Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-11-02
POISON EXPERT EXAMINES BODY
Policeman Sweetheart's Sudden
Passing Arouses Suspicion.
WOMAN OFTEN TALKS OF DEATH
Three Children and Two Husbands
Lose Their Lives.
NO ARREST MADE BY POLICE
No Positive Evidence OF Any Crime
Yet Discovered and widow Pro-
tests Because she il Held
Under Surveillance.

Under surveillance.
CHICAGO. Nov. i.-Chicago police TOD
day pursued their Investigation into thq
deaths OF nearly half score Of relatives
and acquaintances OF Mrs Louise Vert
milya TO make certain whether the smt
liar demises constituted only remarkA
able series Of condolences, as Mrs, Ver-
mliya asserts.
Nine deaths are included in the lo
list with which Mrs. Vermilya's name h
been connected. including two husband
two tsep-children, three children and ~
roomers at boarding houses she kept
Pending the report OF toxioologists wIlQ
are examining the viscera OF the last of
tho persons whose deaths have occurred
beneath Mrs. Vermilya's roof. the police
have made no arrests. No positive evi-
dence OF crime has been uncovered.
New Facts Disclosed.
From letters received by the police and
from separate Investigations the following
new facts became known today:
That while Mrs Vermilya has said one
Of the members Of the death roster, Rich
ard II. Smith, conductor, was only a
boarder at her home, a former roomer
asserts the two claimed previously 10
have been married and that they lived
together AS man and wife.
That while the woman told the police
she had assisted an undertaken at Crystal
Lake, former home, In embalming
bodies, the undertaken there denies she
ever mad any such experience, She gave
this as reason why she could discuss
the deaths with composure
That II, N Burlington, a photographer
OF Peoria, and brother-in-law OF the
conductor. Smith, had made love to the
widow following Smiths death so as to
Investigate suspicious he then had about
the reason for his relatives demise. That
the widow had told him part of her
matrimonial history, which he desired to
give to the coroner
That Smith died during convu1slons
and after drinking some substance. but
that the doctors gave the cause OF death,
from descriptions Of symptoms given by
the widow, as acute gastritls.
widow Talked OF Death.
photographer Bruingtons story relat-
ing the confidential talks he had with
the widow while he was courting her
was expected to develop new interest in
a talk with the police OF Peoria he said
Mrs. Vermllya had periods OF mental
depression In which she was fond OF
talking OF death and the many visits
IL had made to those near and dear TO
her He said TO the police
"She told me 1t seemed strange to her
that nearly everyone she knew well and
cared for died, and asked me II l was
afraid OF DEATH
A new coincidence developed today. fol-
lowing the sudden Illness of Mrs Ver-
milya herself, when a sister living In
the house adjoining. Mrs. Mary Duchholz,
suddenly became Ill.
Mrs. Vermilya told lnqurers today she
had never studied medicine nor sought
to become a nurse. as had been reported,
but that she had some little knowledge
Of med cine that she had acquired 20
enable her to be of aid TO neighbors and
relatives in time OF Illness. She asserted
she was innocent and condemned the 90
lice for maintaining a surveillance over
her
Peculiar Deaths.
The deaths which are being looked into
follow:
Fred Brinlsamp, first husband OF Mrs
Vermilya, died on farm near Barring
ton ILL.,, after brief illness.
Charles Vermilya, second husband, died
| atter Six days Illness OF Baslltls at
| Mapewood Ill.
Florence Brnkamp. 4-year-old daugh-
ter, died at harrington.
Cora Brnkamp. S-year-old daughter,
died at harrington,
Harry c. Verm.lya, stepson, 80 years
old.
Lillian Brinkamp, stepdaughter, 25 years
| old.
Frank Brinkamp, son, died OF pneu-
monia In Chicago.
! Richard T. Smith, conductor. and re-
ported to be third husband. He boarded
at her home.
Arthur Bissonnette policeman roomer.
to whom she was engaged to be married,
died OF "gastrltis" last Thursday,
1t was the suddenness of Blssonnette's
DEATH coupled with the widows state
ment that he was addicted TO drink,
whereas members OF the police force had
known him as an abstainer. that
prompted the investigation and deter
minauon of the coroner 20 have the
policeman's viscera examined by a toxi-
cologist Professor Walter Haines. a
poison expert who testified In the Hyde
murder trial at Kansas City, is making
! the examination, and expects to report
| by Friday, he announced today.
The coroner left today for harrington