The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-11
FOUND DEAD ON THE TRACKS
CATHERINE PUMMERL MEETS
A VIOLENT DEATH
RatirOsad Tracks Beneath the
North End of the Westminster
Street BridEe-BOth Legs Severed
below the Knees-COrOner Be-
1ieves 1t to Have Been Accidental.

ieves 1t to Have Been Accidental.
The dead body of Catherine Pun
merl, an aged woman formerly living
with relatives at 70 Maryland avenue,
was found on the Omaha railroad
tracks, under the north end Of the
Westminster street bridge, shortly
after o'clock yesterday morning.
Both legs had been severed below the
knees. and the body was cold
Coroner Nelson visited the scene,
and, after an investigation extending
throughout the day, decided that the
old woman's death was due to acct
dent.
The body was found by Officer Menu
ky. Of the Margaret street station,
while he was walking across the tracks
to a beat which he covers after 3
o'clock. The body lay just below the
bridge wall with the limbs resting on
the rail. Several trains had doubtless
passed over the body. as the flesh and
bones were completely severed.
The fact that there was very little
blood beneath the severed members
and that no bruises or wounds Of any
nature were found on the body gave
rise to suspicion that the old woman
might not have been killed by the cars.
but Coroner Nelson says there is moth
ing to indicate foul play. Relatives
OF the dead woman, however, are not
altogether satisfied with the accident
version or her death, and the police
are working on the case with a view
to tracing her movements up TO the
time she was killed.
Inc relatives have as yet been unable
to find certificate Of deposit on the
Germania bank, where, it is said. the
dead woman had several hundred dol
lars. They claim that Miss Pummerl
carried the certificate in the bosom Of
her dress, but 1t was not found on the
body. The dead woman's purse was
found in her pocket, but was empty.
another suspicious circumstance. in
the minds Of the relatives, is that a.
basket. In which the old woman gen
orally took home edibles, was found
wall. ~ i0ee
coroner Nelson's theory is that the
woman started to reach the railroad
tracks by descending the step forma-
Ilon or the bridge wall, and that she
fell across the rail-, where. living in
conscious. she was run over by the
cars. NO inquest will be held.
Inc oead woman earned a living bv
Scl uoplllg out stores and saloons. She
llVed with her niece, Mrs. John Fehr
whose nome she left Saturday morning
at o:5O o'clock This was the last heard
Oh her by her relatives until they learn
ed OF her death, but Mr. Fehr learned
Sssteroay that the dead woman had
VISITED krammers saloon, on Waba-
Sna street, near Eighth, about 3 O'clock
in the afternoon.
Mf. Fehr says he was told bv tha
bartender that Miss Pummerl left the
saloon with neighbor, living near the
GOrnlan school, whom she asked to
take her home in his buggy. To learn
Whefe the woman was from the time
she left the saloon until she was killed
is the object Of the police investiga-
ton.
Coroner Nelson says that in his in
qulries he learned that the dead won
an was confirmed inebriate and was
frequently overcome by LIQUOR. AS a.
rule she reached her home before 10
o'clock, usually proceeding across the
Mississippi street bridge. The coroner
thinks she became confused in going
nome saturday night and wandered to
the Westminster street bridge.
This bridge is two blocks east Of the
mississippi street crossing, and when
the woman realized that she had got
ten out of her usual route, Coroner
Nelson thinks she determined uDOn
short cut through the railroad wards
which she tried to reach by climbing
down the bridge wall. On the fifth
step, where the basket was found. it
is believed the woman lost her balance
and fell. The distance to the tracks
is about fifteen feet. In the fall, the
coroner says. the woman was undoubt-
eddy rendered unconscious and Law
across the rail where she was run over
The dead woman was fifty-one years
of age and unmarried. She had lived
In st. Paul twelve years, up to two
months ago living with her sister, Mrs.
Frank Kinderrnan, of IS Jessamine
street, where the body was removed to
await burial