A Killer's Calm: Craemer Hears His Death Sentence Without a Flinch

The verdict condemning Craemer to the death penalty for the murder of Mrs. Meiler and her babe was one of the chief subjects of conversation yesterday throughout the city, and particularly so among people of Craemer's nationality. His attorney, Uderberg, will shortly move for a new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence, whose importance he claims will greatly benefit his client at the next trial.

Craemer's face blanching when the dread words were announced at 1:10 yesterday morning was the only visible evidence of emotion. His lawyer's encouraging words brought a few tears to his eyes, but they were quickly suppressed, and he was returned to his cell, where he passed the rest of the night in a condition of mind that words fail to describe. His face yesterday, though outwardly as stolid and firm as ever, yet bore traces of the mental strain to which he has been subjected for many days, and looked somewhat haggard. His wife did not learn of the verdict until 7 o'clock yesterday morning, at which hour some kind neighbor hastened over to tell her the news. She did not faint nor cry, but with the same quiet stolidity that has characterized man and wife throughout the trial, she went in search of her husband's attorney for confirmation of the sad news.

Together they went to the jail, where Craemer was brought out to meet his wife. A scene was expected, but none was made. Craemer shook hands quietly with his wife. His face, though somewhat haggard, was calm, and the three—Craemer, his wife and his attorney—sat down in the jailer's private office and conversed in German. Craemer expressed his surprise at the verdict and failed to see how the jury reached their conclusion. The interview was not long, and an observer unacquainted with the actors in the case would have thought them all talking over some trivial matters. The wife took leave of Craemer with the same outward calm, no tears and no emotions. Whatever the feelings of both husband and wife may be, they have steeled themselves to make no public show of them.

Craemer occupies a cell with Nordstrom, and in the daytime mingles with the other prisoners in the steel tank that now contains nine murderers. Though he mingles with them in his effort to secure exercise, walking up and down the cage, yet he seldom speaks, and then only when addressed and in monosyllables. The steel tank in which Craemer is confined now contains six convicted murderers and three Japs charged with murder. Four of the convicted men are under sentence of death—namely, Craemer, Nordstrom, Rotter and Holmes; Wilcox, under a twenty-year sentence, and Murphy, under a fifteen-year sentence, are awaiting the result of an appeal, while the three Japs are awaiting trial.

Nels Uderberg, Craemer's attorney, yesterday expressed his views on the case and verdict and his proposed future actions as follows:

'I have the highest respect for the men on that jury, believing them all intelligent, conscientious men, and that they were firmly determined to do their duty, and did do it as they saw it. I believe, however, they were unconsciously influenced by the mistaken belief that public opinion was as strongly against the defendant at the close of the trial as it had been before the trial began; whereas, in fact, a complete change in public sentiment had taken place, and the people who had been watching the progress of the case, to the number of several hundred, almost unanimously concluded that the defendant's guilt was not established by the evidence, and that he ought to be acquitted. Craemer stoutly maintained his innocence in an interview I had with him this morning, and I have no fear but what it will be completely established before long. I believe had my defendant not been impecunious, I should have been able to have secured the attendance of Jack Quinney, from whom he collected money in Tacoma on the afternoon of August 18, the day the murder was committed. By this I mean that I would have employed detectives to hunt up Quinney, who is believed to be somewhere in the Cascade mountains. The sheriff of Snohomish county searched for him along the Monte Cristo district, but failed to discover him. When Quinney is produced, the innocence of the defendant will in all probability be made apparent beyond all question.

'I will immediately move for a new trial upon numerous grounds, among others on the ground of newly discovered evidence.

'One important fact I have learned since the verdict is that some of the property taken by the assassin from Meiler's house when the murder was committed is said to have been restored to Mr. Meiler's possession—namely, a gold watch chain. I do not know the circumstances of this fully, but the inference is irresistible that the chain must have been taken by some one residing in Meiler's house, or in its near vicinity.

'I believe that the facts of the dastardly crime should have had a much fuller investigation than they have as yet received, and I believe that there are two criminals who should be hanged for it. I believe that Craemer is innocent, but I will do my share of work in running down the guilty parties and before long, I trust, we shall all know the truth about this horrible crime.'