The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-02
She DeclaresDeathsC Con
stitute Remarkable Se-
ries of Condolences.
OFFICERS HAVE
ANOTHER VIEW
Nine Names in List of Relatives
or Friends of Mrs. Vermilya
Who Have Died Under Her
Roof-Poison Experts at
Work Seeking Evidence
of Crimes.

Chicago, November l.-Chicago DO.
lice to-day pursued their investiga.
lions into the deaths of nearly han
score OF relatives and acauaintances
OF Mrs. Louise vcrmiiya, TO make GER
tain whether the similar demises con.
stituted only remarkable series Of
condolences as Mrs. Vermilya asserts
Nine deaths are included in the list
with which Mrs. Vermilya's name has
been connected. Including two hus
bands, two stcpchildren, rhre. emil
dren ana two roomers at boarding.
houses she kept.
Developments of a Day.
Developments to-day, following the
establishment OF police surveillance al
the woman's home. came from several
cities where she nao lived. Pending
the report Of the toxicologists who
are examining the viscera OF the last
Of the persons whose deaths nave oc
Cured beneath Mrs Ncrrnilyas roof
the police have made no arrests. No
positive evidence OF crime has been
uncovered. The following new facts
became known to-day:
That while Mrs. Yermilya has said
one OF the death roster. Richard r
Smith. a conductor. was only boardeI
at her home. former roomer asserts
the two claimed previously to have
been married and that they lived to-
gether as man and wife.
That while the woman told the po-
lice she had assisted an undertaken
nj Crystal Lake. a former home, in
enbalming bodies. the undertaken
there denies she ever had any SUCH
experience. She gave this as rea
son why she could discuss the deaths
with composure.
That Il. y. Burlington. q photogra-
pher of Peoria and brothcr-in-lhw Of
Conductor Smith. had made love to
the widow following Smiths death so
as TO Investigate suspicious lie then
had about the reason for his rela-
tive's demise; that tho widow had
told him part OF her matrimonial his
tory, which he desires to give TO the
coroner.
That smith died during commissions
and after drinking some substance.
whether medicine not being unset
tied, but that the doctors gave the
cause OF death from descriptions of
symptoms given by the widow. as
acute gastritis.
That Two conductors who had work
ed with Smith on the railroad. tolo
the coroner Smith had told them hs
wsE living with Mrs. Normilya. though
not married to her. and that nc had
been threatened with death by another
sutton OF the widow. an undertaken
That Arthur Bissonctte was really
engaged to be married TO Miss Lydia
Rivard. OF Kankakee: this was shown
by the iiling to-day of the policeman's
VIII. in which Miss Rivard was named
as his iancee. Mrs. vermilya was
witness to the Will. and the police
will endeavor TO ascertain whether
the widow had shown jealousy of the
policeman's iatendcd wife.
In talk with the police Of Peoria.
Burlington said Mrs. Vermilya had
periods OF mental depression in which
she was fond of talking of death. He
said:
She told me II seemed funny to her
that nearly every one she knew we'll
and cared for died. and asked me If
was afraid of death
A New Coincidence.
4 new coincidence developed to-day
following the sudden illness of Mrs
Nermilya herself, when II sister, living
in the house adjoining. Mrs. Mary
Buchholz suddenly became III.
Mrs. Vermilya told inquirers to-day
she had never studied medicine.
sought to become a nurse. as had been
reported, but that she had some little
knowledge of medicines that she had
acquired to enable her to aid neghbors
and relatives. She Insisted that she
was innocent.
The deaths being looked into follow.
Frederick Brinkamp. first husband
of Mrs. Vermilya, died on a farm near
harrington, ILL.,, after a brief illness.
Charles Verm!lya. second husband
led after six days illness OF "gas.
tritis' at Maplewood. III.
Florence Brinkamp, four-year-old
daughter, died at Darlington.
Cora Brinkamp, eight-year- old
daughter. died at harrington.
Harry G. VermiIya. steps son, thirty
i've years old
Lillian Brinkamp. granddaughter
twcnty-six years old.
Frank Brinkamp. son, died of pneu.
monia. In Chicago.
Richard T. Smith. reported to be
third husband.
Arthur Bissonette, policeman, room.
or. TO whom she was engaged: died OF
"Sastritis" last Thursday.
IT was the suddenness of Bissonctte'.
death. coupled with the Widows state.
mont that he was addicted to drink
whereas members of the police force
had known him to be an abstainer.
that prompted the investigation, and
a determination to have the police
mans viscera examined
Professor Walter Haines. poison ex.
pert expects to report by Friday
The coroner to-day left for Earring
ton, ILL.,, q suburb. Mrs. yermilya's
former home, to investigate the deaths
that occurred there.
H ! 81