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Czech Refugee Mother Leaps to Death with 2 Children in Chicago

August 6, 1939
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A Czech Jewish refuges women, clutching her two children in her arms, leaped to death today from thirteenth floor a hotel here. The woman, Adele Langner, 43, and the children, boys of six and four, were dead when reached by on lookers. Karl Langner, whose million dollar textile plant was reportedly confiscated in Prague by the Nazis, when informed of the death of his wife and children, threatened to commit suicide himself.

The Langer family had been here on a six-month visitor’s visa and were reportedly worried that they would be forced to return upon its expiration. Shortly after Mrs. Langner and the children left their apartment for a visit to the zoo, however, the family received a letter from the Canadian Government granting it a permanent refuge. Mrs. Langner, instead of returning home, registered at a hotel and spent the night there before taking the death lap early this morning, and thus had no knowledge of the Canadian offer.

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