The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 1, 1896, Page 8

. ton Messersmith, who is a neighbor of his, THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1896. —— Mrs. Olga Deuss, the Unfortunate Woman Who Asphyxiated Her Baby Children and Herself, and H. O. Deuss, the Distracted and Half-Crazed Husband Who Mourns Their Loss. (Sketched by a “Call” artist.] TRIPLE MURDER AND SUICIDE The Dreadful Tragedy in a Guerrero - Street Home. INSANE WOMAN’S DEED. Mrs. Olga Deuss Asphyxiates Herself and Her Three Babies. A FATHER'S AWFUL DISCOVERY He Reaches Home From His Lodge to Find All His Dear Ones Asleep in Death. iz The Bodies of Mrs. Olga Dzuss and Her Little Ones as They Appear‘ed on the Slabs at the Morgue. [Sketched by a “Call” artist.] Wandering about the City, begging hs | watchful friends to leave him alone but a | the flight of stairs leading to his flat was | not lighted, and there was a strong odor | few moments, H. 0. Deuss is yearning for | merciful death that might bring him ob-| livion. His sorrow is so overwhelming | and has crowded 1n upon him so suddenly | that in his distracted condition he seesno | t but suicide, since his piteons s to God 1o call for him are un- appe: beeded. All the dear ones he cherished and | loved—his honest true wife who had | been his comfort for elevea years, his | three little babes, whose brigat and pretty | faces gave sunlight to his home, and whose | chatter as they climbed over him in the | evening when he returned from his tedi- | ous labor, and their merry laughter ul early morn before he again went forth to | battle with the world made him forget all | his cares—all were taken away from him | in one feil swoop. | It is hardly to be wondered at that the i | unfortunate husband and father weeps, sobs and at times utters groans terminat- ing in a paintul hysterical laugh. He regards the friends who have has- tened to his side to give him consolation which is put tame in such a heartbreaking case as merc because they will not permit him to do away with himself and join the darlings who have left him here alone in his misery. This tragedy of the little home at 80914 Guerrero street, where H. O. Deuss sud- denly and so unexpectedly came across the dead bodies of his entire family at 3:15 | o'clock yesterday morning, is probably | the saddest that has ever befallen an indi- | viaual in this City. At least, the hard- ened employes of the public Morgue do 1ot remember a case so touching. Deputy £mith, who for the past twenty years has gathered in the dead when official investi- gation has been necessary, does not recol- | lect a case that approaches it, and the tender care he has taken in laying out the | mother with her little babies on either | side—the four resting on three contiguous | slabs covered by one wide, immaculate | sheet—attests to the feelings which caused | the old veteran to shed a tear. Smith was not alone among strangers to weep yesterday while viewing these | dead. Women, neighbors of the Deuss family, crowded to the Morgue. Men— big, sirong men, callous to the shocks and hardships of the world, who have not kpown for decades what it is to have a | moist eye—cried with the weaker sex, and | had to turn away. | The details of the tragedy, owing to the crazed condition of the husband and | father, who alone is in possession of the facts connected with the immediate find- ing of the bodies, can be but surmised. He left his pratuing young ones after the evening meal Monday abeut 7:30 o’clock. The babies had had a glorious day of it with their toys and little girl neighbors, with whom they had 1omped from early morning. That bed time was drawing near | was evinced by their drooping eyelids, | and their fond mother's lullaby needed | but to be short before the three darlings | would be in the restful land of nod. Mrs. Olga Deuss saw her husband to the door. She, too, was tired, and with her parting kiss asked him to return early. ‘There was nothing in her demeanor to in- dicate the awful deed she afterward com- mitted. True, she had been ailing fora | week past, but she was apparently mend- ing and was looking forward to Thursday, when sbe expected to give a children’s party in honor of her elder daughter Gretchen’s eighth birthday. At what time she locked the doors of | the house, tucked her little onesin their cots, turned on all the gas jets in the house and lay down to die no one can ever know. She left a couple of messages writ- ten in German and scribbled off in a rather disconnected manner. But these give no details to enlighten one on the case. One slip of paper has an incompleted sentence which reads: You are going to— ‘What else the woman intended to write cannot be surmised, unless she was about to address her husband, who had told her he was going to the monthly meeting of the Mission Turn Verein, and then de- sisted. Then came another note, saying: As I have loved you in life, I shall be with you'in death all the time. On the same slip of paper was written: All the things in the trunk and the beds are to be sent to George; they belong to him. These messages were found by the depu- ties from the Coroner’s office when they arrived at the house at 5 o’clock in the morning. They had been completely over- looked by Deuss in the agonizing moments that followed bis frightful discovery. At the close of the Mission Turn Verein meeting, about midnight, Deuss sat aronnd the saloon in the building chatting with some of his fellow-members and drinking beer. At 2:30 o’clock in the morning the party broke up, and Deuss, accompanied by An- | i slowly walked toward their homes. They conversed, ard frequently stopped on their journey to enter in debate. They spent fifteen minutes in this wey right in front of Deuss’ house, where his entire family | papa! The gas jet in the hallway at the head of of gas. His first thought was that a gust of wind had blown out the light, and he | hastened to turn thecock. It wassecurely closed, however, and Deuss felt for the first time that something was amiss. stifling odor became stronger as he entered the frontroom of the dwelling, and he rushed to the door of the apartments | where his wife and babies usually slept. It was closed and locked. “Olga! Olga!” he cried, thumping the door. ‘‘Olga! What's the matter, can't you answer?"” No answer came from the dead on the other :ide of the door; only the noise of the death-dealing fluid escaping as with a serpent’s hiss from four gas jets turned on at full force could be heard. Frenzied by the uncertainty of the situa- tion, and made doubly powerful by the possibility of his loved ones being in danger of their lives within a few feet of where he stood, Deuss braced himself for a plunge, and launched his entire weight against the door. It broke in, and though stifled by the volume of gas which burst out against bim as if fighting for its victims, lie des- perately lunged through the broken panel of the door, and at a bound reached the bed where lay his wife and their voungest boy. My God, Olga!” he fairly shrieked, shaking her, ““wake up! wake up!” The unfortunate woman was already too vet quite dead. Deuss then hurled him- | self against the large and only window | Kearny | leading from the room in the rear of the | the back of it he wrote: flat. With one vigorous kick he smashed the casing and a blast of welcome fresh air poured in. In another moment the fren- zied father ran and opened the windows in | the front of the house, and returning to the bedroom he began lifting his dear ones from their couches and carrying them to where the fresh air could reach them. It did not take long for him to do this, but the seconds seemed hours to him. | While engaged in his task he kept up a continual cry for help, which did not come. His cries, however, were heard, but at that | unwonted hour they were unheeded. Deuss pulled the pillows off the beds, and after placing them under the heads of his babies and wife he staggered back down the stairs and out into the street, running toward the house of his friend, Anton Messersmith, and yelling like a demented man all the way. Messersmith returned with Deuss, and with Officer Murphy, on the Guerrero- street beat, they entered the house. was evident then that there was not a spark of life left in the four bofes, but Drs. Moody and Mulligan, living in th: immediate neighborhood, were summoned. At their suggestion the officials at the Morgue were notified. 5 As soon as the anxious father, bending over the physicians during their examina- tion, learned that there was no more hope, he fell back half-fainting into the arms of his friend, Messersmith. Then, rallying, be was on his knees, crawling from one to the other of his four beloved darlings, kissing and begging them to come back. “Ulga! Gretchen! Fredda! Cari! My darlings. Don’t leave papa! don’t leave Come back; oh, come back!” he begged, while the tears streamed down his cheeks. The sight of this terrible sorrow was too much for the physiciansand Messersmith, The | It | | ings, and they wept too with the bereaved Messersmith managed to tear the un- happy man from the corpses into another room, where he cast himself face down- ward on the bed so recently occunied by his wife and youngest child and sobbed as thongh his heart were breaking. Deputies Hallet and McGinnis, from the Coroner’s office, arrived shortly afterward | in their matter-of-fact way with the grew- some wagon to convey the dead. They carried the receiving-boxes up the stairs to the rooms where lay the corpses. They had not expected such a sad scene, and as they glanced on the three little babies in | their snow-white gowns clustered about | their mother, and saw the heartbroken | father standing by, calling on the Almighty |to also take him, those two Wepaties i thought of their own wives and children |and wept as they performed their sad | duties. | _ As the bodies were about to be removed | Deputy Hallett called the attention of Officer Murphy to the actions of Deauss. | He was carrving on like an insane man, | his bloodshot eyes were popping out of | their sockets, and he seemed on the verge | of doing something to barm himself. He suddenly darted for the bureau, | where he fumbled in trying to oven the | top drawer. This gave the policeman time | to reach him as he opened it and attempt- ed to take a razor from its sheath. “I don’t want to live! I can't stana | this any longer!"” Deuss cried. | The keen blade was carefully put away, | and Deuss, looking around, picked up one | far gone {0 recover, although she was not | of his own business cards, giving his occu- pation as a watchmaker and jeweler at 126 reet, in the Thurlow block. On GEORGE F. KUEGER, | 199 . Clart street, | Chicago. Turning to Deputy Coroner Hallett, he said: “If anything happens to me let this nan know, and he will know what to do.” | Another friend of Deuss, hearing of the | tragedy, called at the house. *Well, Frick,” the unfortunate man said, “'see what has befallen me. What an unhappy man I am. My poor wife and babies, all gone.” | Deuss began to act stranger than ever | after that. Taking a gold watch from his pocket he handed it to the nearest -person | to him. | “Take this,” he said, “it belongs to | Shirfield.” 3 Then, reaching into his pocket again he | pulled out $12 in one hand and handed it to Deputy Hallett, saying: “That belongs to Oiga.” In another hand he held a little bundle |.of coin, about $4 80, wrapved up in a piece | of paper. | “This,” he said, *‘belongs to —."” He | did not finish the sentence, but went off i“ a rambling and unintelligible wordy ! gait. ‘ The address of George H. Kueger, Chi- cago, is that of Mrs, Olga Deuss’ brother, to whom she left her belongings in the last note she wrote on earth. Deuss insisted upon accompanying his | wifeand babies to the Morgue, where he | viewed their bodies on the slabs. He [ acted in a comparatively rational manner ‘ while weeping and kissing his dead. Shortly after noontime he was inauced | by his friend Frick to leave the place, and Late in the afternoon an attempt was { made to have Deuss lie down and get some | rest in the Valencia-street Hotel. ‘ both went out to arrange for the funeral. His who were unable to withhold their feel- | friend remzined by him until shortly after .was being slowly asphyxiated or else was already dead. With a light heart and the proverbial excuse on his lips for being o late, Deuss ran up tbe front steps of his home ana with his latch key opened the door. Gretchen Deuss, Aged 8 Years; Carl Deuss, Aged 2 Years and 6 Months, and Frida Deuss, Aged 5 Years and 6 Months, Asphyxiated by Their Mother. [Skeiched by a ““Call” staff artist. from a photograph taken by flashlight Decomber 24 under their last Christmas tree.] 5o’clock in the afternoon, when a report was received at the Morgue and police headquarters that he-was missing. Atthe { Morgue the inquiry came asto whether Deuss’ body had been brought in, showing quite evidently that his friends believe he is but waiting an opportunity to kill him- self. Mrs. Olga Deuss, the poor woman who, in 2 moment of insanity, has wrecked the life of her husband, taken her own life and the iives of their children, was 40 years of age. The little girl, Gretchen, would have been 8 years old to-morrow. Fredda, the second girl, was only 5 years and 6 months old, and tivy little Carl was but six months past twe summers. —- JEALOUSY THE CAUSE. Frlends of Deuss Declared That the Wife Was Unjustly Susplicious of Her Husband. Statements made by the friends of Deuss show that Mrs. Deuss was jealous of her husband. She believed that he, within a few weeks, had been paying marked at- tention to a young woman, but friends assert that there was not the stightest foundation for the suspicion. This idea, which for several weeks haunted the woman who sought relief in death and took her children with her to the great be- yond, unsettled her mind and it is prob- able that when bher brain was turned by the most uncontroliable of passions she de- cided upon carrying into effect her fatal project. Henry F. Fricke, a grocer at Guerrero and eteenth streets, who was with Deuss for several hours yesterday morn- ing, said: “You can understand what the poor man's feelings were when he made the horrible discovery. It was enough to drive a man to the verge of desperation, and it is no wonder tkat he wanted to put an end to his life. This afternoon he had calmed down somewbat,.and in my com- pany we went to the Morgue and then made arrasngements for the disposition of the unfortunate woman and the cRildren, after which he went to the Valencia-street Hotel, and when I left him at 5 o’clock he was in a better mood than he was during the forenoon. “The woman had no cause for the com- mission of the dreadful crime.” She was insanely jealous, and all without cause. His friends can show where he was every evening when away from home. There was not the slightest cause for Mrs. Deuss to be jealous of him. He was a devoted husband, and loved his wife and children as fondly as any man could. As to finan- cial trouble, there was nothing in that. It was only yesterdey that he toid me that be had put an advertisement in THE CALL, that it had brought him three customers, and that he felt pleased with the begin- ning of the week. ‘‘Mrs. Deuss used to attend all ‘the meet- ings of the Mission Turn Verein, of which Deuss is the vice-president, and when he was there she had every opportunity to watch his actions. At the last meeting she was there, and I noticed that there was something in her demeanor that sat- isfied me that there was something wrong with her mind."” : William Gerken, proprietor of the Va- lencia-street Hotel, said: I have known Mr. Deuss for several years and know that he was passionately fond of his wife and children and had no thoughts for any other woman or women. Why, when he went home from his business his children would tumble over one another in their endeavor to be taken up by him. There never was any trouble in the family, as there was not any cause forit. This forenoon he was in a terrible state of mind, and he woild no doubt have done himself harm had he not been watched by bis friends.. This evening he was very much calmer and spent most all the time weeping and moaning. At about 6 o’clock he went out with friends. “Why did Mrs. Deuss commit the terri- ble crime? It was simply jealousy, and she was unjustly jealous. Nothing but jealousy drove her to it.” One of Deuss’ most intimate friends is Emil Leiss, speaker of the Independent German Congregation and editor-in-chief of the San Francisco Tageblatt. He was in the company of his friend for several hours yesterday afternoon. “This is indeed sad,” said Mr. Liess last night, “and nothing = but unfoundea jealousy caused Mrs, Deuss to do what she did. I have known the family fora long time. I know that Deuss was ex- tremely fond of his wife and chilaren, and he was passionately fond of the poor little boy. The loss of those he loved, and in such a manner, was enough to drive him crazy and make him wish to go to those he loved so well. ‘Several weeks ago Mrs. Denss became possessed of the idea that her liusband was making love to a young woman, but there was absolutely no cause for such an idea. Still it preyed upon her mind to such an extent thai it affected it, and last Thursday when I delivered a lecture at Turn Halle, in the Mission, Mrs. Deuss was there, and I noticed that there was something unusual the matter with her, for ehe did not appear as usual. Despite this feeling which possessed her there was nothing that occurred in the family circle to disturb its tranquillity. “There is no reason to believe that money matters had anything to do with the act, for Mr. Deuss provided well for his family and never troubled his wife | with bis business affairs, 4 ‘‘This morning Deuss made all prepara- tions to end his life. He went to his place of business, took a number of watches that bad been left with him and returned them | to their respective owners. His friends | prevented him from carrying out his pur- | pose, and after I had talked to him for | some time he promised me upon his word | of honor that he will not end his life. He declared that he had nothing to live for, vet I believe he will keep his promise. “During the afternoon he expressed a desire tbat the bodies of his dead family should be cremated, and in accordance with his wish the bodies will be cremated at 2 o’clock on Thursday afternoon at the 0dd Fellows’ Cemetery.”” At 9 o’clock last night Deuss returned to | the Valencia-street Hotel, and broken- hearted and tired out, he was taken tc a room and induced to retire. Before doing so he frequently expressed the hope that death would come to him, as there was no | further life or happiness for him in this world. At last nature asserted herselfand he fell into a slumber, and at midnight was still sleeping. Two friends remained | in the room to watch him to see that he did himself no harm should he awaken again and be taken with the notion that | he ought to end his days. MAY BE CONDEMNED. The Board of Health Will Take Ac- tion on the Hog Ranches To-Day. At a special meeting of the Board of Health to be heid to-day the most impor- tant question to be discussed will be the hog ranches which have caused so much complaint among the residents of the Bay View, Excelsior and Spring Valley home- | steads. It isnov improbable that some of the most odorous and filthy of them will be condemned as public nuisances and or- dered closed or removed. The board partially decided to take this | action some time ago, but concluded to ask the Supervisors to extend the hog limits 80 as to include the tracts mentioned and thus settie the matter. The Supervisors when the subject came up for action failed to agres on a ume when a regulation that was drawn up should go into effect and the matter was dropped, when a tie vote, at last Monday’s meeting, lost the friends of the protesting roperty-owners the opportunity of mov- ing the ranches. The members of the Board of Health are unanimous in the belief that the ranches are a nuisance and unless those who conduct them can show some very valid reason why action should be deferred the law that gives the board the power to condemn obrioxious habitations or enui- | sances will be called into play. COAST DIVISION EXTENSION. The Road to Be Operated Seven Miles South of Someo. Commencing on Monday next, April 6, | the operation of the Southern Pacific | coast division will be extended to a new | station 72 miles south of Someo, which will be known as Viaduct. Atl.hispoim} N o close connection will be made with a first- class stage service for Lompoc and Santa Barbara. Passengers will leave San Francisco at the usual hour, 8:15 A. ., will be due to arrive at the new terminal station at 7:10 P. M., and at Lompoc at 8:45 P. M. Supper will be taken at the Hotel Romona, San Luis Obispo. Northbound passengers will leave Lom- poc at 6 a. ., and arriveat Viaduct at 7:30 A. M. Here close connection will be made with the coast division train for San Fran- | cisco., where the passengers will arrive at 7:05 p. M. Under the new arrangement passengers will reach Lompoc three-duarters of an hour earlier than under the present schedule, and a corresponding savingin | time is made on the northward trip. THEY WANT TO MEET. | Invitation From the Merchants’ Associa- tion to the Mayor and Others of Minneapoli The foilowing communication bas been addressed by the Merchants’ Association to the Mayor and other city officials of Minneapolis now in town: SAN FRANCISCO, March 30, 1896. Fon. Robert Pratt, Mayor, and Other Oficials of Minneapolis, Minn., Visiting San Francisco— On behalf of the Merchants’ As: San Francisco -the board of directors extends you & most cordial invitation the offices of this association, in the 1ding, and become acquainted with its work and purpo: Under another cover we send you copies of the latest publication of this association, con- taining its history, programme for progress, constitution and membership. leading principles of this association, as stated i constitution, is ‘‘co-operation with city als in enforcing the laws and ordinances e and protect the health and comiort of our habitants, and to take an active interest in the care of our public institutions.’’ Our efforts in thus co-operating with the various departments of the municipal govern- ve been supported and encouraged b; ofticials genersally, and many practic: of public benefit have resulted. During your visit to this City it would afford the board of directors of the Merchants’ As- sociation great pleasure to have an informa- meeting with you at the offices of the associal tion, when municipal subjects might be con- sidered of interest and importance to both nneapolis and San Francisco. If agreeable ndly ad us of the time and date most suitable to your convenience, excepting Thurs- April 2, when speciz] meetings of the s on and directors will be held in the after- and evening. ting your pleasure, we remain, with best incerely yours, MERCHANTS' ASSOCTATION. F. W.DoHRMANN, President. J. RicuArD FREUD, Secretary. LOST HIS DIPLOMA. W. F. Parke on Trial for Prac- ticing Without a Certificate. * Dr. W. F. Parke of Oak and Franklin streets appeared before judge Joachim- sen yesterday to answer to the charge of practicing ‘medicine without a doctor's certificate. The complaining witness, Mrs. Mary Harkness of 120 Oak street, testified that she consulted Dr. Parke as to her condi- tion and he treated her for cancer of the stomach. The result was that she gave premature birth to a child and her health bad been greatly injured bv Dr. Parke's mistaken dgmgnosi.! of her case. Another Dr. The Rvom and the Building in Which the Dreadful Triple Murder and Suicide From a sketch made U3 Occurred Yesterday Morning. by a “Call’” artist.] '1\|’|| & One of the | physician was called in, Dr. Wadsworth of the State Board of Medical Examiners, and he found that Dr. Parke’s name was not on the list of registered practitioners. In his own behsaif Dr. Parke testified that he was a graduate of the Philadelphia Medical College, but unfortunately lost his diploma in Denver some years ;fo' He denied the ailegstions made by Mrs. Harkness. The Judge said he would take the case. under advisement. ————————— “CYCLE BOARD OF TRADE” Special Meeting for Its Organization Called by Local Dealers in Wheels. The following call for a meeting has been issuned by the leading bicycle dealers of the City: SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Mareh 23, 1896, Decr Sir: The undersigned respectfully and earnestly request your presence, or that of your authorized representative, at & meeting of the bicycle dealers of San Frani 10 be held on Thursday evering, April 7:30 o'clock sharp, at the Rambler Biclorama, Thomas H. B. Varney, corner of Market and Tenth streets, this City. The object of this meeting is to organize what we may term “San Francisco Cycle Board of Trade,” the ehief purpose of which is to se- cure good streets and in addition to adopt such measures from time to time that will lessen the liability of fraudulent or irresponsibie purchasers, iske advertising, schemers, etc. An association of the dealers, together with the co-operation and indorsement of all wheel- men will, we believe, prove a powerful and in- fluential eombination in agitating and de- manding, politically and otherwise, ‘h?nmg of our principal thoroughfares. Should these results be accomplished they would Create an impetus to the retail bicycle trade of incaleu- lable benefit to us as well. We sincerely trust you will realize the logic of such procedure, and indorse the plan of or- genization as outlined, by attending this meets ing without fail. Baker & Hamilton, Dunham, Carrigan & Hayden Company, Hawlev Bros. Hardware Company, Pope Manufacturing Company, Deere Implement Compsny, E. C. Stearns & Co.,- Overman W heel «Compan; Fire in the Mission. An elarm was sounded through box 284 at 7:30 o'clock last evening for a fire in & two- story frame dwelling-house at 206 California avenue. The lower floor of the building was occupied by R. Divor and the upper by George Thomas. Before the flames could be extin- guished the building had been damaged to the extent of about $1000. The adjoining build. ing. which is occupied by Mrs. Bridgis, was slightly scorched. A defective flue was the cause of the fire. oo L8 Par o Some Good Fees. Judge Slack made an order yesterdsy morning allowing the following fees on account of the Fair estate litigation: To each of the special administrators, L. C. Bresse, T. G. Crothers, J. 8. Angus and W, oodfellow, $5000; Pierson & Mitchell, §£5000; Garret McEnerney, $2500. Plerson & Mitchell are attorneys for Angus, Bresse and Crothers, and McEnerney is attor- ney for Goodfellow. - The Month’s Death Record. The Health Office report for the month end- ing yesterday shows that the number of deaths was 528, against 609 for the corresponding month of last year, while the number of births recorded was 475; 255 being males and 220 females. The death record shows 315 males and 210 females. The most fruitful eauses of death were: Consumption 87, heart disease 62, cancer 30, pneumonia 50, apoplexy 28. —————— Cooks and Waiters Organize, The cooks and waiters met at 1159 Mission street 1ast night and organized & permanent organization, with R. Stanley as president, The new organization will be affiliated with the Labor Council. NEW. TO-DAY. & Todaye we have “Shaker” chairs for ye consideration of ye people. . o Ye chairs are called “Shakers bc:au§¢ of‘z; honestful mzax;s of makein, ye goodness of ye * Ye style is tayken from ye “Shaker” chair of ye olden tyme. & Ye for sittynge down is of plaited rush, and each seventh :tkundci:yceolou:dyemonday ve. o Bothe chairs and rockers come in ye “Shaker” variety, & Delft furniture is on displa ye centre window. "h. CALIFORNIA FURNITURE COMPANY N. P. Cole & Co.) 117-123 Geary Street.