The San Francisco call., 1903-12-10
MOTHER.IN.LAW
BEHIND THE GUN
Mrs. Edwin J. Romer of Ala
media Takes a Shot at E.
W. Hesse Her Son-in-Law
THEN HE TRIES SUICIDE
But He Had More Whisky Than
Poison on Board and Landed
in the City Jail for Drunk

ALAMEDA, Dec. 9.-The sight of his
mother-jn-law, Mrs: Edwin ]. Romer,
behind big revolver, which she fired
at him while he was last night burst
ing IL the door of her heme, 72O Rail-
road avenue. so affected E. w. Hesse,
an ex-oiIicer in the German army. that
he wrote suicidal note to the Coroner,
swallowed bottle of chloroform and
was later trundled to Jail in a wheel
barrow for being drunk
That Hesse's effort TO terminate his
life failed is due to the fact that the
deadly drug was weak and that there
was more whisky than chloroform in
his stomach after he had swallowed
and mixed the drinks He was picked up
on Railroad avenue, near Eighth street,
after midnight by Policeman James Nc
Donnell who, finding it difficult to han
die his prisoner because of his limp
condition, secured wheelbarrow and
utilized it as horseless patrol wagon.
Hesse who has been employed as a
steward on steamers running to the
Hawaiian Islands, married Miss Bertha
Roemer daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Ed
win j. Roemer, about one year ago. A
few months previously to the wedding
his future father-in-law was arrested
and tried for tricing UP his little son,
George Roemer, and lashing his naked
body eighty-five times with a knotted
rope. Hesse was then boagder at the
Roefner house, and during the trial,
which was sensational, appeared as
witness for the defense. Now he says
his father-in-law and his mother-in-
law have turned against him and are
the cause of him being separated from
his wife. Here is Hesse's story as he
related it in the City Prison
went to the Roemer house last night from
Oakland to get some of my clothes that were
there. as L had secured chance to do some
work and pay my debts i went to the back
wrote note to the Coroner. telling him Of
my intention To end my life and who were
mailed the letter and went back 10 the front
door of the Roemer house. My mOther-in-law
refused to let me in Then l broke in the
panel and she took a shot at me. l said,
Shoot again and kill me- She answered.
Go and kill yourself had bottle Of
chloroform in my pocket that used In clean
ing clothes on vessels. / swallowed all there
was in the vial and lay down in the street
to die. When / woke up this morning i was
In Jail / always all right with my
wife's people while l had money. Roemer lost
his position some time ago and in order to
moved in and lived with them / wish 1 had
never done ii now. When I got out Of job
and could not provide my mother-in-law with
delicacies then my trials began. They were
fierce and when | think OF them / wish my
self dead. / would not care so lauch about
four months old. Ny wife loves me. but my
mother-in-law is different. When L went to
the Roemer house to-day. in company with an
officer for my clothes, Roemer threw coat
TO out Of the window and that is all Of
my effects that l obtained. served as a
rfxrof md fret lia1ffa anf In
army and was honorably discharged. l came
TO this country in 1895.
City Marshal John Conrad says that
Heese is wanted in San Francisco for
passing worthless checks, his victims
being the saloon firm Of Crosse & Bo-
gel One of the firm has sworn to war
rant for Hesse's arrest Hesse is also
accused of passing a bogus check on
Harry Akesson of this city, Bruins &
Strunz and +. ]. Probst, all of this
city, and Peter Harder of san Fran
cisco.
Mrs. E. ]. Roemer admitted to-day
to Detective G. H. Brown that she had
fired a bullet at her son-in-law, ex-
planning that She feared he would do
her bodily harm. as her husband was
not at home at the time. Roemer says
Hesse has been lodging the police of
San Francisco for some weeks.
Hesse was taken into custody by the
Alameda police in response to a re-
quest of Chief Whitman, that he was
wanted on a forgery charge. Detec-
tive Ross Whitaker got him tonight
and booked him son a charge of for
gerry. 1t is alleged that Hesse passed
a fictitious check on Crosse & Bogel,
343 East street, for $27 so, drawn on
the London. Paris and American Bank
and signed by James Markham. 1t is
also claimed that he passed another
check drawn on the same bank for
s26 so on Rossi & Cordano, 2O5 Wash
ington street