Clement Mejer

A first degree murder charge was filed in city court this morning against Mrs. Rita Marie Mejer, 33, of 90S E. Ewing Ave., accused of the fatal stabbing of her husband, Clem R. Mejer, 39 .A hearing has been scheduled for city court Friday night on the charee filed by Prosecutor Patrick Brennan. Leonard V.Campanale of Mishawaka, who represented Mrs. Mejer, told Judge Lloyd M Allen that he will announce Friday, whether a formal preliminary hearing will be sought in city court. Assurances were given by Judge Allen that time will be provided for a preliminary hearing within the next two weeks if one is desired.

Admits Knifing.

Mrs. Mejer was arrested Monday night after police found her husband lying in front of the coupie's house, suffering from the knife wound in the neck He died in the emergency room of St. Joseph s Hospital. According to police, Mrs. Mejer has signed a statement in which she said she stabbed her husband with a 12-inch kitchen knife after he beat her.

Immediately after her court appearance this morning, Mrs. Mejer was taken to the St. Joseph County jail. However. Campanale said he plans possible court action to fight the jailing of his client.

He believes she should be returned to St. Joseph's Hospital, where she has been receiving treatment for shock since Monday night. Appears Nervous. At one time during her trip up the stairs to the courtroom, Mrs, Mejer paused and asked for s glass of water before continuing, She also appeared nervous during a trip to the police station for fingerprinting prior to the court appearance. At first she refused to sign the fingerprint card, explaining that "my attorney told me not to sign anything."

During her brief time in court, however, the defendant appeared calm.

The stabbing incident ccurred after a long series of family quar rels. Police records show that offic ers had been sent to the Mejer home on three occasions in the last three years to investigate "family fights." No charges were filed as a result of any of these incidents.

Unrecorded Calls.

The calls were received Aug. 27, 1957, Aug 30. 1958, and Dec. 2 of this year. Police say that several other calls concerning quarrels at the home have been received in recent years but that official reports were not written for each incident,

Mejer summoned police to his home at 6:02 p.m Monday, about a' half hour prior to the fatal stabbing, and asked that police arrest his wife. He exhibited a cut wrist and what police termed a superficial chest wound which he said his wife inflicted with a knife.

The investigating officer said Mejer agreed to see the prosecuting attorney about the matter the next morning, They said Mrs. Mejer was not at home while they were there. Children

Staying With Aunt

The couple's two children, Maria, 12. and Jacqueline, 9, who witnessed the stabbing, are staying at the home of Edward Lee 3953 Montgolfier PI., whose wife is Mrs. Mejer's sister.

Funeral services, will be at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Matthew's Co- Cathedral with Right Rev. Msgr Arnold J. Wibbert, rector, officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call aft er 7 p m. today in the St. Joseph huneral Home.

He was a member of the West Side Democratic Club, Pallbearers will be John Mejer Jr., Robert Lee Meier, Louis Mejer, Edward Mejer, Ernest Mejer and Louis Ganus

Source: Newspapers.com

04/02/2024 EJS

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