burgemeister

There was never any doubt that Emma Burgemeister shot and killed beer and real estate magnate Otto Koehler on November 12, 1914. The question remained: Why? The deceased was one of the wealthiest and most respected persons in the Southwest and a pillar of the community. As a result, his murder and trial drew national attention. Soon, the entire affair was one of the most famous murder cases ever tried in Bexar County-a part of Texas known to have some notorious characters.

Now, for the first time ever, MONEY, MURDER, SEX, AND BEER presents testimony from the trial, legal analysis, and other information that allows the readers to draw their own conclusions regarding the guilt or innocence of the alleged murderer. What makes the story unique is the efforts of officials in San Antonio and friends of Otto Koehler-the victim-to subvert the judicial process to avoid having the case go to trial. For a dead man with a recently spurned mistress, who could predict what secrets might come to light on the witness stand?

ROBERT L. GULLEY is a native San Antonian and experienced attorney and brings more than 30 years of legal experience to bear on the trial and coverup surrounding the murder of Otto Koehler and tells the story with a wry wit that lightens up the tale. The story is uniquely Texas, with a wealthy Texan, three women named Emma, an empire built on beer, and a trial that would prove to be as colorful as the city where it occurred. Money, beer, sex and Texas--it just can’t get any better than that.