The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-17
STELLA COOKS DEATH
MYSTERY OF AN INDIANA GIRLS DIS
APPEARANCE EXPLAINED.
Further Details of the Finding of Her
in Lake Michigan.

CHICAGO, Sept. 16.-The Tribune says
With the finding in the water at the foot
of Peck court yesterday morning of the
body Of NJ. G. Van der Burg, a wealthy
resident of the Netherlands, an associate
of American capitalists and a guest at the
Auditorium Annex, the mysterious death
of Stella Cook, formerly of Darlington,
Ind, last Tuesday night, was cleared. Miss
Cook was not murdered, according to the
present belief of the police, but lost her
life with Mr.. Van der Burg by the over
turning OF a boat in which they were row.
ing.
The discovery of the Holanders body
not only cleared up the murder mystery"
but dispelled the cloud of suspicion that
has setued about Harry ThurstOn, cook on
the steamer City OF Traverse and compan-
ION OF the dead girl.
Unless unexpected evidence develops at
the coroner inquest, Thurston, VINO is
held at Mackinac island on a warrant
charging him with having guilty knowledge
OF the SIrls disappearance, VIII be set free.
This freedom VIII be as welcome uneX
pected, Tor the police had woven ABOUT
InursJon a web or circumsIantiaI evidence
which, before the finding OF Mr.. Van der
Burg ) DOdy, seemed 10 be cOnVincingly
strong. The case illustrates how apparent
~ truthful but really false evidence may
ce found against an innocent man.
Mr. Van Ger Burg BODY has been iden-
titled positively by Frank Smith, the en-
plOye or Frank DonOhue, VINO rented the
BOAT, the who went rowing with
Miss Cook. Van der Burg disappeared from
the Auditorium Annex on Tuesday evening,
and was not again heard from until has
body was found.
The body was found at 10 a. m. by John
Liebert, Waterman on scow. LiebeTt
notified the police by whom the body was
removed and taken to RolstOn's Adams
street undertaking rooms. The BODY was
that of tall. welI-built man of middle age,
md xr-la1l a., -
Stella Cook, the body was considera bly,
bruised, but only as it might have been
from the action of the waves or passing
boats.
An examination of the pockets brought to
light many papers, including a letter of
credit for $1,000, $l26.05 in cash, letters Of
introduction for Mr.. Van der Burg, show
ing him TO have been man OF wealth and
influence, and a hat check from the Audi
forum Hotel. There were also number
or rare COINS, gold ring. ana pearl stick
pin. Mr.. Van der Burg had drawn Sl25
from the Continental National Bank last
Tuesday.
Detectives Herman and Steigel who at
once took charge of the papers, went di-
rectly to the hotel, and there found that
2020 at the Annex on Monday last, Sept. g.
He had disappeared on Sept. 10. which was
the day that the Cook girl also disappeared.
He had not been seen since, though many
kilograms had come for him.
In the meantime Boatman DonOhue had
been notified and went to the undertaken s
a.. n. latter
Immediately and positively identified the
body as that of the man who went rowing
with Miss Cook on the fatal night. When
this Identification was made the detectives
who had been holding Thurston on a de-
scription given by Smith, compared the
description with the body and found that
it tailed in every discernible particular.
The drowned man was OF Thurston's
height and weight. and though they re-
sembled each other not the slightest as
seen by a casual observer, yet when their
faa fiOn
il was found that the same words described
them Ewes were the same color, muStaches
the same color ana size, noses similar
weight about the same, and yet their looks
were different, for Mr.. Van der Burg was a
typical prosperous HOllander merchant
Thurston is a steamboat cook.
Among the papers found on the drowned
man were a ticket from Chicago to New
York with berth check. steamship ticket on
the Statendam from New York for Rotter.
dam to sail last Saturday. and card of
George BirkOff. jr., the Dutch consul in
Chicago. Mr.. BirkhOff. who was communi-
Gated with at once, was able To reveal a
story almost equal in interest with that of
the HOllander's death.
According to she cOnsuls story Van Ger
Burg was a rich and influential citizen OF
Holland. having his home near The Hague
where his wife now is, but being engaged
in business in Batavia, in the East Indian
island of Java, Dutch possession. In that
city he was connected with the firm of J
Daendal & Co. shipping merchants, ORR
entail reDrcsentatives- OF a mum her of Dutch
With a view to the establishment of a
new transportation line. Van der Burg traN-
eled from Batavia TO Singapore. where he
mad large business interests, TO HOng-kOng
10 Kobe, Japan; from there To San Francis
CO. thence TO Chicago. and from here would
have gone 10 join his family in Holland.
While in this country he held conferences
with James j. Hin. president of the Great
Northern. and Horace @. Burt. president of
the Union Pacific and head of the Harri-
man syndicate.
u had heard that Mr.. Van der Burg was
coming here" said Mr. BirkhOff yesterday.
"and knew him by reputation. When he
reached this city ! was informed of the
fact by Mr. Van HObOken. son of a ROtter-
dam banker, who was awaiting Mr.. Van
der Burg in New York. Accordingly 7 in
vited MI Van der Burg 20 dine with me at
the Union League Club on Tuesday. and he
Gid So"
IL is conjectured by the detectives that in
walking back to the hotel the Hollander
met Miss Cook. made her acquaintance.
and went with her 20 the lake front for 2
row in the harbor This theory is borne
out by the testimony OF DonOhue. who saws
that the girl was in the habit Of visiting
the shore In company with men and often
engaged boats OF him. She was accom-
panied by different men on different occa-
siOns.
How the boat became overturned is not
known. ON the girls head were many
bruises and one broken oar was found.
which were at first taken as evidence that
she had been beaten TO death. Thurston
was suspected because he answered the de-
soription Of the girls companion and be-
cause he left Chicago on the evening of her
disappearance.