The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-13
Frederick R R. Rsmer, Vel Well
Known, Robbed and Kill
ed Early Today.
DIAMOND RING MISSING
Found Dead in Bed..V Victim Was
Prominent in City..He Had
Been to Lodge Meeting and
Later to Birthday Party.
Then Walked TO Hotel.

Frederick r. Romer. of the under=
taking firm of Romer & Weatherheads
with offices at $40 Main street, Orange.
was mysteriously and foully murdered
about a. m. today in his room IN the
Park Hotel, Main and Park streets.
Orange. where he made his home.
A diamond ring valued at 1884 was
torn from his finger. but ss4 IN a wallet
and a gold watch and chain under his
pillow We're not taken.
The time OF the murder is established
by the statement of Miss Kieh, daugh-
ter of Francis J. Kicb. pro-
prietor of the hotel, who slept
in room adjoining that OF tho
murdered man, and who WAS roused by
his means at that hour. Mr. Eonler
calculated "Oh," three times then tho
voice stopped and the young woman
after getting out of bed and making
sufe her room door was locked, as She
feared Mr.. Romer might be suffering
from nightmare and try to wander
about in his unconscious condition. re-
turned to bed and slept until morning.
Considerable mystery surrounds the niuf-
der So far as is known Mr.. Romer had
no enemies. He was about - years old ,
resident of Orange all his life time and
member Of Orange Lodge No. i55. Il. +. q.
Elks: Corinthian Lodge. T. and A. NJ
Plato Lodge No. To-, knights OF Pyfhias-
and Live Oak Lodge, ]. o. Q. f., lac mad :
vide circle of friends and MAS personally
known 10 hundreds of citizens and liked
by them all He had not been in tbs nluzs
rugged health and frequently Travelled 1ng
plcDsure.e
Blood stains on the walls going down-
stairs showed the murderer had duiefi1
escaped that way.
The body was found in bed cold Ia
death, this morning BY Elvio ]. weather.
head. Mr. Romer's business partner Wilo
had been summoned TO the hotel, aud tell-
tale fractures on the skull told the story
of the mans cruel murder. Mr.. Weather.
hend sought to rouse his partner, cailinS
him by name.
Fred, Fred get up he shouted But
the man was dead. Replacing the covers
over the body of his former employer ana
later business associate. Mr.. Weathcrhead
at once notified the Orange police. This
was at clock this morning, and Chiet
of Police George +. Washer, with Detecr
tive Sergeant John Drabell, at once went
to the hotel and made 4 hurried investi-
cation in the roonL
Or. Samuel A. Muta, deputy county
physician, vas notified, aud he made an
examination of the body, and found the
skull fractured in front, and the police
Immediately started out to examine clues
that would give them a trace of the foul
assassin.
The room where Mr.. Roner slept ON the
third floor was AT the end of a hall near
q fire escape and the only means of en-
trance and exit 10 the room was the door
leading to the hall This door was un-
locked when Mr.. Weatherhand entered
this morning with the key the inside.
Mr. Romers custom was to lock the door,
Mr. Weatherhand stated.
stephen Miller. n cigar manufacturers
next to the hotel, says he saw through tlla
hall window from his building man
knock at Romers room ut II .. m. anu
then enter. 1t is believed this was tho
murderer.
The room had several blood stains on th9
floor. and there was blood all over fle
bed. The room WIS disarranged and papers
that had been in Mr. Romer's pockets were
on She floor. showing his garTueuts haa
been disturbed. There was letter from
his little daughter asking for Christmas
nrescntr.
At the hotel Mrs. kieb, wife of the pros
prictor, said she had heard no disturbance
during the evening. and she ~as at a loss
10 give any explaHation OF the MURDER Tha
death of her brother a fortnight ago and
the tragedy in her parlors had dlsturber her
considerably, but She could Vouchsafe no
information when seen by newspaper men.
Her daughter Miss Jessie kieb, told ,
STAR reporter she heard AIr Romer re-
turn about o'clock this morning. IIa
had his S-year-old daughter Margaret at
dinner with him in the hotel early iast
uight. ard sent her to her aunt with
whom she made her home.
Mr.. Romer was widower and lived
alone at the hotel. His stepmother, Mrs.
Peter Romer, lives in William street. near
Patterson street, Orange. and 1t was 1Ef.
Weatherhead's sad duty today to break
the news of the tragedy to her. rho pa-
irons al the hotel were in guorance of tho
affair until about noon. when the street in
formation was carried TO them.
Mr. Romer attended 4 meeting Of bis
Masonic lodge carly the evening. and
at s:45 o'clock arrived at the home Of Mrs.
darcy Stephen. As Elm street Orange, q
Continued On Ninth Pasc.1