The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-13
MYSTERIOUS
MURDER OF
UNDERTAKEN


friend, where Mrs. Stephen was giving a
birthday party to her daughter-in-law, Mrs.
Wilbur Stephen. The Stephen house Is
about two blocks from the hotel. lie was
the last guest to arrive there. As he en-
tered the house he said with a laugh;
''Well, I'm here. How is everybody"
He entered gayIy into the games and
spirit of the occasion. lie remained until
1920 n. M, and offered to escort two young
ladies' to their homes in S%pringdale avenue,
but Mrs. Stephen obtained other escorts
for them, as 1t would take Mr.. Romer a
long distance mt SO late an hour.
lie walked to the hotel with Mr.. and
Mrs. Hopper. Of 40S Main street, nearly
opposite the hotel. They bid him good
night at 1910 a.. N. He then retired.
There are many theories advanced con-
Romer preceded him into his room and
waited until the undertaken was in bed
before starting the murderous attack is
now conceded by the police and county
officials, who have been busy on the case
all day.
The interior OF the room where the
undertaken was stricken down resembles
n shamble. a minute Investigation of the
room showed plainly that Homer, after
the first attack, probably jumped out of
bed and made his way to a push-button
on the wall to summon help. Blood prints
near the bell lead to this theory.
The right hand of the dead man is dis
colored and the finger which carried a
dlamond ring for years held none this
morning when the body was first dis
covered. Under tho dead mans pillow was
found his gold watch and wallet. the lat
ter containing $Si, as already stated. This
evidently was overlooked by the murderer.
who is thought to have stolen tho valuable
diamond ring,
That the murderer was a daring burglar,
or a %lunatic, is concluded from his dilatory
actions after committing the decd. That
Romer was killed before his body was
placed back in the bed and wrapped IN a
comfortable is the conclusion Of those who
have investigated all the circumstances Of
the case. A small basin OF water In the
room showed that the murderer washed his
hands after doing the deed or at least at
tempted to do so. That he did not gel all
the blood Off is shown by marks in the
hallway. Romer's room is three flights up
and the murderer In making his escape had
to go down three winding stairways. At
various points on the stairway are to be
found blood stains as well as on the front
door OF the hotel. The murderer did not go
down the fire escape.
When County Physician Elliott called
this morning and made an examination Of
the body he found three distinct wounds
at the back Of the head and one on the
frontal bone. The indents showed that a
hamper had been used, for the imprint OF
the side Of such a tool was plain TO the
eye.
This afternoon the county physician, with
DR.. Muta. the deputy county physician of
West Orange. are holding an autopsy on
the body OF the dead mau.
While trying to learn IL some of the
hotel patrons, especially those who occu
pied rooms in the vicinity of the one which
the dead man had, had not heard any
noise of a scufiie, the EVENING STAR
man found that Mrs. Kieb, Wife Of the
hotel proprietor, and their daughter, Miss
Kieb, with a Mr.. Harbis and Miss Sinclair.
were all positive that at about 3 O'Clock
this morning they heard a groan and an
"Oh!p from Mr.. Romer's room. Outside Of
that no one was found who heard anything
further.
When the excitement attending the dis
covery OF the murder had subsidized, the
friends Of th" dead man turned their
thoughts to his little girl Margaret, who