Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-04-30
LEAPS TO DEATH
FROM THIRD STORY
YOUNG WOMAN FROM SHFBOYGAN
ENDS HER LIFE AT HOME
OF PASTOR.
SOUGHT A NIGHTS LODGING.
Mangled Body Found on Brick Pavement
Clad Only IN Night Clothes
May Have Been Insane.
IDENTIFIED AS MARY BEHRENs

MILWAUKEE, Wis. April IS.
Jumping from a third story window
of St. Anthony's parish house, Mary
Behrens, aged 70 years. landed on the
pavement below with such force that
she died on the way to Emergency hospi-
tai. Her unconscious form was found by
three men early this morning and death
came before she recovered consciousness.
No one saw her fatal fight and it is not
known how long she lay on the ground
before being found.
Father a Saloon Keeper.
According to the facts reported to the
police. Miss Behrens left the home OF
her father, ShebOygan saloon keeper,
Tuesday afterno III and came to Milwau-
kee. About fifteen minutes before mid
night Father Anton Decker answered
the bell at the parish house, Fourth ave
nue. and Mitchell street, and found the
young woman, who asked for nights
lodging, saying that she had come here
from Sheboy gan for work and that she
had no money Tor a hotel or boarding
house.
Finds Girl on Steps.
Father Decker referred her to the
ianitor OF St. Anthony's. who lives
around lie corner, and the young woman
left, pres nably to seek the janitors
quarters. At / o'clock this morning.
Father Decker was summoned on sick
call and he found the young woman sit
ting on the front step, trembling in the
chilly night air. She again pleaded for
a place to sleep and the priest summoned
one of the sisters and directed that Miss
Behrens be provided with bed.
Miss BehTens was shown to a room on
the third story and she was preparing
for bed when last seen by inmates of
the house. About 5:15 o'clock this.
morning Louis Schneider, 71S Fourth
avenue; George Rudolph, 80 Mitchell
street. and John Mitchell, 574 Fifth
avenue. stumbled over a body in an
areaway adjoining St. Anthony's school.
The police were notified and the young
woman was removed to Emergency hos
pital. She died before reaching there
without having regained consciousness.
When found, she was attired only ii
underclothing and a petticOat.
Body Taken to Morgue.
The body was taken to the morGue
where an inquest will be held to de-
termine whether Miss Behrens fell or
jumped to her death, If the latter, why
she did so.
John Behrens, Sheboygan, was notified
by the police of his daughters death and
ne arrived III Milwaukee early this after
noon to take charge Of the body.
1t is believed that Miss Behrens alight-
ed on her feet, as one of them is much
bruised. One arm is broken and it is
thought that death was due to a fraC-
tured skull, though the full extent of her
injuries has not been determined. Miss
Behrens was acquainted with Rosy Lohr,
laundress and Mary Van Treek, house
keeper of Il German Catholic parish
at ShebOygan, and it is believed that
this acQuaintanceship caused her to seek
refuge at the Milwaukee priests house.
From ShebOygan this afternoon comes
the information that six years ago Miss
BehrenS tried to commit suicide by run
ming lead pencil down her throat. He1
family is said to have regarded her as
mentally unbalanced and account for hel
death in this manner.
Father Tells of Love Affair.
John Behrens. the girls father, ar
rived in the city this afternoon and iden-
tilted the body of his daughter. He
informed the coroner that the girl had
had an unfortunate love affair with
young man in Sheboygan, and he be
lieved she was mentally unbalanced lie
confirmed the report that she had tried
to commit suicide on a former occasion
and gave the opinion that she was in
sane.