New Britain herald., 1920-02-18
WIFEDIES, HUSBAND
 CRAzED, SHOOTS SON
Grief Stricken Man Then Commits
 Suicide

Garfield, N. J., Feb. 1s.--Half an hour after his wife died of influenza yesterday morning John F'romberger, g years old, carried his son, John, Jr., IS months old, into an adjoining room at their home at 134 Schley street, and after placing the child in a comfortable position on @ pillow in q bed, shot the boy through the head. Believing the boy dead, the father then turned his pistol on him. self. and sent a bullet into his temple, causing instant death.
 Fromberger, an electrician, was known among his neighbors as es- pecially devoted to his wife and child. When Mrs. Fromberger was confined to her bed with influenza two weeks ago, her husband gave up his position with the National Elec- tric company of Passaic, N. J., in order that he. might nurse her.
 Mrs. Thomas Adametz. mother of Mrs. Fromberger, lived with the couple ip a neat little house. Although she insisted there was no need of From berger losing sleep, he insisted that because of his mother-in-l laws poor health, he must remain con- stantly at his wife's bedside. About
 
 Mrs. Fromberger was rapidly losing strength. She spoke to her son-in- law about her daughters condition allE warned him that unless he got some rest, he, too, might contract the disease.
 What do I care mother" he re- piled as he burst into tears. Pm convinced poor Mary is going to leave us What shall I do without her? What will happen to our little John?''
 Mrs. Fromberger from her sick bed then tried to cheer her husband. She insisted she. would get we'll, and asked him for the sake of their little boy to go to bed and rest. He re- fused however, and, according to the story told to the police by Mrs. thereafter gave himself over to weeping. On Monday night Mrs. lapsed into unconscious ness and her husband. Mrs. Adametz said, seemingly convinced the end was near suddenly ceased weeping and sat beside his wife's bed intently the dying woman and their son. whom Mrs. Fromberger had in sisted on having beside her.
 Fromberger felt hts wife's pulse and found she was dead. He said nothing to his mother-in-law, who was standing beside him, but calmly lifted his son from the bed. He car "ied the boy down to, the parlor on he lower floor and for about fifteen Mrs. Adametz said rocked him to and fro without uttering a word. Mrs. Adametz in the mean inc had found that her daughter was dead and she started down the stairs to speak to Fromberger when ne came running up the stairs with he child in his arms.
 Mrs. Adametz said that Fromberger spoke no word, but dashed into a bedroom beside that in which the body of his wife lay. He slammed the door shut, and the next moment, she said, she heard two pistol shots. She ran into the street, and told neigh bors of her fears. A policeman found the child dying in bed, the fathers body resting at his feet.
 An ambulance hurriedly was sum moned from St. Marys hospital in Passaic and both father and son were hurried to the hospital. There the physicians declared the father had died instantly. The boys skull was fractured, but he was alive late last night.
 Both the neighbors and the police insist F'romberger was crazed by the grief of his wife. and the fear that his son would not receive the mother ly care that he should receive. The couple were married three years ago, when Fromberger had a prosperous electrical contracting business here