Marin County Deaths

Transcribed by Betty Wilson

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MURDER OF EMMA SPOHRS
          On May 23, 1872, a terrible tragedy was enacted in Angel Island, 
in which a soldier named Fritz Kimmel shot and instantly killed Emma Spohrs, 
a girl of fourteen years of age, in a fit of jealousy.  There was a ball given at 
Camp Reynolds for the benefit of the non-commissioned officers and privates 
of Company H, Twelfth Infantry.  While the guests were at the supper table, 
Kimmel arose from his seat, and going to Emma, put a pistol to her head 
and fired.  She fell dead, and before the horror-stricken guests could prevent 
it, the murderer placed the weapon to his own head and fired, killing himself 
instantly.  A military Court of Inquiry was held, which developed the following 
facts:  Kimmel was leader of the Twelfth Infantry Band, a young German, who 
was accounted a fine musician.  Miss Spohrs, his victim, was the daughter of a 
member of the band.  Kimmel was a constant visitor in the family of Mr. Spohrs, 
and it was evident that he admired the daughter, Emma.  On the night of the 23d, 
an entertainment was given by the Hackett Dramatic Club (composed of enlisted 
men of the island), to Company H, Twelfth Infantry, which was about to leave the 
island.  During the early part of the ball, Kimmel played a violin, occasionally 
promenading the floor alone, but speaking to no one.  Miss Spohrs saluted him 
pleasantly, but his responses were cold and distant; Miss Spohrs accompanied 
Sergeant Sheehan to supper.  Kimmel seated himself on the opposite side of the 
table and at some distance.  After watching them for some time, he abruptly left 
the table and went to his room, but soon returned and advanced directly to the 
seat of Miss Spohrs, presented a pistol to her temple and fired, killing her 
instantly.  The murderer stepped back a few paces, placed the pistol to his own 
head and fired.  He fell backward to the floor and died instantly.

History of Marin County, California; Including Its Geography, Geology, 
Topography and Climatology; by J. P. Munro-Fraser, Historian; Alley, 
Bowen & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, California, 1880