The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-14
SUBURBAN PAGE

Bray saw the murdered man, but he
was positive he did.
That whoever killed Romer committed
the crime in a frenzy of hate seems
certain. The back of his skull was
literally smashed in and bloodstains
were discovered on the walls and the
floor and on the sheets on the bed.
Romer was a widower and a mem
Der of the undertaking firm of Romer
& Whitehead, of Orange. He was not
| only wealthy by inheritance, but he had
made a great deal of money in BUSH
ness. 1t was with the profits of his
trade that he purchased a half interest
in the Park Hotel.
Romer was born in Orange, and
lived all his life there. He inherited a
large fortune from his father, the late
Peter d. Romer, and at the time of
his death vas worth $4,000 in cash
and real estate. Besides that he had
his profitable undertaking business.
He was married ten years g to a
Miss Herrick, of Albany, a relative of
former JUICE ID. Cady Herrick, who
ran for Governor of the State of New
York, but who was defeated by the
late Frank w. Higgins. The Herrick
family has for years been one of the
most prominent in Albany.
Romer and his wife lived happily
and had one child, Margaret. nov 8
years old. The mother died shortly
after the girl was born, and little
Margaret Romer has been brought up
by Mrs. Peter Romer, the murdered
mans stepmother.
Ever since his wife's death Romer
had lived at the Park Hotel. He had
always been prominent in fraternal
circles, and had a large number of
friends. In Orange he was known as
a hail fellow well met" as the ex-
preston goes. He drank his share.
went on frequent jaunts to New York
or to Europe, whichever he had an in
clination for, and was ~all-in-all a man
about town. He had many women
friends. His private affairs, however,
were not the subject of much public
gossip. This was undoubtedly due to
the fact that he kept his own affairs
To himself. He was even accused of
secretiveness because of this. And if
he paid any attention to any woman
in particular there was none in his
large circle of friends who knew of it.
With Mrs. Kieb he was always
jovial. Toward her daughter his at
titude was more fatherly than any
thing else. And so 1t was with all
the young women of his acquaintance.
Shortly after the news OF the murder
had become generally known Steven M.
Miller, a tobacconist, a a statement
that may prove of great Importance In
solving the mystery that surrounds the
crime.
Miller has a store less than 100 feet
away from the Park Hotel. 1t Is a small,
ororanad bui1dfno xubfrh no apcffpfpS and
as there is no obstruction between 1t and
the Park, one can easily see all the win
dows on the western side of the hotel.
Romer lived on the third floor rear.
Miller knew him vel, and knew, too. the
location OF his apartment. Shortly after
IL o'clock, according to the story Miller
told TO the police, and later a reporter for
THE EVENING STAR, he had occasion
to go ont into the yard at the rear of his
store. His eye noted that Romer' win
dows were alight, and against one was
sjlhouetted the figure Of a man, a little
over medium height and a little over
medium weight. These were Romer's
physical proportions, and Miller thought
that the figure was Romer. He did not
see the entire shadow, for the blind was
pa riially drawn down and the head OF the
man was hidden from view. Blu that
was not all.
"As watched" Miller said to the
STAR reporter, II saw the man turn to
the door, pull out a ring of keys from
his pocket and either lock or unlock the
door of the room. These shadows, of
course, gave only an indistlnct idea OF
the mans movements. For instance. !
could not see the keys. but as the man
dipped down into his pockets, walked to
the door END apparently inserted some
thing into the lock, ] made a deduction
which cannot be far from true"
Miller at that hour was enjoying him
self at the home of Mrs. Stephens and the
identity Of the man who so boldly walked
about the room with the blind up and a
light burning is a mystery. By the rules
of the house he must have been either a
guest or a servant at the hotel.
1t will be remembered that the front door
is locked at II o'clock and that only those
who have keys can enter after that hour.
Moreover, no stranger could have found
room IS, in which the undertaken was slain,
unaided. 1t is in a particularly remote cor
ner of the house. The stairs are not UNI
form and the passageways are confusing.
One could easily get lost in the rambling
old mansion. and this has happened 70
more than one stranger.
Thus. the police deduce, the murderer
knew the inside Of the hous thoroughly.
Romer was always careful to keep his
door locked. 1t was almost q fault of his,
for servant girls often experienced diff
Guilty in the morning. and ii is altogether
likely that he turned the key that Thurs
day evening when he left his room after
supper to go to his shop.
So the murderer not only knew the
house, but had duplicate keys. He must
have entered. also, knowing that Romer
would not be there. And then, 1t is
thought, he looked about for the letters
that were so vital to his interests. Not
finding them after ransacking boxes,
drawers and coat pockets, he apparently
sec-eted himself for Romer's return. He
may have hidden under the bed, with the
instrument Of murder with which he had
armed himself in his hand.
Romer returned about / o'clock, and
after placing his watch and his money
under the pillow retired.
The police theory is that when the MUIR
derer had satisfied himself Romer was
asleep he crawled slowly from under the
bed and searched the discarded coat
almost tearing it to shreds in his eagerness
to get possession Of the letters.
He possibly cried out involuntarily as he
found scraps of paper precious to him.
Whatever he did, however, the police think
he awoke Romer. Unseen the undertaken
sat up in bed. but as the bedsprings
c~realted the intruder must have seen him.
Blood spots on the walls are mute witnesses
of the fight. Romer probably made for the
electric bell in an effort to raise an alarm