The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-26

ing in the room was a pair of rubbers.
No. 9s. which Detective Williams found
near the bureau. They are OF q pattern
no, much worn in Seattle, and this leads
to the supposition that the man who was
in the room was friend of the woman
and comparative stranger at least in
Seattle. fY vo
The detectives are so much at variance
as to the probable motive of the crime
that 1t is useless at present to speculate.
Some think that Mrs. O'Rourke had money
and careiessly showed II in some public
place; that she was followed to her room
and murdered for 1t. The majority of the
detec lives think that the murder has to do
with some event in her past life, and there
is much evidence to support this theory.
She was a woman of trials and tribulations.
Post-Intelligencer reporter established
this condition of affairs by following out
every clue obtainabie and reading some OF
her private letters.
Her Life History.
The woman obtained divorce from
James o Rourke February 3, 1893. at JEFF
ferson City, Wis. on tine ground of in
human treatment. At that time Judge
John r. Bennett granted her permission
to resume her former name. Margare,
Destling, as ii appears in the order Of
court. This last name shows the connect
ing link with the marriage certificate
found In her trunk. There was a letter
among her effects from Isaac G. Goforth,
written at the Soldiers home. Milwaukee,
Wis. March s, 1897, in which he calls her
his own dear. sweet. precious little God
blessed pet" and incidentally speaks of
himself as her husband. According TO this
&C =. Mrs. O'Rourke has had three chap
tiers OF welded bliss. There is nothing to
show how she was separated from Doerst
ling but a Post Ihtelligencer reporter saw
the order of court that separated her from
O'Rourke. Goforth is new factor. and
just when he acquired the right TO use
such sweeping terms of love and affection
toward the dead wpman is hard to figure
out.
Mr.. and Mrs. O'Rourke lived at Miwau
kee Wis. but they also lived at other
places. Cleveland being among the list. II
appears that they owned lots l and 2,
block L. in Palmers addition in Milwaukee.
Tax receipts to James O'Rourke show that
1t was worth at least $500. August s. 1894.
according TO a complaint fled in the cir
cult court at Milwaukee. in which Samuel
Lehrberg is plaintiff and James O'Rourke.
Mrs. O'Rourke and Henry j. kiiliiea are
defendants, O'Rourke borrowed $500 from
Charles K. Harris. giving as security
mortgage on the property previously men,
toned. The loan was for three years at
per cent. interest. payable semi-annually.
Harris transferred the promissory note and
mortgage TO Lehrberg. II appears from
the complaint that when Mrs. O'Rourke
got the divorce from her husband she was
given this property. She was also given
aimony OF 5000 but there is nothing 10
show that she got it, Il is said In the
complaint that O'Rourke is dead but no
place or time OF such an occurrence is
given. II this is true. one theory of the
police will receive severe blow.
Trouble I'm the O'Rourke Family.
Letters from Mrs. O'Rourke TO her hus-
band in 1894 Indicate that she had little
use FOR him. She accuses him Of leaving
her In a strange city. penniless. She says
that his objection TO her actions a, a din
ner with a stranger were innocent OF any
intent to do wrong. She asks him to for
give her, and says tina, so far as his ac-
tons went they were these OF crazy
man. She says that he was drunk. and
that he acted like a hog. She told the
bishop about him. and he said that ne was
satisfied that O'Rourke was drunk. She
closes by saving that she supposes he be-
came tired Of her and ran away.
The letter which called forth this talk
/ from Mrs. = ROurke Is brief and 10 the
point o'Rourke commands her 10 return
/ home and says that her actions with a
/ stranger at a dining table broke me all
| up"
! The suit in which the statement IS made
! that O'Rourke IS dead was brought 10 re-
| cover s. so with interest. and also secure
| the appointment Of a receiver. 1t was
| claimed that the taxes for 1894 1885 and 1876
/ had not been paid and that the property
| had not been kept insured. The eonnec-
ton OF kill!lea with the suit IS explained
| as follows: He had a mortgage suhse-
| ouent TO tina: Of Harris, and purchased at
/ sherifr's sale subject 10 the first mortgage.
/ Chief OF Police Reed was st work on
| the case all day and late last night.
| Especial attention was paid TO the state
/ ment OF Mrs O'Rourke that she was L.
| Seattle with a party bound for Alaska.
/ Detective Meredith and Deputy Sheriff A
| c. Lane took a trip 10 Ballard last night
! IN connection with this clue. They re-
/ turned al midnight
II am satisfied" said Mr. Lane ''thst
! the people we found at Ballard knew
| nothing about Mrs. ORourke. otherwise
than what they had learned on the trip
+; out from 81. Paul We found these men
| az Ballard. and they told us OF their &C
auaintanee with her. She got or the
train az Milwaukee. but they did not pay
any attention 20 her uEtii leaving 81.
| PAU She was rather free. and they
/ learned that CHE was on her way 20 Sc
/. attic. with the Intention Of getting some
/ one 10 take her 10 the klondike She
| had only $50 In cash when she lef; st.
| Paul. SO there is no chance 10 attribute
~ murder 10 robbery. do not gen