Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-04
MYSTERIOUS DEATH
Newton Girl Victim of Criminal
Operation.
CORONER INVESTIGATES MATTER
Finds That She Came to Her Death by
Unlawful Means-Name of Person
Responsible Is Observation-Disclosures
Goes to Grand Jury.

Newton, Jan. 31.-(Special)- Resi-
dents of this place are very much con-
cerned over the sad and mysterious
death of Miss Vina Kanoble, which
occurred Tuesday morning at
o'clock. Miss Kanoble was the night
operator of the Jasper County Tele-
phone company very nice appearing
young woman, nineteen years OF age,
with handsome face and figure. For
the last several months the young lady
has made her home with Mrs. j. R.
Mershon in the Mershon block, having
formerly resided near here on a farm
with her aunt. Miss Kanoble's duties
required that she be at the telephone
office to begin work on the board at Z
p. m. each evening and she was re-
quired to stay all night, quite often
being alone the greater part of the
time when work was light. She al
ways appeared jolly and was seeming
ly liked by all who knew her as very
ladylike and beautiful girl. She had
few friends among the boys of the
town and kept company with one Or
two at occasional times. Ten days
ago she was taken sick, Mrs. Mershon
supposing that shewas simply tired out
and suffering from cold and loss of
sleep. A physician was called select
ed by the girls wish and Mrs. Mersh-
on and the friends could not under
stand why this certain doctor was call
ed and urged the calling of another.
1t was not until the girl was in a dan
gerous condition that Mrs. Mershon
learned the girls secret when Other
physicians were called and found that
an abortion had, in their belief, been
committed and that the girl, suffering
terrible pain, had but a few hours to
live. A short time before she
died she gave the name of the man
who had wronged her and asked to be
relieved Of her suffering. After the
girls death coroner's jury composed
of Ralph Graham, A. H. Brous and G.
o. Edge was impanneled. with L. D..
Reid as clerk. Coroner Jacobs spent
all day yesterday in examining wit
nesses and it was ascertained that the
girl but few days before her sick
ness went to a physicians Office and
told her trouble and asked him for re-
ef, which he promptly refused as did
| also the second doctor to whom she
went. About an hour after her visit
to the first physician she returned
with the same request and had been
waiting in the Office for the doctors
arrival. After she had left the office
the doctor discovered that one of his
instruments which he had left expos
ed, on the table, and one which might
be used for the purpose she would
want, was missing. This instrument
was found in the girls rooms after
her death and identified as the one
missing from the physicians Office.
The body was taken to the country for
burial before the coroner could order
a post-mortem examination made but
the body will be exhumed.
The jury after very careful inquest
late yesterday afternoon rendered a
verdict as follows: I'VE the jury find
that Vina Kanoble, came to her death
as a result of criminal operation per
formed by persons or person whose
names are to the jury unknown. No
arrests have been made but the officers
believe that they know the wrong doel
and the seducer has testified that the
girl told him that she had had the op
GRAFTON performed.
Il Miss kanoble was seen on the strets
almost every pleasant afternoon and
!, no one, not even Mrs. Mershon, with
whom she rOomed suspected until hel
sickness, the girls condition. She has
three sisters, living on farm neal
J here, also an aunt, Mrs. John Propp
but her parents are dead. The mat
ter will be reported to the grand jury
which meets next week and there is
no doubt that an indictment will BIZ
returned charging some one with the
murder. of the girl unless it can be
shown that the wounds were self in
fiicted.