending Franck
to Germany in accordance with the ar
engagements to that end, which had already
been made. Since the steamer tickets were
found upon Hesser's person, 1t will not be
necessary to purchase new tickets and no
doubt the only additional expense will be
in paying for the services of a guard for
Franck, whom Capt. Dillon will secure in
Baltimore. In spite of the unfortunate
accident the commissioners are of the opin-
Ion that F>ranck should be sent on to Ger
many as quickly as possible, and to see
that this was done, was their object in
sending Capt. Dillon to Baltimore.
The reports of Deputy Sheriff Hesser's
death were shrouded in all sorts of mys-
terry, and numerous questions
were asked about it, Several kilograms
were sent to Baltimore for information,
and numerous rumors were being spread
with regard to foul play sandbags, etc,
from Baltimore announced positively that
he had fallen from a thrd-story window
and broken his neck from which injuries
he died about an hour later.
1t was thought strange that he should
have had upon his person a ticket from
Baltimore to Savannah dated Friday. AS
q matter of fact, he had a return ticket
from Baltimore on his person but 1t was
dated Thursday, the day of its purchase
in Savannah, the ticket having been sold
by the Florida Central and Peninsular
railroad at a reduced rate on account Of
charity. The deputy had the precautiOn
to have Franck locked up in the police sta
ton to await the departure of the steam.
er Ellen Rickmers, on which he was to
have sailed yesterday, the steamer having
been delayed a day.
Mr.. l. M. Fleming, division pas
senger agent of the Florida Central and
Peninsular railroad, over which Franck and
Hesser left Savannah for Baltimore, wired
the agent of that road In Baltimore, Mr..
John II. Duval, and received the follow
ing reply in the afternoon:
Crazy sailor held by police authority.
Simon Hesser fell out of window at his
lodging house Marshal of police has re,
ceived telegram from j. NJ. HUMPHREYS
deputy sheriff, Savannah, that his wife
would send for body now in morgue
Franck will be held by authorities here
for one week, until a new custodian shows
up; otherwise ne viii he sent TO an asy-
lum."
1t was not known at the time this tele-
gram was sent however, that Capt. Dillon
had gone to Baltimore, nor that the COM
miss!oners had wired to have Hesser's
body shipped to Savannah at once. The
body left Baltimore last night, and will
arrive in the city this afternoon.
Mr.. Hesser's wife and two daughters
were grief stricken over the sad news
They live at 4OS West Broad street. They
had never dreamed that such a fate
awaited the beloved husband and father
Before him was the anticipation of a
meeting with his brother and friends
whom he left in Coblentz, Germany, twen-
ty-five years ago to come to America.
With this visit ended, il was expected that
within six weeks he Would be again in Sa-
vannah at his duties in the superior court
and again with his family.
Simon Hesser was well-known in Savan-
nah. He came here more than twenty
years ago from Brooklyn, N. Y, where he
stopped for a short time when he first ar
rived In America. He was a baker by trade
and for a short time engaged in that oc-
cupation. For many years he was en-