Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-24
Mrs. Boltz. Confined In Dayen-
port Jail Hangs Herself to
Bars of Cell
VICTIM OF KEPT oMANlA
She Was a Highly Respected Woman
of Davenport, end Could Not Face
the Disgrace of a Public Trial and
convction-ot Other Iowa News of
General Interest.
to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Davenport Oct. a. Preterring death
by her own hands to the diss race Of
4 public trial ana conviction for theft
Mrs. Boltz whose arrest VAS announced
in Yesterdays dispatches. under the
name of Mrs. Anna Porth which she
gave at the time, hung herself 10 the
bars OF her cell in the Sot county
Jail by strip torn from a sheet and
was found a few minutes later by the
turnkey. suspended lifeless By her i'm.
'proyised moose.
The case OF Mrs. Boltz is g peculiar
one She is Well known and highly
respected in Davenport but appears 10
have been suffering from species of
mononania which compelled her to
purloin small articles When She could
do so unohserved 1t is sale she had
done this for some time and the
proprietors OF the Boston store be
came suspicious of her. YESTERDAY
when she entered the store they set
a watch upon her TO detect her ii pos
sble in the act of committing theft
In short time she was seen TO pick
UP a piece of cloth and pct ii in
bag which she carried. Henry Won
Maur. who was watching 1er. sum
moned an officer and she WAS arrested
Upon examination the bag vas found
TO contain several small articles which
she had stolen. a dress pattern and
one or two articles Of small value.
SAta Ia n
put stop 10 numerous small thefts
which are being committed constantly
in the store He swore out information
taken before Justice Roddewig At
first she gave the name of Annie Forth
but gave her name TO Justice Rodde-
wig as Mrs. Annie Boldt Sh4 admitted
that she had been guilty Of larceny
and she was greatly d disturbed. burst-
ing into tears and begging he justice
10 allow her to pay for the goods and
dismiss the case. The Investigation
was continued, however, and after ii
became evident that she was not tell
ing the truth. Justice RoddeWig deter
mined to continue the case until more
evidence could be secured and COM
mitted her To the county jail under
bond OF 500
on the way from the justice court
TO the Jail Mrs. Boltz Was excited and
told the officer If he would let her go
she would throw herself into the river
When she was brought into the Jail,
however. she seemed to have Gained
down 1t is now thought that She
had determined to take her life as soon
as she was placed in n cell. Sheriff
Macarthur said this morning that If
he had known about il or IL Deputy
Eggers who knew her. had seen her
she would not have been placed in a
cell. Turnkey Eldriise did not
know the woman At all and so he
placed her in a cell, She must have
started in to perform her tragic ne.
as soon as the turnkey left her. for
she was not IN the cell over half AN
hour altogether
The supposition is that Mrs Roltz
feared the disgrace upon herself and
her family when the matter came toi
light and. being oyerwrought and ner-
vons from having been arr sfed by a
officer. she mad w hel
mind that The only thing LEFT 10 do was
10 take her own life by the quickest
means possible II was known ST the
jail that she asked the officer 10 let
her so and she would jump into the
river.