New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-02
THOSE WOMAN LIKED; DIED
Mrs. VermiIya Insists Their
Deaths Were Condolences.
POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING
Two Husbands, Two Stepchil-
dren, Three Children and Two
Roomers on Roll of Dead.

chicago, Nov. The Chicago police are
now investigating the deaths OF nearly half
score Of relatives and acquaintance OF
Mrs Louise Nermilya. who was placed
under surveillance yesterday pending the
examination of the vital organs Of Arthur
Rissonette. a roomer az her boarding house,
who died suddenly several DAYS ago. The
officers want TO ascertain whether the sim
liar den1ses constituted only remarkable
series Of condolences, as Mrs NermiN@
insists.
Nine deaths are included in the list win
which Mrs. Vermilya's name has been con
nected. including two husbands. two step
children. three children and two roofnerS a.
boarding houses she kept.
Developments to-day, following the es'
adjustment Of police surveillance at me
vomaps home. came from several c'ues
whore she had lived Pending the report OF
the PSYCHOLOGISTS who are examining ths
yiscera of the last OF the persons whose
DEATHS have occurred beneath Mrs. YER
nilva's roof the police have made no ar
rests. No positive evidence OF crime mas
been uncovered.
tThe following new facts became known 10
day:
That while Mrs Vermilya has said one
of the death roster. Richard ]. smith,
conductor. was only boarder Al hs'
home. a former roomer asserts that the TWO
claimed previously 10 have been married
and that they lived together as man ana
wife.
THAT while the woman told the police
that she had assisted an undertaken at
CRYSTAL Lake. former home, in embalm-
ine bodies, the undertaken there denies
that she ever had any such experience,
She gave this as reason why she cou'u
discuss the deaths with composure.
( That r. n. Burlington, photographer OF
Peoria. and brother-in-law of the cohouc-
tor. Smith, had made love to the WHO"
following Smiths death, so as 10 lhNesu-
gate suspicious he then had about the red-
son for his relatives demise; tnat the
widow had told him part of her matri-
uonial history, which he desired 10 give 10
the coroner.
That Smith died during convulsions ana
after drinking some substance, "hetioi
medicine or not being unsettled ou' '''a'
the doctors gave the cause of death' "o'"
descriptions of symptoms given py Tue
widow, as acute gastrius I'D
That two conductors who had "oi"'N
with Smith on the railroad told 'he 'o'
rer Smith had told them lie was hNiilS VIZ"
Mrs. VermiIya though not married 10 ~
ierd that he had been threatened WIN
18th bv another sutton Of the widow al
undertaken. -sa 20 no
rhat Rissopette was really engaged 10 Oe
,,,arried n Miss Lydia Rivard. OF hanna
t.. this WAS shown by the fling TO-DAY
of the noliceman's will. in which Miss NJ
I'D was named as his hancee. Mrs Yer
Ill. Was witness to that will ana the
,,CIica will endeavor to ascertain whether
the widow had shown Jealousy OF the Po-
Ucenan's intended wife.
Il, a talk with the police Of Peoria Bru-
,rgton said Mrs. Vermilya had periods OF
mental depression. in which she was lo"u
of talking Of death. He said:
~ went 10 the home of Mrs. Nermllya'
introduced myself as a friend OF slIlti'
4 and in a short time We were fast iriehus.
she came to visit me in Peoria, ana /
called on her i'm Chicago Then we became
engaged. Finally the engagement was
broken. l won't say who broke II. we
were still friends. however.
Mrs. Vermlya was one Of the queerest
women / ever met In the daytime she
vas jolly, congcnial. happy. carefree and
pleasant but at night she became blue
sometimes morose and sullen. She even
seemed 10 change I'm looks. By hours l sat
near her as she told one weird story after
another. She told me of the first death
in her family. then the second, finally thu
third. the fourth, the NTH, and 50 on
Seemingly her whole past was clouded by
sickness and death.
49, oAinn.anncn dnnnlnnaA 10 d. FOL