Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-06-06
CASE OF SUICIDE
Mysterious Disappearance ,of
Mrs. VermeuIen Solved
BY the River.
DROWNED BODY FOUND TODAY
Inquest Held and Mental Ills Given
as Cause of selfDestruc-
ton.

|
The body of Mrs. Lizzie Vermuelen,
who disappeared from her home, 72O
Fifth street, Sunday evening, and
whose continued absence has been a
source of grave fear to the relatives,
was found floating in the Mississippi
river near Seventh street this morn
ing by Mack Starr, of 416 Seventh
llstreet, an employee of the Rock Island
POW company,-on his way to work.
| The body was tewed,do. shore and
| identified by WIlliara EsFnner. of 6I2
Ninth street. Lannda Is an old neigh
Dor of the drowned. sse4maTi. and was
attracted to the spot by the commo-
ticn at the river bank incident to the
discovery of the corpse. The rela-
tives. Coroner Louis V Eckhardt and
b. F. Knox were notified. the bodv
being taken to the undertaking estab-
lishment of the latter, where the in
quest was held at o'clock this morn
ing the jury returning verdict of
death by drowning, the intent suicidal
and induced by melancholia.
Motive is Clear.
From the evidence of relatives at
the inquest motive is so evident that
there can be no other opinion formed
than that the unfortunate woman
comprised her own destruction. Two
years ago her husband died after a
long illness, and she had never recov-
cred her spirits or mental calm since
that event. On the other hand, short |
~ after she became afflicted with so |
persistent an attack of melancholia |
that she was forced to go to a physi- |
clan for treatment
During the last two weeks of her |
life she acted in manner so unusual |
that the attention of her sister and |
her brothers was attracted, and they |
kept very close watch of her. She |
would walk about her room in a dis
traught manner. weeping and lament
ing, and in no way could her spirits /
be revived
The disappearance.
About $50 o'clock Sunday evening
she left the home of her mother,
Mrs. Augusta Gotthardt. at 72O Fifth
street, where she stayed. leaving the
Information that she was going TO
the drug store to get some medicine
for her little girl, the latter being in
disposed. After an hour the mother
had not returned. Fred Gotthardt.
her brother, went over TO the home
of sister, Mrs. Ida Williams, at 716
Fifth street, thinking that the miss
ina one might have stopped there
But she had not been there. A thor
ough search was instituted. and
he f. IL |
every possible place was searched
where It was thought possible she
could have gone, but without result.
Monday afternoon, as no trace had
yet been found, the police were mott
fed the police were notified. but they
too were unsuccessful
Probably Drowned Sunday.
From these circumstances ii seems
likely that under the protecting shade
OF night she went at once to the river
close to the spot where the body was
found and embraced the tawny flood
as the quickest means to oblivion and
relief for her troubled mind and soul.
The body when found showed evil
dences of having been in the water
for at least that period of time The
ribly bloated and discolored. and the
features barely recognizable. The
further furnished means of
identification. The body was bruised
but little, showing that it had not
hoated far. 1t was positively identi-
lied by Fred and William Gotthardt,
two of the brothers, and by Mrs. Ida
Williams, the sister, the two latter
testifying at the inquest.
Funeral Held Today.
The funeral was held at o'clock
this afternoon from the undertaking
rooms, Rev. ID. L. McNary officiating :
Interment was performed at Chippi-
annock cemetery.
Mrs. Vermuelen was 80 years old, ]
and leaves one child, girl four years
old. She is a daughter of Mrs. Au- J
gusta Gotthardt, of 720 Fifth street,
and has lived there with her mother s
since the death of her husband two
years ago. She is survived further by |
four brothers and sisters. the sister,
Mrs. Ida Williams. of 716 Fifth street,
he brothers, Frederick, William and
Arthur, all of this city.