Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-27
PETERSON MYSTERY DEEPENS
Further Evidence that Servant Girl Died
BY Violenos.
PHYSICIANS COMPLETE AN EXAMINATION
Detectives Expect to Uneartb Some
Interesting Evidence before the
Coroner's Jury--Injuries Could
Not Have Resulted from Fall.

The physicians who conducted the post
morten examination upon the body Of Mary
Peterson, the domestic VINO was found
dead Monday morning In the home Of J. 8.
Collins, I'LL Burt street, where she was
employe ed. are prepared to testify at the in
quest to be held today that the woman
came to her death as the result OF blow
or blows received upon the face and fore
head.
The doctors have n.ade an informal re-
port to the coroner which Is to the efect
that the injuries she received could not
have been caused by her falling forward
upon her face. The report also says that
the blows were delivered before death,
which fact Is established by the black
a,d-blue appearance OF the bruises. The
report. in substance. follows:
Mary Peterson died OF a truamatic In
Jury OF the nose and frontal sinus, causing
a severe concussion Of the brain. 1t Is
not likely that such injuries could have
been caused by her fall
The post -mortem examination which was
In progress all day Monday disclosed the
fact that the woman's nose was broken, and
that there was a clot OF blood upon the
brain Just back OF the base of the nose
This evidently had been caused by blow
The heart, liver, lungs and all other vital
organs were in normal condition. The fact
that the woman's tongue was lacerated az
though chewed led to the supposition that
she might have taken poison, and for this
reason the stomach was removed and II
now in the laboratory OF DIR. w. r. Laven.
der, who has subjected 1t to an examination
lie says he can detect the presence Of nc
noxious substance.
Monday afternoon two detectives were
detailed on the case and Tuesday the
force was doubled. Sergeant weisenburg
Detectives Mitchell and Heitfeld and ofiicer
Davis are now investigating It. It is under
stood that the father OF the woman's un-
born child is known to the police and that
an arrest may be expected within the next
twelve hours.
The body has been embalmed and inter-
ment will be deferred until after the in
quest, that the Jurors may have an oppor-
tunity to examine the wounds that caused
death.
Two brothers Of the deceased arrived in
the city yesterday morning. They are Axtel
Peterson of Brookline. Ia, and G. II. Peter
son OF Monda, Mont. In referring to the
death OF his sister, Axtel Peterson said:
Il can't understand how she could have
received those injuries by simply falling
forward upon her face, as the carpet would
have broken the force Of the fall. And be-
sides, the wounds are 30 distributed over
her face that they could not have been made
by falling upon a nat surface. am salts
fed that she has met with some foul play,
but until / have Investigated tho matter
further l don't care to discuss 1t In detail
All that I can say now is that the case re-
quires further Investigation"
It was learned from the brothers that the
dead woman was 90 years old. Her parents
are still in Sweden and she has three
brothers and three aunts in the United
States. The other brother lives at Rock
ford. ILL.,. but they have not been able to
locate his street address as yet Mary
Peterson had lived In Omaha since 1894 and
had been in the employ of Mr.. Collins since
1897.
Among those who viewed the body yes
terday was Miss Maria Hoinass, president
Of the Scandinavian Young Woman's Chris
tian Association OF America. 201s Davenport
street, Of which the deceased was n charter
member. Miss Hoinass speaks In the highest
terms of the dead woman. She was In con-
sultation with the ofncers and detectives
for an hour this morning and. II Is under
stood, gave them information which will
enable them to work intelligently on the
case. II was learned that the deceased was
on confidential terms with Miss Hoinass and
that the latter will make some interesting
disclosures at today's inquest.
The funeral will be at o'clock this after
noon from the coroner's rooms; intermen
in Mount Hope cemetery.