Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-26
Woman Found Dying at
Vincennes, Ind, Posi-
BILE Suicide.
THEORIES ADVANCED.
Supported by Links in Strong
Chain of CircumStantiaI
Evidence.

Vincennes, Ind, March 26.-Chief of
Police Evans announced today he is
convinced Mrs. Russell Culbertson,
whose death has been shrouded i'm
mystery, killed herself. Her, husband
and relatives still hold to the murder
theory.
Denies She Knew Woman.
Chicago, March 26-Mrs Eta Long.
well, who admits she is the woman
referred to in the newspaper stories
in connection with the death of Mrs.
Russell Culbertson of Vincennes, Ind /,
declared today she had nothing to do
with the death of the woman. She de-
MED she ever knew the wife of Russell
CulbertsOn.
81 was at one time engaged to be
married to Culbertson,' said Mrs Long
well. THAT engagement was broken
off a year ago last New Years day.
Since that time | have never seen Gull
bertson."
Mrs. Longwell says she can prove
an alibi without the least trouble.
Past Life Unknown.
Mrs. Culbertson's mysterious death
was, according to those. who had
known her intimately, as was her life.
Mr.. Culbertson, who admits he knows
4, but little of his wife's past, is today
seeking to trace her antecedents. That
she attempted on a previous occasion
oil t1
! the police Before her marriage to
! lCulbertson she cut an artery in her
arm, according to DR.. H. w. Held
who was summoned to attend her.
| Doubts Handwriting.
| Coroner Beckes is planning to COM
pare the handwriting ON the threaten.
ing letters displayed by Mrs. Culbert-
son with her own. None of these let
ters was received in the mail. All
were found tucked in corners of the
house, and when she found them, some
member of the household was always
present. Chief Evans believes Mrs.
iCulbertson wrote the threatening
missives TO herself.
/
! Mrs. Culbertson, it was learned to-
day, was in possession of the minia.
ture skull and cross bones found with
her when she was discovered in the
shed, for many months When she
lived at the home of William Heine.
kamp before her marriage, the house
was robbed. The police, who search
ed the. trunks of the servant in the
house and of Mrs. Culbertson, remem
ber having seen a plaster skull in
opment, together with the finding to
day of the bolt of muslin in Mrs Cul
bertson'S room from which the band
/ age over her mouth was taken, ART
links in the chain of evidence to sup
,port the suicide theory.
Woman May Have known.
The mysterious woman in black. a
] first thought to have been Mrs. Cul
5 bertson's murderer, the police nov
u think may exist and that she Nigh
1 have known of Mrs. Culbertson's past
and the fear that something might b.
n revealed, the authorities think ma
have been a motive for suicide. Sh
e is known to have said to a frien
about four months ago: ''If anythin
r ever happens to me, don't try to fin
Iout who am, because know no on
Il will ever learn anything"
Was Graduate Nurse.
: Mrs. Culbertson was a gradual
e nurse, and was schooled in Chicag
! and New Orleans. The bandages pla,
y ed over her head were in a position t
T indicate they were adjusted by on
It who had expert knowledge of bindin
wounds. Where the muslin or poi
!, ons were purchased the police ar
seeking to learn.