The Washington herald., 1912-07-07
KILLS her MOTHER
and SELF In ROOM
co.a,a.ea from r.s. one.

Continued from Page One.
Ernest Knabs. jr.. TO arrange 20 that
ance on Mrs. Wehrkamp's life in the
event of the death OF the mother. An
other letter found, evidently from Mr..
Knabe. spoke OF personal matters. and
mentions Of Dear Kate" and
Aunt Mary"
1t ID believed that Knabe Is a nephew
of Ms. wehrkamp.
Came from Baltimore.
Part of the mystery yelling the lives
Of the mother and daughter was lifted
last night by John l. Saunders a colored
expressman. living at 91s Eleventh Street
Northwest. who has known both women
for years.. worked for them, and aided
them financially to the best of his ability
in those periods when the women were in
dire distress for lack of funds.
According to Saunders, Mrs. and Miss
wehrkamp formerly were wealthy, rec
ognized in the best social circles. and
well known in Baltimore. They last
lived In Baltimore at 2143 West Balti-
more Street. When they left that ad-
dress about two years ago, says Saun-
ders, they removed to Washington.
Since coming here they have lived at q
dozen or more addresses and. 1t Is be-
lieved. the frequent changes Of ad-
dresses by the women was due to hnan-
cial embarrassment.
About three months ago Mrs. Wehr-
kamp grew i'll in Baltimore and the
daughter was at her wits end how to
procure money with which to remove
the aged invalid from the Monumental
City to Washington. Miss Wehrkamp
appealed to Saunders and the colored
man loaned the young woman s. This
money has never been repaid. Miss
Wehrkamp frequently mentioned that
she would be wealthy when her mother
died. but she did not explain how she
would come into the riches. says Saun-
ders.
Prior to the loan of g. Saunders bought
a writing desk from Miss Wehrkamp.
paying her s12. II would not part with
the desk II / did not have to have the
said Miss Wehrkamp. She
seemed to regard the sale of the desk
with much sorrow, and showed deep
emotion when Saunders carried 1t away
from the apartments.
Always Needed Money.
Sdunuers hne" tndt COIeCtOrs Cdllcu
at the Wehrkamp apartments daily. and
during the four years he has known the
women he was cognizant Of their almost
lack of money and their pitia-
Bile efforts TO make both ends meet"
During the two years that Mrs. and
Miss wehrkamp had lived at the New
the grocer just across the
street, G. F. Tucker, was aware of their
ack OF means. For Tucker gained the
of the women by cashing
checks which they received regularly
every month. These checks have been
,ashed for nearly two years by Tucker.
md they throw much light on the cause
If the double tragedy.
The checks were drawn on a bank in
Cincinnati. Ohio. made payable to Mrs.
Mary Wehrkamp. and were signed by
Ernest Knabe. jr Miss Wehrkamp fire.
nephew OF mother. is a member OF the
Dig piano firm" Tucker had not been
asked TO cash a check for Mrs. Wehr-
Samp for more than a month. When
buying groceries on account. Miss Wehr-
camp told the grocer that she expected
he check soon. The checks varied in
amount from s25 to $50. and so far as has
been learned this was the only money
IN which the mother and daughter lived.
The last time that Miss NehrKamp
vas seen alive was late Friday afternoon,
when she went across the street to the
grocery store. Although her account was
hirty-fve days overdue. tucker allowed
he young woman to carry away the few
articles she desired. In leaving the store
Miss Wehrkamp said her check would
arrive on the morrow ana that
she would then settle her bill. Miss
Nehrkamp was met IN the vesupuie OF
he New Rochelle by her mother. They
vent up the stairway together. talking
n tones that could plainly be neard by
he janitor.
Mrs. Wehrkamp asked her daughter
What they would DO II .ne check did not
Lrrive the next day. The daughter was
leard TO reply: Mother. Ernest has
lever failed us before lie Will not fail
Is now. / cannot believe that l feel
ure the check Will come Mother ana
laughter went slowly up to their rooms.
md the death that was to come before
he dawn of another day.
Neighbor. Made Curious.
The mystery with which Mrs. and Miss
surrounded themselves awak-
ned the curiosity of the few persons
With whom the women came in contact.
nut neither OF the women, so far as has
'een learned. ever dropped a word that
would reveal the story of their past.
employees of the New Rochelle, which is
I 1903 u Street Northwest frequently
wondered why Miss Wehrkamp. accus-
omed to wealth and even luxury as she
ppeared to be. was frequently forcefl
o request the loan OF small amounts.
Tot only from the employees of the apart |
nent. but also from other occupants
we're these trifiing loans made.
1t is known that after the receipt of
he checks from Ernest knabe, whom
iiss Wehrknmp described as the trustee
Z an estate owned by her mother, the
1osnen made short trips to Baltimore.
'hese trips were always of 1T a few |
avs duration There was only one vis- |
S has been learned. This visitor was a |
iiss Beck. who lived in Baltimore and |
as employed as trimmer or dress |
maker in a department store in North !
Toward Street.
Miss Beck was a guest al the Wehr- |
amp apartments in September and Oc-
ober last. While with the Wehrkamps |
Iiss Beck grew i'll and DR.. Albert Tay- !,
Or, who had frequently attended Mrs.
vehrkamp, was summoned When she
Miss Beck returned to Balti- |
lore and has not visited the Wehr- |
amps since, it is said. Miss Beck's ad-
ress has not been learned. but 1t is
eleved she was either a relative or
Intimate friend OF the women.
.I,Es