Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-24

in Coroner j. w. Schultze's Office on
the South Side, and some very sensa-
tional testimony was given Only six
OF the witnesses who have been sum
moned were called to the stand. They
were Madame Schmalzers husband, the
dead girls mother, two women living
near the Schmalzer home. DR.. B. d.
Best, one of the attending physicians
and DR.. Megrail, one of the county
physicians. The other witness who
Will testify to-day are DraA. B. Tibbs.
of Bridgeport; DR.. Z. L. Armbrecht,
DR.. F. B. Ridgeway, Madame Schmal-
ger, State Humane Officer Echols,
Mrs. Garrison and Mrs. Wagner.
AS is knowa Della Gaines, a young
girl, from Metz. in Marion county, died
recently under suspicious Circumstance
es at the home of Madame Schmalzer,
near Elm Grove. Since then the
Wheeling authorities have been COM
municating with the Pittsburg au-
thorities and very carefully investigat-
ing the case in other directions in
hopes of gathering evidence, which
might lead to the identity of the man
who accompanied the girl to the
Schmalzer home. 1t is learned that he
gave the name of Wilson to some,
while he is known to others as J. N.
Lowery. 1t is said that he was lately
a telegraph operator in Marion coun-
ty and has interests in the oil fields
in the interior of the State. Owing
to the fact that the evidence in the
case is rather lengthy and complicated
it was necessary to continue the in
quest until this evening. Madame
Schmalzer was unable to be present
last evening, being confined to her
home suffering from heart disease.
Coroner Schultze, Prosecuting Attorn-
ey Meyers and Stenographer Schrader
will therefore make a trip this alter
noon to the home Of the witness to
take her testimony.
Madame Schmalzer's husband, who
was the first witness called, testlhed
that he had lived near Elm Grove for
about month, and since he moved
out there he has been devoting his
time to taking care of his place. He
formerly worked at the Wheeling steel
plant, and in fact has been mill man
all his life He said that the girl was
accompanied to his home by man OF
the name of Wilson, and that he
claimed that they were married. lie
had questioned the mail carrier as to
letters which had been received at his
home, some of which were addressed
to Della Gaines and others to Della
Wilson. The girl remained at the
house and the man occasionally took
trips.
The witness claimed that 1.-The cou-
pie came to board with him while he
was living on South Main street, about
three months before he moved to the
country. He did not notice that the
girl was sick until one of his friends
called his attention TO it. He also
stated that the girl appeared to be
pregnant. When he moved to the
country he dismissed all his boarders
excepting the couple, because the girl
wished to remain. He had spoken very
little 10 the man because he was con
tlnuously boozing or travelling. He
had later learned that the mans name
was Lowery instead of Wilson. The
girl had been sick two weeks before
she died and he saw her only occa-
sionally during That time.
Did you know what allied the girl?'
was asked.
No, do not" replied the witness.
Did you never question her hus-
band as to her illness?'
Yes, but he never would tell me-"
so your wife never told you that
an abortion had been performed?"
mo sir
Now. did you never tell Mr.. Echols
that there had been a MISCARRIAGE"
Yes, l told him that because
heard it from the neighbors.'
WAS an abortion ever performed at
your homer"
mo sir"
The witness further testified that the
girls mother came to see her two OF
three days after she took i'll. Mr.
Schmalzer also testified that the cir
and man had been absent together
from the house for about three-quar.
tiers of day.
Dead t4iri's Mother Tcstifies.
Mrs. Brown, the girls mother. was
next called, and stated that she had
been at Metz, in Marion county, for
five years. Her daughter had lived at
home until tG.s summer, when she
came to Wheeling, but she did not
She did not know her daughter was al
Sehmalzer's until she telephoned for
her.
What was this Mr.. Lowery's or Mr.
Wilson's business?"
"He was telegraph operator at
Metz.
What do you know of him."
We'll he was of a respectable fam
lily and was all right. excepting that
he drank"
She said that she had been led tc
believe that he would take her to
Wheeling, where he would marry her
as soon as he could get divorce from
his wife. She also had observed that
the girl was sick before leaving home
and suspected Lowery or Wilson
However, she had never been led to
suspect it by his conduct. Her daugh-
ter was in Wheeling two or three days
L.