New York Times, 24 Dec 1916
Newark Watchman Returns Home to Find His Wife and Four Daughters Dead from Gas.
When Frederick Becker, a night-watchman, walked into the bedroom of his small home at 259 Vernon Avenue, Newark, early yesterday morning, he gazed upon a scene that caused him to shriek. His wife, Anna,
lay dead on the floor. Two of his daughters, Ethel, 7, and Martha, 4 years old, were dead on a bed nearby. His two youngest children, Edna
and May [Helen], lay dead in a crib in the same room.
All of them had been suffocated by gas fumes from an open wall jet. Whether it had been left open by accident could not be discovered, as Becker's entire family had been destroyed.
His cries brought neighbors to his side and one of them, Mrs. Florence Freer, told of having noticed an odor of gas early in the evening. Mrs. Freer brought a cup of coffee for the sick woman, but found the door locked. When she knocked there was no response. Mrs. Becker was injured in a fall some time ago and had been confined to the house since.
Dr. George L. Warren, the County Physician, made an investigation and came to the conclusion that Mrs. Becker noticed the gas in the room some time during the night, and fell unconscious on the floor while trying to drag herself to the jet. The four children evidently had not been awakened and passed from sleep to death.
Becker is employed nights by the Sacks Iron Foundry.
Newark Watchman Returns Home to Find His Wife and Four Daughters Dead from Gas.
When Frederick Becker, a night-watchman, walked into the bedroom of his small home at 259 Vernon Avenue, Newark, early yesterday morning, he gazed upon a scene that caused him to shriek. His wife, Anna,
lay dead on the floor. Two of his daughters, Ethel, 7, and Martha, 4 years old, were dead on a bed nearby. His two youngest children, Edna
and May [Helen], lay dead in a crib in the same room.
All of them had been suffocated by gas fumes from an open wall jet. Whether it had been left open by accident could not be discovered, as Becker's entire family had been destroyed.
His cries brought neighbors to his side and one of them, Mrs. Florence Freer, told of having noticed an odor of gas early in the evening. Mrs. Freer brought a cup of coffee for the sick woman, but found the door locked. When she knocked there was no response. Mrs. Becker was injured in a fall some time ago and had been confined to the house since.
Dr. George L. Warren, the County Physician, made an investigation and came to the conclusion that Mrs. Becker noticed the gas in the room some time during the night, and fell unconscious on the floor while trying to drag herself to the jet. The four children evidently had not been awakened and passed from sleep to death.
Becker is employed nights by the Sacks Iron Foundry.
New York Times, 24 Dec 1916
Newark Watchman Returns Home to Find His Wife and Four Daughters Dead from Gas.
When Frederick Becker, a night-watchman, walked into the bedroom of his small home at 259 Vernon Avenue, Newark, early yesterday morning, he gazed upon a scene that caused him to shriek. His wife, Anna,
lay dead on the floor. Two of his daughters, Ethel, 7, and Martha, 4 years old, were dead on a bed nearby. His two youngest children, Edna
and May [Helen], lay dead in a crib in the same room.
All of them had been suffocated by gas fumes from an open wall jet. Whether it had been left open by accident could not be discovered, as Becker's entire family had been destroyed.
His cries brought neighbors to his side and one of them, Mrs. Florence Freer, told of having noticed an odor of gas early in the evening. Mrs. Freer brought a cup of coffee for the sick woman, but found the door locked. When she knocked there was no response. Mrs. Becker was injured in a fall some time ago and had been confined to the house since.
Dr. George L. Warren, the County Physician, made an investigation and came to the conclusion that Mrs. Becker noticed the gas in the room some time during the night, and fell unconscious on the floor while trying to drag herself to the jet. The four children evidently had not been awakened and passed from sleep to death.
Becker is employed nights by the Sacks Iron Foundry.
Newark Watchman Returns Home to Find His Wife and Four Daughters Dead from Gas.
When Frederick Becker, a night-watchman, walked into the bedroom of his small home at 259 Vernon Avenue, Newark, early yesterday morning, he gazed upon a scene that caused him to shriek. His wife, Anna,
lay dead on the floor. Two of his daughters, Ethel, 7, and Martha, 4 years old, were dead on a bed nearby. His two youngest children, Edna
and May [Helen], lay dead in a crib in the same room.
All of them had been suffocated by gas fumes from an open wall jet. Whether it had been left open by accident could not be discovered, as Becker's entire family had been destroyed.
His cries brought neighbors to his side and one of them, Mrs. Florence Freer, told of having noticed an odor of gas early in the evening. Mrs. Freer brought a cup of coffee for the sick woman, but found the door locked. When she knocked there was no response. Mrs. Becker was injured in a fall some time ago and had been confined to the house since.
Dr. George L. Warren, the County Physician, made an investigation and came to the conclusion that Mrs. Becker noticed the gas in the room some time during the night, and fell unconscious on the floor while trying to drag herself to the jet. The four children evidently had not been awakened and passed from sleep to death.
Becker is employed nights by the Sacks Iron Foundry.
