The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1896-09-24
MURDER OR SUICIDE? ?
MRS. MOHR's DEATH MAY HAVE BEEN
EITHER.
CIRCUMSTANCES DON'T PROVE
It is Possible That She May Have Hung
Herse1f.-Few Marks of Violence
Found Upon the Body, but
the Money is Gone.

The publication Of the fact that Mrs.
Katharine Mohr had met sudden and
violent death at her home in Somers
some time Monday, proved genuine
sensation Tuesday evening. This
paper was the first agency which in
formed not only the public but the
city and county authorities as we'll, of
the awful deed, and for that reason
some of our people felt disposed to cry
" fake" and did so Justify and accused
this paper Of having Intentionally
cooked up the story and sprung it on
the public knowing it to be wrong and
without foundation in fact.
Unfortunately the story is too we'll
founded in fact. Mrs. Mohr is dead.
She was so discovered by her son
Andrew, and under such circum-
stances as to make not only himself but
others who viewed the scene believe
that the aged lady had been foully
dealt with.
When this paper was read by our
authorities Tuesday evening they were
surprised. Not word had been sent
to either District Attorney Buckmaster
nor to Sheriff Cropley, and this not
withstanding the fact that Mrs. Mohr
had been found dead at about 2 O'Clock
in the afternoon of Monday.
M. B. Bowker, one Of the jurors who
sat in the inquest, was in the city late
Tuesday afternoon and he was the first
one to say anything to District Attor-
ney Buckmaster about the affair.
He said he had been at the house and
viewed the remains. The body was
found in sitting position mostly in
the sitting room of the house, the head
and shoulders being partially inclined
toward the bed room of Andrew.
There was a stout cord about the
neck, the end of which was fastened
to the door latch or hook. The head
was suspended about two inches from
the floor, which would seem to preclude
the theory of suicide.
SO far as the jury could discover
there were no other marks of violence
upon the body except the line around
the neck where there was discoloration
owing to strangulation. The only
theory which would seem to account
for this fact would be that Mrs. Mohr
was very old, being Is years of age,
and would not, therefore, be able to
resist very much any attack upon her.
Andrew, the son, who was bachelor
and lived with his motto :, had been
here in Kenosha during Monday fore
noon for the purpose of purchasing
some groceries and other goods. He
left his mother in good health and
spirits for such an old lady. She was
particular when he went away to tell
him to get a better quality of coffee
than he had got the last time. The
old lady stood at the door to see him
drive away, and showed not the least
sign of melancholy. When he returned
in the afternoon he unhitched the
horse, took the groceries into the house
and took off his coat. Ia the dining
room he noticed that some one had
been eating This he thought to be
very unusual, since his mother always
waited for his return before she ever
partook Of any meal. He saw q con-
siderable sugar on the table, which
was another strange circumstance,
since his mother was never in the habit
of using it.
When he stepped into the sitting
room to find his mother was when he
discovered the results of the awful
deed. The sight which met his eyes
completely unnerved him. He saw the
position of the body and at once went
to it. Whipping out knife he cut the
cord and called to his mother to speak
to him. He got no reply. The cold
and lifeless form was beyond all re-
Spouse to earthly things. Apparently
the body had lain dead for some time.
A moment or two later Andrew
rushed out to notify the neighbors and
called a physician, but the latter could
render no assistance. The in-estiga-
tions of the neighbors showed that
there could not have been much OF a
struggle since Mrs. Mohr's clothing
was not ruffled; her spectacles laid on
the kitchen table; one slipper was OFT,
and beyond the general disturbance OF
the big chest and the missing of the $50
there seemed to be nothing to indicate
that there had been any foul play. It
was very evident that the chest had
been opened with an ak. The money
was what had been collected for the
sale of COW the day or two previous.
Under the circumstances there is
considerable doubt as to whether it
was a case of murder, or suicide COM
mitted in a state of dependency.
There would seem to be more evidence
to support the theory that it was
murder and that the fend who com
mitted it was shrewd enough to cover
up his tracks in most thorough fash