Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-28
MANS BODY IS
FOUND IN RIVER
TOM MITCHELL, FISHING, SEES
FLOATER AT FOUR MILE
BRIDGE.
IS WILLIAM sT0MMEL
Coroner Box Notified = Letters Found
on Person Reveal Identity
Resident of Oska-
IooSa,

The body of man, apparently
dead for two weeks or longer, was
taken from the Des Moines river yes
terday just above the four-mile
bridge of the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy railway. Letters found in the
clothes and the name carved on the
inner side of watch case developed
the fact that the man might be Will
liam Stommel, late of sos Sixth ave-
nue., Oskaloosa. Subsequent inquiry at
: Oskaloosa and at Sewers, short dis
lance from the former city, substanti-
ated the identity of the stranger.
Stommel was a member of the I'm
proved Order of Red Men, and it was
through receipts of these and his
watch that his identity was discover
ed. Local Red Men took the matter in
charge and communicated with Oska-
loosa and Sewers.
Fisherman Sees Body.
While fishing from the first pier of
the 20" bridge, about 1890 o'clock
yesterday, Tom Mitchell, residing in
the neighborhood, noticed an object
drifting down the stream that looked
like a body. On coming nearer, he
plainly saw that it was mans body.
After making the foater fast to the
pier, Mr.. Mitchell went to the home
OF Q. P. Bitter and telephoned to the
police station. Desk Sergeant Chris
Myers Immediately called Coroner ].
G. Box, who, with a wagon of c. T.
Sullivan, the undertaken, went to the
place and brought the body to town,
reaching here shortly after o'clock
Suicide is Believed.
1t is believed that Stommel ended
his own life. He probably jumped into
the river because of ill health, and the
body has foataed down stream. He
leaves a wife and five daughters and
two sons at Oskaloosa, and has a mar
ried daughter at Des Moines, where
he had been just before his disap-
pearance about four weeks ago.
At letter found in his pocket was
dated March 81 and had been received
at Oskaloosa. 1t read:
A Letter.
Dear Sir and Brother. - Just a
few lines in answer to you letter. We
are glad that you are getting along
all right again. received your SO
for dues and send you receipt for it.
Hoping you will continue in good
health, remain forever yours in F..
F. g.
Oliver Mabie, c. R., Sewers, Ia,
Box 225.
This letter was written on the Off
cial stationery of the Red Men and
shows that Sewers was evidently in
poor health
Post Card Also.
On a postal card addressed to
Stommel, at sos Sixth avenue, Oska-
loosa, the date of which could not be
made out, is the following:
Dear Sir. - | received the money
you sent me for the assessment I no.
tilted Iowa tribe to look after you and
to pay you your benefits
Yours truly,
Emil Wyman.
that it was mailed from Sewers. That
is the place where Stommel became
member of the Red Men, and after
moving to Oskaloosa he was trans
ferred to the order there.
A German.
William Stommel was native of
Germany and was So years of age He
had been member of the U. M. w. A.
and had been unable to work for the
past three months because Of rheuma-
i IlSH. IeOTSe SLOmnel, son OIL the
decedent arrived here this morning on
the Rock Island to claim the remains.
When interviewed by reporter he
stated that is was three weeks today
since his father had been seen at
home and at that time was evidently
Respondent as his remarks tended to
show that he contemplated self de-
struction. His words at the time as
stated by his son were: "Son am
going to leave here and after 1890
you will never see your father again