Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-08-04
NAY b mrs. A[SS
Identity Of the Woman Floater May
Be Finally Developed and the
Body Claimed.
Now Thought That She Was an
Aged Book Agent Named Emma
Hess Of Charles City.
.Latter's Father En- Route to This
City Coroner Lierle Holds
an Inquest.

q A clueito the identity of the unknown
woman found in the Iowa river three
weeks ago that Coroner Lierle and
Undertaken Wilbur have been investi-
eating may develop more than they
had hoped, and the dead woman may
possibly be Mrs. Emma Hess, of
Charles City.
About week ago Mr.. Boyd, Of Lis,
comb, reported that he believed the
woman was one seen in Lisconb and
who was travelling across the country
on bicycle, selling books. She came
TO Liscomb from Written and started
south from that place. where further
trace of her was lost. Mr.. Wilbur wrote
to the city officials at Charles City,
asking if such person as the un-
identified woman was missing from
there. but he received no answer.
Coroner Lierle also wrote to Charles
City, but With no definite result. dis
patch sent out from Charles City last
night to the newspapers throws fur
the belief that he tragedy may at last
be cleared up. The dispatch says:
Charles City, Aug. 3.Marshall-.
towns mystery bids fair to find solu-
ton from this vicinity. July Il the
body of a woman about so years of age
was found in the Iowa river at that
place. There was nothing on the per-
son to identify the unfortunate. The
remains We're taken to the undertaker's
and have been Kept there pending some
careful Investigation. A description of
the woman ana the clothing on her per-
son was sent broadcast over the state.
the name of Mrs. Emma Hess, of this
city, had been vassing for books in
Marshall county and had not been seen
or heard of since she visited Liscomb
on July 10. The undertakers wrote the
chief of police in this city. who began
an investigation. The Hess woman is
a daughter of Jefferson Mutcheler, a
swell-to-do farmer who lives five miles
north of Charles City Mutcheler has
gone to Marshalltown to see if the body
lis that OF his daughter, as the descrip-
ton tallies closely.
Mrs. Hess is the wife of a man in
South Dakota. her real name not being
Hess. She married Fred Hess, of this
city. several years ago. but secured a
divorce on the ground of drunkenness.
She had but one ctr, a boy. by Hess.
the lad now being about Is years OF
age. After securing a divorce Mrs.
Hess Went to South Dakota. where she
welded her second husband: 1t is un-
derstood she secured a divorce from
him also. For q time she kept boarders
in Charles City. and about two months
ago started canvassing for a publicl-i
tion, riding bicycle thru the country.
IF the Identification proves as is now
feared the body will be brought to
Floyd. six miles northwest of this city.
for burial
ITp.toalate hour today Mr. Mutcheler
had not arrived in the city, So far as
known, but he may come on one of the
evening trains If the body is identi-
fled as that Of Mrs. Hess. the theory
may be accepted that she fell into the
river while riding her wheel The BIZ
cycle, of course. would sink from sight.
as would also the books that she might
have had in her possession.
ANa1NQUEST HELD.
Coroner Lierle decided this morning
to hold an inquest over the remains,
preparatory to burialif nothing devel-
ops within few days. g. r. Norris.
NJ. f. Desch and L. r. Jones We're inn
panelled as a jury. But four witnesses
We're examined. These We're Mr.. and
Mrs. Julius Holm, who found the body
floating in the river: Mr.. John Pursel.
an einploye Of Densel & Wilbur, and
DIR. NJ u. Cheshire, who conducted a
post lnortem at the request of the coro-
ner. The testimony OF the latter was Of
the most Importance. and he told of the
condition of the various organs. He
said the stomach and intestines We're in
a fair state of preservation and of a
slightly red or pink color. which might
suggest arsenic poisoning. The right
kidney gave evidence of hemorrhage
but there was no diseaae present in any
.of the organs that might cause a ma
tural death. In his opinion the body
was in the water ten days or two
weeks. Tie jury returned verdict to
the effect that while the body was
found in the river, the cause of her
death is unknown to the jury.
A photograph of the body was taken
for future use if needed.