The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-08-02
4 MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY
Murder or Suicide +?
Man and Wife Quarrel on the Gov
eminent Bridge, and the W0m-
an Finds Watery Grave.
The Body Caught on a Trot Line,
Developments at the Inquest
1t hooks Like Murder.

Shortly after 10 O'Clock Saturday night
the republican politicians still lingering
on Second avenue discussing the results
of the caucuses, were surprised and
startled at seeing the horse attached to
the city patrol wagon going up the street
at full run, with City Marshal Eckhart
holding the reins and whipping the ani>
NAL at every jump At first it was sup
posed tina: he was bearing the returns of
the Second ward caucus to the Union Of
fee, but subsequent inquiry illicited the
information that he was hurrying 10 the
government bridge where a mysterious
tragedy had been enacted and his services
were required as an officer of the law.
At the guard house at this end of the
bridge. he found man in custody of
Guard Ashby, whom he had arrested up
on the horrible suspicion of
THROWING A WOMAN FROM THE BRIDGE
into the treacherous water below The
following circumstances were stated by
the guard
About $50 o'clock man and woman
went upon the west walk of the bridge
from Davenport and proceeded toward
the island, and in minute after a man
who was alone walked after them, fol,
lowing the couple at distance of twen>
ty-fve to thirty feet. The couple engaged
in earnest conversation until they arrived
in about the center of the south channel
of the draw, when the woman went
over the railing somehow. and dropped
into the water, giving a piercing scream
as she did so, and renewing the piercing
and agonizing screams as she floated
down the channel Tue man who was
with her walked coolly ahead, aud Guard
Ashhy stopped him and asked him who
was screaming. He denied knowledge of
it at first, but the unknown man came
forward and said woman had plunged
into the river. The prisoner said he
didn't know who she was at first, and
then said the woman was his wife.
The guard asked the witness what he
couldn't tell from where he was whether
the msn lifted her upon the railing and
pushed her off, or whether she sprang
upon the railing and
PLUNGED INTO THE WATER
of her own accord. The distance from
the railing is about thirty feet at this
stage of the river, there being some
twelve to fifteen feet of water there, low
as the river is above and below
Meanwhile Engineer Cazalte and his
fireman rushed down from their post,
jumped into a Yawl, and put out for the
rescue Of the woman, who was floating
and visible, and screaming at the top of
her voice, for fifty feet or more below the
place where she fell, but before they
could get near her she sank, and did uot
rise again They rowed on, however,
thinking she might rise, but she did not
appear again
HIS NAME IS B0ETTGER.
The prisoner refused to tell his
name or say anything about the woman
Hho had gone from his side to death, He
WAS identified, however, by Guard John
Martens, at the north end of the bridge,
as John Boettger. He formerly lived in
Davenport, but has worked III feed
store and saw mill in this city for some
time past. The woman, who was in the
river, was his wife. Her maiden name
was Della Huss, daughter OF Hans
Huss, a carpenter Of Davenport, residing
at 1851 West Fourth street five years ago
when he died. Della aud Boettger were
married about three years ago, when
Della was eighteen years of age. They
did not live happily together, because Of
the
HUSBANDS JEALoUsLY.
They separated about fifteen months ago
A boy was born to them that died last
fall when veal old. Boettger left Dav
export and went to Muscatine, and about
year ago came back with the intention
Of getting divorce, but aid not enter suit.
The couple have been living apart, the
husband paying occasional visits to his
wife, who worked out as domestic
Two days ago she was hired by Mrs
Charles Biederbecke, of Davenport, and
went TO work in the residence.
Boettger talked with Mr.. Martens in
the guard house. He said that he went
to see his wife Saturday evening. aud
asked her to come to this city with hun.
She consented, and they walked together
to the bridge. On the way he told her
that friend of his had seen her riding
in buggy with certain young man
and she became angry, and they were
talking roughly to each other until she
suddenly jumped over the railing and
into the river, and the first he knew of
it, he heard her scream He conveyed
the impression that he was little ahead
of her when she did it.
The man who witnessed the plunge
said Beettger walked right along when
his wife jumped and screamed as if moth
ing had happened, but he could not tell
whether he was at her side when she did
/ it or not. This witness was permitted to
/ 60 his way, and it is not known who he
! is fhnuUh IL il said he is a Sypda who