Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-26
Mrs. Adam Sauer Found in a Semi
Conscious Condition.
THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN DEMENrED
Head is Battered Nearly Beyond Rec
ognition-BeIieved to Have Tried to
Commit Suicide.--No Suspicion of
Foul Play-Removed to Hospital.
[ From Monday's Daily.l

Three days without food, water or
other necessaries of life was the eXpe-
rience of Mrs. Adam Sauer, an eyed
German woman, who was discovered
this morning by Officer Quinlan lying
on the floor of her miserable howell on
Cherry street. She was Immediately
removed to the Ottumwa hospital,
where everything possible is being
done for her. The result of her expe-
rience is hard to forecast, but it IS
thought she can hardly recover. No
theory can be brought to account for
her condition, other than she may
have been in an insane condition and
tried to commit suicide. Apparently
she had battered her head against the
walls or floor of the house until she
became partly unconscious. When
found she was horrible looking
sight. Her eyes are swollen complete
ly shut, and her face horribly bruised
and cut. She had become so weak as
she lay upon the filthy floor that dirs
and coal dust had become scared in
the wounds and she was not strong
enough to remove it,
A PitiabIe Sight.
A Courier reporter was allowed to
see the woman after she had been re-
moved to the hospital, and it was in
deed a pitiable sight. She resembled
an Egyptian mummy more than hui
man being. Her fieecy white hair in.
stead of it's natural brilliancy, looked
more like that of an animal who had
wallowed in the mud for a long time.
Has Plenty Of Means.
Mrs. Sauer lives in a story and a
half frame house on Cherry street.
just in the rear of another house at
1913 South Cherry street. 1t is said
she owns both houses, and besides
this owns farm lying just south Of
the Morrell packing house. The house
at 1913 South Cherry street is occupied
| by Mrs. Emma ]. Pumroy and Mrs.
Susan Potter. The house occupied by
| Mrs. Sauer faces on the alley between
Cherry and Ash streets.
Mrs. Sauer's absence was first MOTTO
ed by Mrs. John Sehl, 124 South Cherry
street, who had not seen her for three
days She notified Mr.. Sehl this morn
ing of her suspicious and he at once
informed the police. Officer Quinlan
went to the place and broke in the
door, and there, lying in a semi-con-
scious condition was found the aged
/ woman. She was at once removed to
the hospital, which is but a short dis
lance away, and physicians were call
i ed, who have done all in their power
to alleviate her sufferings.
Her Home.
A short time after Mrs. Sauer had
been found Courier representative
was taken to her house and shown
thru. What he saw there can better
be imagined than described. The
chaos was awful. In the front room
was stove, upon which was kettle
and other cooking utensils. One OF
the vessels contained old potato par
ings, among which was mixed food
of several descriptions but in filthy
condition. The room also contained &
bed, and other household goods anG
clothing was strewn all around the
floor. Passing into the rear room
another old stove was discovered, to
gether with a wash tub. and severa
kinds of eatables all in more or Less
decayed condition. Upon ascending
pair of narrow stairs to the rooms
above was found another old bed ant
several articles of clothing. Every
thing was scattered around over tn,
floor, and the filth and dirt was some
thing terrible.
Adam Sauer the husband o
the unfortunate woman, is al
, inmate of the county poor farm. 1t il
understood the unfortunate woman il
; possessed of considerable money, bu
why she allows herself to get into sucl
) a condition cannot be told. She ha
resided in the house where she wa
} found today for the past twenty-five
years She is one of the oldes
; Germans in the city, and why she trie,
/ to end her existance is still a mystery
: An interview with Mrs. Sehl, VIII
was the first to discover her absence
reveals the fact that the woman mus
: have been insane, as she was know
L to have acted very queerly on severa
d different occasions. 1t is said Mrs
3 Sauer has no other relatives in thi
country other than her aged HUSBAND