The San Francisco call., 1910-07-27
JEALOUSY CAUSES
DOUBLE TRAGEDY
Infuriated Lover Shoots Girl
Four Times and Takes
His Own Life
Woman Makes Appointment
Which Will Probably Re-
suit in Her Death

Henry E. Goerke. waiter infuri-
ated because his sweetheart. Chariot
Hamrnitt. pretty book keeper of p
years, received the attentions of other
men, shot her four times. probably
fatally, and with the fifth bullet in the
revolver blew out his brains.
The tragedy occurred yesterday
afternoon in the young womans
room on the first floor of the
Star hotel, 174o Ellis street. Murder
and suicide were apparently planned
beforehand by Goerke, who occupied
room on the third floor in the same ho-
tel, for five minutes previous to the
shooting, Goerke, shaking with rage
because the girl Monday evening had
told him she was going out to see some
women friends, but had in fact re-
ceived a man visitor, said goodby to
friends in the street. saying he was go
ing to Portland and followed Miss
Hammitt, who had just entered the
hotel.
BODY FALLS ON GIRL
The occupants of the house were
startled a short time later by four
shots fired in rapid succession. followed
by fifth after a short interval. George
Bethel, an electrician employed at the
Princess theater, who occupies room
on the second floor. ran quickly down
the stairs and saw blood flowing from
under the door to the girls apartment.
He broke in the door and found the
body of the waiter lying across the
PROSTATE form of his victim.
The girl was taken in an automobile
to the McNutt hospital. where she was
found to have been wounded four times.
One bullet entered the pit of the
stomach and was extracted by DR.. Nc
Mutt from the small of the back;
second entered the left breast, third
passed through the muscles of the left
arm just above the elbow, and the
fourth blew off three fingers on the
left hand. It is believed she reached
out with her hand and grabbed the.
muzzle of the pistol before her furious
lover fired and that he then pulled the
trigger. the discharge tearing away
the gripping fingers.
The waiter, who was 33 years old.
resembled the German kaiser. He had
been dubbed Bismarck" because of his
lofty demeanor. He was employed last
at the Long Branch restaurant, located
at 154S Eddy street, which closed re-
Gently. He was native of Germany.
ALL HIS MONEY GONE
Goerke stated to George White. a
salesman living at the Star hotel,
very lew minutes before yesterday
tragedy, that he had used up all of
his money on his sweetheart. He told
White that she had promised to marry
him but that she had continually re-
ceived the attentions of others while
trying to make him believe she cared
for him alone. The climax, he said,
came last night when, after posting a
notice on her door that she was out, he
saw her with another man. 1t was
then he had bought the pistol and pre-
pared to kill her and himself.
The Hammitt girl came to this city
from Eureka, which is her home, and
where she had been employed as a
book keeper by the Young transfer
company. Being unable to secure en-
ployment in her own work and without
funds, she was compelled to go to
work for the San Francisco laundry on
May 5, and has been employed there
since. 1t was while going to and from
her work at the laundry, which is di
rectly across the street from the res
taurant where Goerke was a waiter,
that she met him.
On the bureau of the suicides room,
laid out fiat so that IT would be seen
by any one entering the room, as If he
wished 1t to show the reason for his
apparently contemplated act. was this
note from the girl, written last night:
''Henry-Was sorry, but got up too
late. will see you at noon. Chariot"
The waiter kept the appointment and
the tragedy occurred.