Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-07-03
CLUE TO FATE OF SPETMAN
Hat and Umbrella Found on River Bank
by Boy.
ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO SUICIDE
suffering from Tumor on the Brain
for which There Was No Relief,
Family is Fearful of His TAX
ing His own Life.

The finding Of his coat and umbrella on
the river bank leaves little room for doubt
but that William @. Spetman who dis
appeared from his home at 7O6 Bluff street
early Saturday morning, ended his troubles
by drowning himself in the Missouri river.
The hat and umbrella were found by boy
named Edward Sharp. but the fact Of their
discovery was not made known to the
members OF the missing mans family until
last evening, when the second searching
party, which had been formed to follow a
clue to the effect that MIR. Spetman had
been seen going north, arrived at Big lake.
Here they discovered the umbrella in the
possession of the caretaker and from him
learned that the hat and umbrella had been
discovered on the river bank the day be-
fore by young Sharp.
According to young Sharp he found the
hat and umbrella at point about a quar-
ter OF n mile north of the Illinois Central
bridge. The hat was on the top OF the rip
rapping, while the umbrella was sticking
up in the mud at the river bank Where
the hat was found the riD-rapping extends
some twenty feet or more into the river
and II is supposed that this was the place
selected by Mr.. Spetman to plunge into the
river.
The boy took the umbrella 70 the care
taker at Big lake, but the hat he took to
his home near MINISTER Springs. On the
inner band of the hat were Mr.. Spetman's
initials and on the silver handle OF the UNI
brella was engraved the name Of Irwin
Spetman, the son. whose property It vas
The first information that the caretaker
had that Mr.. Spetman was missing was
when the searching party arrived at his
house last evening.
Family Feared Suicide.
According to the boys story, it was about
II O'Clock Saturday morning when he found
the hat and umbrella, and this leads to the
belief that Mr.. Spetman was the man seen
TO descend from the motor bridge by the
steps at the east end. 1t is thought that
finding the river slallow at this point he
started to walk north along the bank until
he could find a place sufflciently deep into
which to throw himself. According to John
Grow, who keeps a saloon at Broadway
and Thrty-seventh street, Mr.. Spetman
passed his place shortly before 10 o'clock
Saturday morning, and II this was the case
1t would allow sufficient time for him to
reach the point above the Illinois Central
bridge where his hat and umbrella were
found.
His family had feared for some time past
that Mr.. Spetman would attempt to end
his life and in consequence careful watch
had been kept Of his movements. DR.. d.
Macrae, jr, the family physician, stated
last night that while Mr.. Spetman was not
insane in the accepted meaning of the
term. hea was suffering from tumor on
the brain This had been developing for
considerable time and had reached a stage
where death must have resulted in short
time, as relief could not have been obtained
by a surgical operation. The knowledge
of this and his other ailments undoubtedly
prompted the unfortunate man to end his
life.
Mr.. Spetman. who was about As years of
age was an old-time resident of Council
Bluffs and Pottawattamie county. He is
survived by his wife and one son, Irwin;
three brothers, Fred, Carl and Henry Spet-
man, the latter being one of the proprietors
of the KEEL hotel, and three sisters, Mrs
Hoist. Mrs. Frank Fox and Miss Lizzie
Spetman. He conducted a dry goods store
on Main street next to the Kiel hotel, but
owing to his illness had not given it his
active attention for. some time.
The river will be dragged today at the
point where the hat and umbrella were
found in the hope of recovering the body.