Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-09
4 SUSPICIOUS CASE.
DELLA GAINES, DIED EARLY YES
TERDAY MORNING NEAR
ELM GROVE,
POSSIBLY AS A REsUL T
OF a Criminal observation-disclosures
Making an investigation - An
Autopsy Held Last Night-The Girl
Was Accompanied by a Man
Thought to be j. HI. Lowry, to the
Home of Madame Schmalzer.

Della Gaines. girl twenty years OF
age, whose home was AT Metz, a small
town this side of Warrington, died
yesterday morning at one o'clock at the
home OF Madame Schmalzer. near Elm
Grove, possibly, in the opinion of the
authorities, from the effects of Grim
inal operation. Coroner ]. w. Schultze.
who was soon notified, at once began
an investigation and the young girls
remains were brought to Foster C
Watkins undertaking establishment,
where post-mortem examination was
held last night at half-past nine O'Clock.
The examination was conducted by
DR.. E. L. Armbrecht and DR.. w. P. Me-
grail, the county physicians, assisted
by Drs. A. B. Tubbs of Bridgeport; D..
r. Best, F. B. Ridgeway and w. c..
Etzler
Just what the autopsy developed was
not divulged, the physicians reserving
their conclusion for the Jury, which
will be empanelled by the coroner to-
day. The inquest will not be held I'M
til a further investigation is made.
1t is learned that the girl was ac-
companied to the Schmalzer house last
May by a man, who Claims to be her
husband, and that they gave the name
CT Wilson. 1t is said that it later de-
veloped that the man was passing I'M
der an assumed name, When 1t was dis
covered that he had left at the house a
letter mailed at Pittsburg and address,
ed to ]. M. Lowry. DR.. Best was first
called to the Schmalzer house to at
tend the girl on the morning of July
10Th, and found that she was suffering
from high fever.
DR.. Etzler was summoned in consul
tation by Dr. Best in the afternoon of
that day, and again visited the patient
on August 31st. He stated that he ac-
companied DR.. Best and 1t was found
IAoC IAO Slll Hdu SY ulpIOluS VI DlOOIl
poison. DR.. Tubbs, of Bridgeport, was
also called on July 31st and has been
with the patient every night since, ex-
cepting Thursday night of last week.
He was at the bedside of the girl when
she passed away yesterday morning.
Everything possible was attempted by
the physicians to improve the girls
condition, but all to no avail Ow-
ing to the suspicious nature of her dis
ease, DR.. Best thought it advisable to
call the coroner's attention to the case.
The Gaines girls mother and broth
er were with her for three days before
she died and are reported to be grief
stricken. 1t is said that the girl left
home in company with the man and it
is thought by some that it is a case of
misplaced confidence on the part of the
mother.
The Schmalzer woman conducts a
millinery store on Main street opposite
the Exchange bank building and was
formerly located in the same business
on Main street, below Twenty first
Several parties who viewed the girls
remains, say that they have seen her
at various times in this city in the last
few years. The man is said to be en-
gagged in the oil business in the Sis
tersville and Warrington fields. He
left Elm Grove early yesterday morn
ing. so it is said, boarding a train for
Pittsburg, and his action is thought to
render the circumstances more conspic-
uouS