GOEPPERT

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 07:05:49 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, July 24, 1902
page 1

Another Suicide in San Rafael
Beautiful Young Girl Takes Poison

"Tired of life, Good-by, all who love me, Cremate my body. Was alone too much and got despondent.

A note containing the above message was found in the room occupied by Miss Annie Goeppert indicates that she took her own life. For 3 or 4 months since she had been living at the residence of Mrs. E.B. Thatcher at No. 4 Fourth Street. On Saturday morning her body was found cold in death upon her bed.

She was called by Mrs. Thatcher but said she was not ready to get up. About 10 o'clock she was again called, but made no response. Mrs. Thatcher then entered the room and found her lying on the bed, apparently sleeping, but investigation revealed the fact that she was dead. Dr. Jones was called and he concluded she had been dead for 3 hours.

Coroner Eden was called and removed the body to the morgue. No evidence of poison was discovered in her bedroom, but it was supposed she had taken her own life either by taking aconite or wood alcohol.

Miss Goeppert was the daughter of William Goeppert, who resides near Larkspur and is well-to-do, and for several years has conducted a summer villa. She was 27 years of age.

The name of Emil Fisher is freely used in connection with the girl's death and her mother accused him of being the real cause of the suicidal act, which took the life of her daughter. She says: "This is all Fisher's fault. He took her away from us about 3 years ago and now is the cause of her killing herself". Fisher acknowledges an acquaintance with the girl for several years, and says: "I have known the Goepperts for 12 years, and during the last 4 years, or since Anna Goeppert came to San Rafael, I have called upon her almost daily. I saw her last night and took her a bottle of wood alcohol which she wished to burn in a small stove. I arranged to spend Sunday with her. She knew I was a confirmed bachelor and had no intention of marrying her. She came here of her own accord and not to my behest."

"I never intended to marry her and she and I were never engaged. I always told her I was a confirmed old bachelor, and when she and her mother visited my office in San Francisco about 2 weeks ago, I again vehemently asserted my opinion on the matrimonial question."

Fisher is a San Francisco jeweler who has made his summer home at San Rafael for several years, and has been prominent in social circles.

Miss Goeppert had a good home with her parents, but she became infatuated with Fisher and came to San Rafael and for about 4 years had spent most of her time here and in San Francisco.

Mrs. Thatcher says: "The coroner was notified and removed the remains to the morgue. He found the signed note on her desk as well as the wood alcohol bottle on her dresser. No other poison could be discovered in her apartments. Anna had been here for 3 months, and Mr. Fisher had been a constant visitor coming every night. He was here to my knowledge, the night before".

"Miss Goeppert was constantly talking of her affection for Fisher and told me that he had promised to marry her, but that he always put it off. She said she could not live without him. The woman's mother, who used to call on her 2 or 3 times a week, said that Fisher had taken her away from her family, and Miss Goeppert told me that she left her home because Fisher and her quarreled."

A short time ago she became very despondent and stated that she believed Fisher would not marry her and that she thought he had a wife and family in Germany. She said he had shown her a picture of a boy whom he said was his son, and that he was having him educated.