New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-10
udwiq Palmer, Wealthy South
Orange Contractor, Shoots
Widow and Himself at
SwartSWood Lake, N. J.
HAD GROWN FAMILY OF SIX
Mrs Barbara Rapke, the Victim
Also Had Family, and Both
Were Much Respected
Met in Secret Long Time
and Never Discovered.
by Telegraph 10 The Tribune

Swsrtswood Lake. y. J. Dec. 3
Dead on the floor of an unoccupied cot
taCe i'm a secluded spot near the outlet
NJ the lake Ludwig Palmer, pros
perous contractor of South Orange, and
Mrs. Barbara Rapke. a widow. who
lived in Newark. were found to-day
Both had been missing from their
homes since Friday, but people living
in this neighborhood say they came
here Saturday. and Palmer introduced
the woman as his wife. The police
think the man killed the woman and
then himself. Both had been shot in
the head.
Palmer was well known i'm South
orange. where he had business with
his brother Axel. He lived in a fine
house with a family OF six children
and a wife to whom he had been mar
ried twenty-five years. The anniver-
sary would have been Christmas Day.
and the family had been planning
great celebration.
Mrs. Rapke six years widow. lived
with her daughter and two sons i'm
Newark and while Palmer was a con-
slant visitor at the house. IT was al
WAYS understood when Mrs. Rapke
went out with him that they expected
10 meet Mrs. Palmer Both families
we're astounded when the strange story
that ended here to-day was revealed.
Posed as Man and Wife.
II is believed The couple met in New
ark on Friday and went to Newton.
where they spent the night in hotel.
On Saturday they drove six miles to
the home of John Emmons. with whom
Palmer had boarded when he was
building for George Beck the cottage
in which he killed himself. Palmer in
'roduced Mrs Rapke as his wife, and
they remained i'm the Emmons house
until Sunday morning. when Palmer
said he wanted to go over to the Beck
Cottage to fix some locks He and
Mrs. Rapke set of over the fields. and
that was the last seen Of them alive.
They had said they would come back
and remain over Sunday. and when
they did not return for supper Emmons
grew anxious. Late at night he COM
municated with Beck This morning
Beck and Emmons went 10 the house.
All the windows were closed and there
was no sound.
Beck pushed the door open and found
Mrs. Rapke lying face upward on. the
floor. Powder marks about the hole in
her temple indicated that the revolver
had been held close 10 her head. She
still wore the fur coat Mrs. Emmons
had lent her. Palmer was in an ad-
joining room. his revolver by his side.
Two shots mad been fired. There was
another revolver in his pocket, and the
police think that he had premeditated
killing the woman and took two pistols
with him to make sure. There were
no evidences of a struggle.
Friendship an Old One.
Sheriff Mains was informed ani
called in Prosecutor Dolan and Coroner
j. S. Coleman. The coroner. decided
that death had been instantaneous In
both cases. He found a card in the
woman's pocketbook, bearing her name
and address, Mrs. Barbara Rapke, No.
262 Van Buren street, Newark" The
bodies were taken to a morgue and to-
night were claimed by relatives.
Mrs. Rapke was fifty years old, bIt
looked about forty.
At her home it was said that Palmer
had been attentive TO her calling on
her once or twice a week.