Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-14
KILLED BY A HAMMER
Rich Jersey Undertaken Slain In
 His Hotel Room.
MURDERER TAXES JEWELRY.
Deep Mystery In Death of Frederick B. Romer-SIayer CooIy Washes His
 Hands Before Escaping to the Street.
 Victims Watch and Money Untouched.

Orange N. J., Dec. 14.-Failure of Frederick B. ROmer, a well to do un- dertaker to appear for breakfast at the Park hotel led to the discovery that he had been murdered in his room in the night, a hammer having been used to beat his face in. The murder CT after killing Romer had spent an hour or two in the room washing ur and had then fled with $150 and jew elry worth about $400.
 Two women guests in the hotel who were in rooms near that of Romer told the police investigators that they heard groans in Romer's room, but paid no attention to them. These grOans are believed to have marked the death of the murdered man. The door of his room was closed, but had not been locked all night, and the murderer must have escaped by the stairs in the hotel, as the window in Romer's room was securely locked on the inside when the body was discovered.
 
 Romer & Weatherhead, 379 Main street, Orange. He was well off and owned many houses here. He was a widower, his wife having died about nine years ago. His only child. a girl ten years of age. lived with nurse in d house adjoining the hotel, but took her meals with her father.
 As far as the police have been able to ascertain the slayer took diamond ring valued at about $400. A gold watch and $S4 were found under pillow. Tine murderer must have re- mained in the room close to two hours after the crime and washed his hands, as there were many blood spots about the washbasin, on the walls of the room and also on the floor. The han dle of the door was free from blood. A couple of cloths wet and stained with blood were found on the floor near the washbasin. and it is supposed the murderer used these in washing himself.
 So far the police and friends of the dead man are without q cIew to work upon. and the hotel clerks say they saw no one enter the building or leave 1t except the guests. The only persons who were about the hotel at the time Romer returned last night were three negroes. two men md woman. who were standing near the entrance to the building, talking. when Romer and two friends reached there. The police are HOW looking for this trio to ques- tion them.
 Romer went out and spent the night with friends at the home of Mrs. Darcy stephen in William street. They all left the house shortly after midnight, Romer and two friends re- turning to the hotel together. There they parted. Romcr going into the building and the other two to their homes. Then it was that the presence of the three negroes was first noticed.
 Early in the morning Miss Mary Sin clair. who was in the room adjoining that of Romer. heard noise in his room which sounded to her like a groGn.
 A maid was sent to Romer's room on the third floor to call him. and as she got no response to her knocks she reported to the clerk. An investigation was then made. and when several men who were with the clerk opened the n Ivl sI stains all about. Romcr was lying on the led with the bed clothing pulled over his head and entirely covering his body. The mans face was almost un- recognizable. Three deep holes were in his head anJ his face almost hacked to pieces. as if by repeated blows of a hammer.