The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-06
A WOMAN'S STRANGE STORY
A Downward Career Ending in Death
Under Suspicious Circumstances.
Intimate Friends-Coroner WagEer's In
vestigation Into the Causes of Her Death.

The somewhat tragic death of Mrs. Lizzie
Shafer, Wednesday night, still remains Swallowed
in mystery, though there were some develop
ments yesterday that confirm the belief that
death did not result from natural causes The
husband. whose strange conduct gave rise to
suspicion, is still at home and appears to be
panied at the sudden dsath of his wife. After
he came home. yesterday morning. he refused
to allow the body to be removed from the little
room in which the woman died, and himself
made preparations for the burial, which will oc-
cur after the coroner is through with the body.
Coroner Wagner instituted an investigation
Yesterday morning. The body was carefully
examined, but showed no marks of violence
except slight bruise on the head Last even
ing Drs. Wagner and Slime held post mortem ex-
animation, and in the stomach were found traces
of morphine opium. The blood was also
found to be impregnated with the drugs and
the examination left room to doubt that the
woman to her death from poisoning.
Whether it was administered by her own hands,
or by some one else there is evidence yet to
show. This morning the taking of testimony
from occupants of the block with reference to
Mr.. Skaters treatment of his wife, and the
threats he had made against her, will begin.
The deceased, her friends say, has recently been
addicted to excessive drink, and many believe
that she came to her death It her own hands by
taking opium, and then drinking excessively.
1t learned yesterday that the woman's
life had been eventful and somewhat romantic.
She came to indianapolis in 1880, and soon
afterward, being without friends or money,
made her home with Mr.. Sailie Mcclure, WHO
now resides at No. 162 West Washington street.
To Mrs. Mcclure she told her history, and
showed letters and papers supporting it. During
the last year she also related her story to one
or two other confiding friends. but it was never
told to her husband Last night Mrs. Mcclure
repeated the story to a Journal reporter
The womans maiden name was Clara
Belle Smith. She was born in
Manchester, England, and was of ricn
with Polish Jow by the name OF Joseph Rit-
tenoerg, and engaged herself to marry him.
When her father was informed of the proposed 6
marriage he opposed it, and told her if she mar
ried the Hebrew he would disnherit her. Against
his wishes. however. she ran away with Ritten-
berg, and was married to him in Blackburn,
England. After they had lived in that place
eighteen months her father wrote her letter.
telling her that he was about to make his will.
and promising to give her share of his estate
if she would desert Rittenberg month
berg and decided to escape him by
coming to this country and then,
in a few years. return to her home and claim her
share OF her fathers fortune. In the latter part
of 1879, she did desert her husband. and took
passage for America She landed at Quebec. and
being out of money she joined Kings variety
show, which was then in that town. Six weeks
later she went to Chicago with the troupe, and
by chance there saw an advertisements her hus-
band mad inserted in New York paper, stating
that he had come to America, and desired to
see her. the advertisements was unanswered,
as Mrs. Shafer still intended to 60 back to her
home in the course of few years and claim her
share OF her fathers estate.
After she had been in Chicago few weeks
she became acquainted with Dan BuskirE, a
fa1 49, ~ l.
company and come With him to this city. Here
they passed as man and wife, and occupied rooms
on South Mississippi street. They had not been
here more than a month when Buskirk deserted
her. and as she had made the acdaaintanee-sys
Mrs. Mcclure she went to her house to live tenn
porarly To Mrs Mcclure she exhibited the
also showed the copy of the New York paper
containing the advertisement inserted by her
husband. She renamed at Mrs. McClure's a
few months and then found position as do
mestic at the St Charles Hotel, where she re-
manned until she married Shafer, three years
ago
England, and learned that her father dead.
She also ascertained that Gutenberg, her
fret husband. is now prominent
business in Boston, being the
of great rubber-goods fac
tory Mr.. Rittenberg, the letters from her
mother said, was still continuing the search for
his lost wife, and frequently wrote back to Eng
land to know if she had returned to her hoc.e.
1t was Mrs. Skaters intention to return to her
home some time.
Only few weeks ago Mrs Shafer gave to Lou |
living at No. &c South Missouri street,
letter she had received from her mother two |
years ago, and asked her to keep it and notify |
her mother of her death if it should ever come |
suddenly. This seems to strengthen the theory |
Of suicide. The letter Mrs. Killian has is a |
short and contains nothing of parric- |
ular interest It is written from 120 |
Snig Book, Blackburn. Lancashire. England, |
VIII ich indicates that the residence of the mother |
has changed since Mrs. Shafer left home. The |
letter acknowledges the receipt of missive !
from the deceased, and asks if ahe has ever seen
Joe. referring to Rittenberg. 1t is sigued by |
Anna Smith The friends of the unfortunate |
woman will write to England, telling the mother |
IF her daughters death, and the officials intend |
20 write to Mr. Rittenberg, of Boston, and ascer |
,aln whether or not he is in reality husband |
IF the woman