The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-07-20
UNSPEAkABLY SAD.
Tho Doad Body of Mrs. w. D.
elessner Found in the Creek
BY THE OLD HEMPFIELD BRIDGE
Sunday Forcnoon.--LaborinG Under
Mental Alteration she Leaps from q
Window, yanders to the Crock and
browns Herself

Laughlin mill, and daughter OF Mr..
George R. Taylor, was found in Wheel
ing creek near the B. & 0. stone bridge
by the tunnel in the east end OF town
about II o'clock Sunday forenoon, near
ly thirty.two hours after she disap-
paared from the residence OF DR.. i. O.
McNlaster, on Chapline street. There
was confused wound on the right side
OF her forehead, and just below her
knees both legs were badly bruised.
Thomas Clarke, jr., was passing over
the bridge when he glanced down in the
creek and saw by pile Of driitwood u
white object, which OH q second glance
appeared to be body. Ed Fisher and
Charles Gillespie, two boys, came up
Just then, and Clarke called their at
tention to it. The three resolved to in
vcStigato, and going to the edge OF the
pool. ROT skill and rowcd to the spot
The object which had attracted their
attention proved to be the body OF i
woman. One OF the boys held the body
while the other aided Clarke to clear
away the drift and the body was placed
in the skilf and brought to shore.
News Of the discovery was circulated
rapidly, and everybody concluded at
once that it was the body OF Mrs,
GIessner, whose mysterious disappear
ance had stirred the community deeply.
The patrol wagon was summoned, and
in the absence OF Coroner Phillips
Squire Il. II. Gillespie emp0neled jury
and held an inquest.
TIE INQUEST.
The jury was composed of MesFs.
Henry Brooks, S. J. Hartzog, Thomas
Norton, David Powell James Crum-
backcr, Ed. Weitzel, Thomas Thoner,
Peter Nau, Robert Hartman, George
Christman, II. ]. Kerner and George
Werner. After these gentlemen had
been sworn the body was removed to n
hOuse-boat mOored near where it was
found, and the testimony OF Thomas
Clarke, jr., and the two boys was take n.
They deposed to the circumstances as
already narrated, saying the body was
resting face down, partly on the drift
lodged against the bridge.
The inquiry was then suspended, and
the Jurors accompanied the remains to
Mendel 4 Co.'s undertaking rooms,
where the body was prepared for burial
by the sympathetic hands OF ladies,
friends OF the dead woman.
One of the jurors had expressed de-
sire to hear the statement OF Sarah Ste.
phens, the nurse who was in charge OF
the patient at DR.. McNIastcr's, and that
OF the doctor, and they were sum
mOned.
Miss Stephens said that Mrs. Glcsner
had been restless during the night and
had risen from bed about midnight
The witness waited on her and she
finally returned to bed. About half.
past three the patient again arose and
seemed to be searching for something
in the clothes press, in the corner by
the window. Miss Stephens asked ii
she should turn on the electric light,
and Mrs. Glessner answered. "Yes, !
wish You would" She turned to do so,
and heard noise which caused her to
glance around. The fly screen OF the
window had been opened and Mrs.
Glessli Ter had disappeared.
SIZE SEEMED UNIuRT.
The afErightcd nurse ran to the win
dow SO quick that the screen in descend.
ing struck her nose. She looked out
and saw Mrs. Glessner lying on the
pavement. She called to her, asking ii
She was hurt, but Mrs. Glcssner did not
respond, but rose instantly and walked
back into the yard. She did not limp,
nor make any sign that she was injured
by the fall upon the wooden step and
brick pavement ten or twelve feet below.
Miss Stephens alarmed the household
and went out to search for the missing
woman. She was soon joined by many
neighhors and by police officers, but no
trace OF Mrs. Glessner could be found.
Mrs. Buchanan, an aged lady who
lives next door to DR.. MCMastCr, was
awake ut the time OF the occurrence,
and heard Mrs. Glcssner strike the
wooden step, which covers an opening
into the cellar, and which was turned
upon its edge by her fall.
Miss stephens added that Mrs. Glcss-
nor had been under her care at DR.. Nc
Masters four weeks last Tuesday.
DR.. McNIaster testified to the facts so
far as they were within his knowledge
He advanced the theory that Mrs.
Glessner had sprung from the window
hcadforemost, but had turned over in
the fall and struck on her knees, intlict-
ing the bruises found on her body.
THE VERDICT.
The Doctor said in answer to query
that Mrs. Glessner was insane. At
times she was rational enough, and at
other times entirely irresponsible. 1t
was customary to give her a mild opiate
in tho evening, to induce sleep, but
Friday night at 10 o'clock, when he last
saw her, she seemed in such good con.
dition that tho dose was omitted.
After due consideration the jury re-
turned the following verdict:
I'VE, the jurors impanelcd and sworn
by r. u. Gillespie, n Justice OF the
peace in and for Ohio county, W. Va,
10 inquire and true prcsentment make
in what manner and by what means
Mrs. Ella Glcssner, there lying dead,
camo TO her death, do find that the said
Mrs. Glessner came to her death by
drowning in Wheeling creek, in Ohio
county, W. Va, while laboring under a
temporary III Of insanity.
"THoMAs TuoNEI, Foreman"
At 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon the
body was taken to the residence Of Mrs.
Glessners father, Mr.. George r. Taylor,
at the corner Of Fourteenth and jacob
streets.
SEARCHING FOR MRS. GLEssSER.
When the TACT that the poor woman