The Washington herald., 1908-01-07
HER BODY is HELD
Attorney of Mrs. Roberts
Stops Her Burial.
WANTS LEGAL IDENTIFICATION
Union Trust Company of PhiIadel-
phia Sends Officer to Cemetery
Case-Body May he Transferred
from VauIt-Few Attend Funeral.

/ New York Jan. 6.-It was established
to-day beyond any doubt that the woman
who was known in New York society
circles as Mrs. John Van Ness Roberts. A"
was Louise Vermeule, who was accused
[ of swiudling scores Of merchants and
tradesmen back in the late '90s. She
was identified by two men, one of them
an officer Of the Union Trust Company
of Philadelphia. which had had business
dealings with her for several years under
her married name. Mrs. Richard Roelof.
The Union Trust Company appeared in
the case at the request of the wOman'S
husband, who is prosperous mining en-
gineer of Cripple Creek. Col Mr.. Roelof
had directed that the body be taken
TO Philadelphia and be buried beside
that of Mrs Helen W. Tinley. who was
Mrs. Roberts mother. Both the hus-
band OF the woman and the Union Trust
Company had asked Col Robert J. Hare,
The woman's former counsel, who was
the first to disclose her identity, 10 take
charge of the body until arrangements
could be made for its removal.
Refused 10 Believe.
Mrs Roberts friends, however, re-
fused TO believe that she was the woman
Col. Haire declared her to be, and they
went ahead with the arrangements 10
bury her in Calvary Cemetery under the
name by which they had always known
her. Col Haire did not hear of the
! funeral. so he said. until it was being
held this morning at the Church of the
| Holy Name, Ninety sixth street and
Amsterdam avenue He sent a man from
/ his office with the request that the body
be put in the receiving vault at the ceme-
terry and held there until his identification
| had been verified. The friends readily
| consented TO this.
Few at Funeral.
Not more than a dozen persons. the
most of them neighbors. attended the
/ funeral.
John s Adams was the trust COM
pany officer who viewed the body at the
/ Cavalry Cemetery vault With him was
/ Charles Wund. a manufacturer. who had
known Louise Vermeule. Both men de-
cIared. after one look that there was no
LtultI Atf AFat MViiiNA was Ataf wiz Va
the Cripple Creek mining engineer.
Mrs. Roel0fs mother had left her an
estate of about 5000 Of which the Union
Trust Company was the trustee. The
trust company will take steps at once TO
have the body transferred to Philadel-
phia.
Mr.. Burr Mcintosh, when interviewed in
his dressing room at Chase's Thcater last
night by a reporter for The Washington
Herald in regard 20 the tragedy Of Mrs.
Roberts life. said he did not think he
ought to be questioned about a story with
which most New York newspaper men are
familiar.
Mr. Mcintosh was asked 10 explain the
fact that his card was in the possession Of
the dead woman. lie said:
Some time ago I was introduced to the
Mrs. Roberts OF whom YOU speak by
mutual friend. whose name is very
we'll known in art circles all over this
country I was then asked to attend a
reception. because, possibly. my looks
were liked, OF because, possibly, ] had
some connection with the stage, or be
cause it was thought that, having travel
Cd with public men in the way Of bust
ness. I might serve as an easy mark
to introduce people.
I never knew this lady-in the accepta-
tion of the word know She was at
tTactive and pleasant toward me as she
was toward other men and women who
were present at that reception. You know
the kind OF life we lead in New TOrk-a
tea here. with women; a cigar there,
with men, and that sort of thing. When
met her it was at a Bohemian gather
ing. ] nave no strong impression OF the
way she impressed me-