Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1909-07-02

he placed one hand on his knee and
made unintelligible mutterings Will
liam Brundage who was at the plant
with milk ran to the suffering mans
assistance and asked him If he wanted
to be raised up when he said. No. OH
no." and was allowed TO lie down again
where he passed away after only
short lapse of time.
DR.. Palmer who has been Schaefer's
physician stated that the deceased was
tubercular patient and that he had
a cavity over his heart and that he
had been in imminent danger of death.
! The jury considered this as a posi-
bility but the employees of the plant
testified that when they first went TO
the dying man the fumes and smell of
carbolic acid were very pronounced.
| Further search revealed the bottle, and
| II was Identified as the one that had
| been in the cheese room. Near II was
| found a medicine glass which also had
a few drops of the deadly poison in it.
| Coupled with this evidence were other
| circumstances that tended 10 show
that the act was premeditated, IL was
brought out that Mr. Schaefer had on
different occasions threatened his life
and on one occasion stating that he
had taken a razor from his pocket
three times TO commit the act but
| that he did not have the nerve. A
razor was found in the dead mans
pocket yesterday morning which in
manner would tend TO further throw
more evidence on the suicide theory.
While the idea of suicide was cleared
| up the motive was not made so plain.
Ii is a well known fact that the de-
ceased was deeply in love with Mrs
| Clara Baker. a teacher in the city
schools last winter. and that they had
a quarrel shortly before her departure
| for the north about six weeks ago.
After that misunderstanding il appears
that Alfred Schaefer was a changed
man. While he disclaimed any great
amount of discomforture on account OF
the severing of friendly relations with
Mrs. Baker it is understood by those
| In a position to know that he was
| deeply grieved Mrs. Baker is a wo-
man of high character and no blame
is against her. In fact she has re-
peatedly written to Mr. Schaefer and
| he has not even opened her letters.
| Whether his love was dead on account
Of the misunderstanding or for some
other reason will never be known. 1t
is at least known that the lady was
not entirely passive in the matter No
longer than last week she telegraphed
here. rs Mr.. Schaefer III? Answer"
! However, whether this was a motive
for the tragedy will never be known
While there are those who rather
cling to the idea that his private love
affair was the cause of the suicide
there are a majority who believe that
! il was on account of his assuming too
much responsibility, in his duties con-
nected with the plant
He was a very conscientious man
and while he was manager of the
plant he lived in his work. When but
| ter took a drop a few weeks ago. he
worried more than the heavy stock
holders. When he had a small ship
ment OF cheese or butter left over he
| felt the burden on his shoulders and
tried to carry it. Until six weeks ago
he took lively interest in everything
then suddenly everything changed with
him. A neat man in appearance, he
! began going unshaved and unkept, al
| though in business prior to his death
he had not been up town for five
] weeks. He went back and forth be-
tween the ice plant and his home, and
no place else 80
The directors of the creamery took
the matter up with him and Offered
J him vacation They had employed a
! bOokkeeper to take a part of his work
so that he could go on his vacation in
short time. He was already planning
to go with the Elks excursion and had
made partial arrangements to that
! end. .ta..
Alfred Schaefer was born in Memel,
Prussia, Germany, July /. 1871 He.
was a son of Banker F.. A Sehaefer
| He was educated in Germany and
came to America twenty years ago. re-
siding in Philadelphia with his parents
He came west FIVE years ago the past
three years of which has been spent In
Mesa. Alfred Schaefer was one OF
those men who has the courage of his
! convictions, he was impulsive yet he
was conscientious to the degree of ac-
| knOwledging when he was wrong He
| made the Mesa Dairy and Ice company
new plant. He conducted the bust
ness along new and up-to-date lines
and was very successful manager
until six weeks ago