The Butte inter mountain., 1902-11-06
CLASPED IN THE LAST EMBRACE
OF DEATH MINISTER AND HIS
ILLICIT LOVE LIE.
GERMAN BAPTIST DIVINE
HAD LED A DOUBLE LIFE
And as All Things viii Out They Die
by Asphyxistion While Together in His
Study-He Was Highly Respected
and Left Wife, While She Was a
Worker in Missionary Circles.
lBY ASSOCIATED rREss.l


Omaha, Nov. 6.-Clasped in each others
arms, lying on the floor Of the pastors
study in the German Baptist church early
yesterday. Oscar Berndes, janitor. of the
church, discovered the dead bodies of
Rev. William c. Rabe, pastor, and
Augusta Busch a missionary and assistant
to the pastor.
Death had been caused by asphyxiation.
The room was filled with gas, jet and
burner OF small stove being partly turned
on lie bodies were lying OH the foot
when found the woman's head being pill
lowed on some cushions. They had evil
IDENTIFY lain in that position Tor several
hours.
There seems to be little doubt that the
deaths were accidental 1t was believed
that the pair had fallen asleep, the fame
blew out and the gas escapec. The bodies
wer rigid and stiff and death had evident.
ly occurred during the early hours of the
previous evening. The coroner took charge
OF the remains and will hold an inquest
today.
Met the Minister.
Miss Busch roomed at the home OF
Janitor Berndes. No. 2635 Seward street.
and Rev. Rabc lived at the home of Harry
Dickson at No. 273s Parker street.
Yesterday morning Miss Busch went to
the Dickson home and remained there ali
day, and until about Q o'clock in the even
ing engaged in sewing She left for her
home at the Berndes residence alone, and
1t is thought probable that she met the
Rev. Mr.. Rabc returning home and that
the two then went to his study inn the
rear OF the church, where the tragedy oc-
Cured. They had always been good
friends, but stronger feeling is said to
have made itself APPARENT to those who
| knew them.
This morning the janitor went to the
! pastors study and found the door locked
| and the key on the inside From a crack
beneath the door he smeled the escaping
gas. Quickly he summoned the police and
the door was broken open. In the center
of the small study the bodies lay, the
heads just few feet from the door. The
| woman's face was covered with froih and
began to turn purple One gas jet over the
| pastors table was partly turned off and
from stove gas was slowly escaping. The
officers notified the coroner and the re-
mains were taken to the morgue. It wa,
thought at first the two had committed
| suicide, for on the table was an open let.
ter, neatly arranged bouquet, his watch
and glasses, and his hat her gloves and
handkerchief neatly folded.
| AS She Had Left Them.
On the back OF chair was her JACKIE,
and the room was orderly as though it had
| just been cleaned The letter was writ
ten in German and when interpreted was
found to be an answer to another lctte,
which Rev. Rabe had received and there
was nothing in it to indicate that the tive
had intended taking their lives.
Rev. Rabe was 81 years of age ane
came to Omaha from Buffalo, N. Y, wher
he was chosen pastor of the German Bap
tist church In that state he left widow
and one son, Carl. He was held in hisl
esteem by his congregation and recently
upon the occasion of his birthday, churcl
party was given in his honor He roomet
with two young men named Dickson ant
a housekeeper
Miss Busch was 81 years old and hat
been a missionary in Omaha for the las
five years. She came here from Chicago
sent by the church missionary school. She
too, was held in high esteem and was yer,
popular.