Wife Kidnaps Baby But Botches Attempt to Murder Husband: Winkelmann - 1897

ILLUSTRATION: “Its only a matter of time till we get him out of the way” – The Significant Note Found by Mr. Winckelmann After His Escape From Aspphyxiation.

FULL TEXT: Charles Winckelmann, whose baby was kidnaped from the residence of Mrs. Behlow, 307 Fell street, on Saturday, believe she is pursued by enemies whose malice is so great that they would not stop at murder.

He accuses his wife of instigating the kidnaping. She is known in shady circles as Pearl Burke, alias May Jewell, alias Pearl Mayne. Her met intimate associate, who has no visible means of support, is Fred Husted, who induced her to leave Winckelmann on the 18th of December. Within ten days thereafter he was arrested for vagrancy, but the woman hired a lawyer and paid his way to freedom, and the pair then went to Sacramento.

Wincklemann induced the woman to return to his bed and board at the Lexington House on March 25, and an occurrence of that night made them enemies forever.

"She tried to get me drunk," Said he, "but I am not a drinking man, and I drank very little, but pretended to be very drunk. I feigned sleep, whereupon she left the room, having first locked the door.

I then got up and found both gascocks turned on full blast. It was a strange coincidence that I afterwards found a bit of paper, containing in her writing the statement that she would soon be rid of me."

Winckelmann does not pretend to be a bright and shining light, but tie has always provided a good home for the babe that was stolen from the Behlow residence, and he supported the woman until she left him.

"I shall hunt the United States ever for the babe," said he last night, "for it is ill and needs care. I do not propose to allow it to be reared by such a woman as its mother, for she has all she can do to support herself and Husted. I intend to have the child if I have to kill them both."

Secretary Holbrook had not found any trace of the child up to a late hour last night, but Winckelmann says he will soon be able to follow a clew to a successful finish.

[“No Tidings Of The Stolen Babe - Charles Winckelmann Says His Notorious Wife Got It. - He Will Pursue Her Unto Death to Recapture His Baby Boy. - Alleges That He Was Almost Murdered at the Lexington, in This City.” San Francisco Call (Ca.), Jun. 7, 1897, p. 10]