Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-31
THE KN|B[E MYSTERY
Further Particulars Of the Death
OF VIVA Knoble at Newton
Thursday.
Matter OF Her Death Will Be Re.
ported to the Grand
Jury.
Evidence Indicates Physician
Was Not to Blame for
Her Death.
Special to Times Republican


| Newton, Jan. 31.-Residents of this
I place are very much concerned in the
sad and mysterious death of Miss Vina
Knoble. which occurred Tuesday morn
ing at o'clock. Miss Knoble, was the
night operator of the Jasper County
Telephone Company, a very nice APP
pearing young lady, 10 years of age,
with a handsome face and figure. For
the last several months the young lady
has made her home with Mrs. j. X.
Mershon, in the Mershon block, having
formerly resided near here on farm
required that she be at the telephone
office to begin work on the board at Z
p. m. each evening and she was re-
CURED to stay all night quite often be-
ing alone the greater part of the time
when work was light. She always APP
peared jolly and was seemingly liked by
all who knew her as q very lady-like
and beautiful girl. She had few
friends among the boys of the town, but
kept company with one or two at &C.
casional times Ten days ago she was
taken sick, Mrs. Mershon supposing
that she was simply tired out and suf-
fering from cold and loss of sleep. A
physician was called, selected by the
girls wish. and Mrs. Mershon and the
friends could not understand why this
certain doctor was called, and urged
the calling of another. 1t was not un
til the girl was in a dangerous condi-
ton that Mrs. Mershon learned the
girls secret, when other physicians
were called and found that an abortion
and that the girl, suffering terrible
pain. had but a few hours to live. But
short time before she died she gave the
name of the man who had wronged her
and asked to be relieved from her suf-
fering. After the girls death a coro-
ner's jury, composed of Ralph Graham,
A. FL. Brous and c. o. Edge was inipan-
eled. with l.. ID. Reid as clerk Coroner
Jacobs spen, all day yesterday in ex-
aiming witnesses and it was ascer-
tanned that the girl but few days be-
fore her sickness went to a physicians
office and told her trouble and asked
him for relief. which he promptly re-
fused, as did also the second doctor to
whom she went. About an hour after
her first visit to the first physician she
returned with the same request, ana
had been waiting in the office for the
doctors arrival. After she had left the
office the doctor discovered one of his
which he had left exposed
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
was taken to the country for burial be-
fore the coroner could order a post
norton examination of the body made.
but he will have the body exhumed
The jury, after a careful inquest late
afternoon rendered a verdict
as follows: I'VE, the jury. find that
Vina Knoble came to her death as a re-
suit of criminal operation performed
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-doer and the Sc
Queer has testified that the girl told |
him that she had had the operation I
performed
Miss Knoble was seen on the streets
almost every pleasant afternoon, and |
no one, not even Mrs. Mershon. with I
whom she roomed, suspected, until her I
sickness, the girls condition. She has
three sisters living on farm near here,
also an aunt, Mrs. John Propp, but her
parents are dead.
The matter will be reported to the
grand jury. which meets next week.
and there is no doubt that an indict-
nent will be returned charging some
one with the murder of the girl. unless
t can be shown that the wounds were