Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-11-10
MURDER CHARGE
FORMRS. vERM|LYA
CHICAGO WOMAN Is ACCUSED OF
CAUSING DEATH OF OFFICER
eISSONETTE.
MINNESOTA GIRL HIS FIANCEE
ToxocoIogists Report Finding Poison
in Policeman's Organs-eodies OF
Other Victims to Be Ex-
humed.

Chicago, Nov. Mrs. Louise Yer
milya was formally charged with the
murder of Policeman Arthur Bison
otto by poisoning him with arsenic,
after the report of Psychologists who
had examined the viscera of the dead
roomer at the widows home had been
made known. Coroner HOFFMAN an.
nounced that he will have exhumed
the bodies of at least two of the other
eight persons who have died in her
home during the last eight years.
Dozens of detectives continue to
seek further light on the eight deaths
which preceded the demise of Bison.
cite while the decedents were living
at the widows home. Just what
bodies would be exhumed, Coroner
Hoffman declined to say. 1t was init
mated, however, one of them would
be that of Conductor Richard l.. Smith,
who was taken suddenly i'll and died
under circumstances that since have
aroused official curiosity. It developed
he had taken out life insurance short
time before, in which she was to be
tho beneficiary.
Mrs. Vermilya collapsed when in.
formed the experts had found poison
in the viscera of Bissonette. but de-
clined to make any statement. The in.
creased guard, however, was instruct
ed not to allow her to pass moment
not under watchful eye, lest she
attempt to injure herself.
Motive 10 Suggested.
Further questioning of several inter
ested parties by Coroner Hoffman dis.
closed new facts in connection with
the death list. A motive for the pois.
oning was suggested by Archie Bis.
sonette. brother of the policeman.
In the policeman's effects were
found letters from his fiancee, Miss
Lydia Rivard, of Marshall, Mimi, but
all were dated prior to their engage
ment. Absence of any received after
then, coupled with the fact that Mrs
Vermilya had access to Bissonette's
effects and her statement that she
and the policeman were to be married
was suggested as Indicating jealousy
~ motive for her poisoning him, il
the complaint under which the war
rant for her was issued, was true.
A message was sent by the coroner
to relatives Of Conductor Smith, ask
ing permission to exhume his body
Smith died while rooming at the home
Of Mrs. Vermilya, and after, he boast
ed, living with her as her husband
The other body he desired to have ex
amined, said the coroner, was that Of
Frank Brinkamp.
Brinkamp had pact with his wife
that II either should die suddenly, the
other would have a post mortem OK.
animation made on the body. When
they were divorced the agreement was
forgotten and no examination was
made. Smith is buried at North Hen
derson, Ill.,, and Brinkamp at Barring
ton, near Chicago.
Undertaken Questioned.
Undertaken c. c.. Boysen, who
claimed Bissonette's body about five
minutes after death, and who was re
puted to be sutton of Mrs. Vermilya
a. well as business partner, was
questioned by the police. He denied
having other than ordinary business
relations with the widow and said that
he had embalmed the body of Con.
ductor Smith.
The warrant for Mrs. Vermilya's ar,
rest was given to one of her guards,
who was instructed to serve it should
she make any effort to escape.