Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-01
WOMAN ENDS LIFE
AS BABE SLEEPS
Mrs. F. G. Hoereth Shoots Self
After Druggist Refuses
Her ChIoroform
FOUND DEAD BY HUSBAND
Act Thought Result of Acute Mel
anChoIia Following the
Birth of Child
FOUND DEAD BY HUSBAND

While suffering from acute melan-
cholia following the birth of her first
child, Mrs. Emma Hoereth, the young
and beautiful wife of Frederick George
Hoereth, committed suicide at her home,
149 West Eighty-fifth place, yesterday,
by shooting herself in the head. 1t is
believed that she intended to kill her
three-weeks- baby, but at the last
moment could not bring herself to do it,
Stretched on the floor in the parlor
of the little home, the body of the dead
woman was found by her husband
when he returned from work at s
o'clock last evening. On the floor be-
side her was his revolver, with which
the shooting was done.
The husband is Frustrated with grief
and can give no reason for his wife s
act other than temporary insanity
Since the birth of her child she had
been subject to attacks of melancholia,
but, according to her husband, had
been feeling better lately and was in
the best of spirits when he went to
work yesterday morning.
Throughout her married life, until her
recent illness, she was of most cheer
full disposition and had never mem
toned suicide to anyone. She had an
occasional attack of inconsistencies, but
seemingly satisfied with life.
REFUSED CHLOROFORM
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning Mrs.
Hoereth called in a neighbor's boy and
asked him to take note to nearby
drug store for her. When the druggist
opened the note he found it to be a
request for a quantity of chloroform.
The druggist sent back an answer to
the effect that he would not let her
have any of the drug without pre-
scription. The boy carried the message
back. and he was the last to see the
unfortunate woman alive.
Her husband, returning home about
o'clock, tried to enter the front door
OF his home, as usual. F1ndlng IL
locked, he walked around to side WIN
dow and tried that. This was also
locked, and he was forced to break In
screen door at the rear before gaining
entrance. He found the door leading
to the dining room locked. NOW thor-
oughly alarmed, he broke TINS IN ana
found the body of his wife lying IN the
center of the parlor.
A fact which supports the husband In
his theory that his wife was insane al
the time she committed suicide is that
she had undressed herself and donned
a night dress, kimono and bedroom
slippers before she shot herself Sne
also came from the bedroom, where her
baby was sleeping, and closed the door
so as not to wake him.
If she had been able to secure the
chloroform it is believed that the Wom-
an would have ended not only her own
life hut also the life of her child. MOI
being able to get it, however, she oio
not have the heart to shoot the 1nfant,
but left 1t sleeping in bed to be founo
later by her husband.
MARRIED A YEAR
The couple had married in Los An
geles a year ago last August. MIS-
Hoereth, who was a strikingly beautl-
full woman, had lived here four years
having come to Los Angeles from Mil
Waukee. Her husband has been resi-
dent here for six years and is ma
chinist by trade, being employed in that
canacity bv the Clampitt company
Thev were in good circumstances
owned the home in which they lived
and according to friends and neighpors
Mr.. Hoereth was a devoted husoand:
After the coroner's inspection OF tne
scene of the tragedy the body was re-
moved to Bresee Bros undertaKne
esta adjustment. The coroner stated the
case was plainly suicide and an IN
Quest would be unnecessary.