Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1918-01-17
GERMAN NURSE ON
TRIAL FOR MURDER
Charged With Killing Wealthy
German Brewer-WOman
VIII Make the Plea Of
Self Defense
(By United Press)

(By United Press)
San Antonio, Jan. 16-Jurors are
being drawn today for the trial Of the
famous Burgemeister- KOehler murder
case.
Attorneys representing Miss Emma
Hedda Burgemeister, German nurse
charged with the murder Of ottc
Koehler, wealthy brewer, have an
nounced their intention Of basing
their fight on "self defense" They
will claim Miss Burgemeister was be-
ing choked by Koehler when she fired
to protect herself.
Otto Koehler was president Of the
San Antonio Brewing Association. He
was several times q millionaire and
heavily interested in copper mines
being director in several companies
Miss Burgemeister is German nurse
She attended Mrs. Koehler, who Is an
invalid. She visited Germany sever
al times with the KOehlers. At the
time of the tragedy she had left their
employment and was residing at her
home on Hunstock Ave-, San Antonio,
Koehler was shot shortly before Eve
o'clock on the evening Of November
IL, 1914. Three shots entered his body
Death was instantaneous. He was
found lying on the floor in Miss
Burgemeister's room. Justice Of the
Peace r. Neil Campbell, who resided
in the adjoining cottage, was the first
to enter the house. Miss Burgemeist-
er had q deep legged cut on her right
wrist. A case knife was found lying
on the floor.
Miss Burgemeister was arrested by
Sheriff John W. Tobin. Frustrated,
she lowered between life and death
at the Baylor hospital for q number
of days.
Upon her recovery, she waived ex-
animation to q complaint charging
murder. She was remanded to Jail
without bond. Miss Burgemeister was
later released on a $500 cash bond
furnished by Mrs. Emma Dorschiel
and James N. Voble.
An indictment was returned by the
grand jury on November Is, 1914,
Her case was set for trial February
l, 1915.
When the case was called by Dis
trict Judge w. s. Anderson, the de-
PENDANT failed to appear. Her at
torney, State Senator Carlos Bee,
read letter from Miss Burgemeister
in which she said she was going to
Germany to nurse the wounded SOL
diers. Judge Anderson theNeupon de-
clared the bond forfeited.
Nothing was heard of the defend
ant until about a year later. October
%, 1917, motion to rescind action Of
the court in FORGETTING the bond was
filed in the Thirty-Seventh District
court by Miss Burgemeister. In her
petition she alleged that she was
forced to leave San Antonio as THE
result Of threats of county officials.
She alleged she had not requested any
bond be made for her; that the names
signed to the bond were fictitious and
that she did not know the signers.
She said she wanted to come back to
San Antonio and stand trial-"tO
plead before the world her justifica-
ton for the killing"
October 8, Miss Burgemeister walk
edinto the Thirty-Seventh District
Courtroom and surrendered to Dis
trict Attorney D. A. McAskill. She
was re-arrested by Sheriff John w.
TObin. Her attorneys, Ex-Governor
Tom NJ. Campbell, C. N. Chambers,
and Dave Watson, Immediately filed
application for release on q writ Of
habeas corpus. Judge Anderson de-
clined to hear the application immed-
lately, by agreement the hearing was
set for October 10. Miss Burgemeis.-
er was released, pending hearing, IN
a bond Of 5,000..