The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-20
WILL Get $4,000
Berger Orphan Ch ildren to
Have Snug Fortune.
Father Killed Mother and COM
mitted Suicide in Topeka.
WAS A GERMAN COUNT.
In Fit of Anger He Slew His
Wife.
The Three Sons Have Since
Lived in Poverty.

The three Berger children who were
orphaned by the murder of their moth
er and suicide of their father in Topeka
in 1891, and who have since lived in
poverty. are about to come into a for
tune of $4,000.
Attorney Fred Slater, of Topeka. the
administrator for the three orphan chill
dren, is responsible for working out the
details and securing the fortune.
For eleven years the children have
been driven from pillar to post, living
as best they could or in an Iowa orphan
asylum. owing to the negligence of their
guardian, an uncle who took charge of
them after the tragedy. A German tall
or of Topeka, named Fred Renker. was
appointed administrator of the little
property left by the parents, but it FIN
ally dWindled to almost nothing.
Meanwhile the children, Richard, Gus
tave and Paul, aged respectively at the
death of their parents, 8. and 4, We're
in the Iowa Soldiers Orphans home,
where they had been placed by their
uncle, Henry Pruter, and their board
paid by Carroll county, Iowa The uncle
removed to Texas and left them to their
fate They stayed in the asylum until
the two older ones were 16, the age
limit of the institution, and then were
turned out to hustle for themselves.
After the death of Renker, a year ago,
Fred Slater was appointed administrator,
and the children are vastly the winners
by the transaction. Mr.. Slater went to
Iowa and hunted for the children. He
found the eldest, Richard, working at
the carpenters trade. The second, Gus
taVe, was working on farm for his
board in another part of the state.
None of the children knew that they
had an Inheritance coming from the
death of relatives in Germany, until
they were so informed by Slater. who
had learned the facts before going to
Iowa, and at once began to arrange mat
terS that the orphans might profit by
the discovery. His first move was to go
into an Iowa court and secure the dis
charge of the guardian of the children.
the uncle who had removed to another
state. This was easily done, as he had
done nothing for them for over ten
years. Attorney Slater then had an
other guardian appointed man of good
reputation. who was required to give {.
bond of $25. 900. Mr.. Slater is now rap
idly closing the affairs of the estate ana
getting it into shape to turn over to the
guardian in Iowa, who will assume the
responsibility Of using it for the benefit
of the children. The children who were
left fatherless, notherless, homeless and
almost penniless In one day are now
practically in possession of 10000
marks or $40 600 money which should
have been theirs years ago.
Gustave Won Berger was the son of
German nobleman. When a young man
he was forced to leave his native coun-
try by reason of some trouble. He came
to America and married a German girl
in Iowa, and then came to Kansas. He
was proud as Lucifer. and greatly ag-
gravated because of his poverty. and
because his wife. who was of humber
origin, insisted on visiting people whom
he considered beneath him. He dropped
his title and was known as GuStave
Berger. lie had trouble with his wife
and they were divorced, she going Back
to her people in Iowa. but later a recon-
ella ton was effected and they were re-
married. 1t was on September 8, 1891,
that the tragedy which left the children
orphans took place. Berger had been
employed as a bookkeeper in a Topeka
lumber yard, and had been discharged
to cut down expenses. On the fatal
morning he quarreled with his wife at
their little home at 1906 East Third
street. She tried to leave the house, but
he shot her in the back. killing her al
most instantly and then blew out his
own brains. It was then that the chill
dren, only one Of them old enough to
realize their condition. were turned adrift
to get along as best they could for
eleven years.