Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-11-02
Chicago Authorities Conducting
Reid Investigation of Nine
Deaths Occurring in Wo-
mans Boarding House,
T0XIC0L0GlSTS EXAMINING
VlSCERA OF DEAD PERSONS
New Facts Unearthed in Case
Indicate Murder of Relatives
and Friends By Administra-
ton Of Poison,
ys, Morning journal Special Leased wire1

Chicago, Nov. Chicago police
today pursued their investigation in
10 the deaths Of nearly half a score
of relatives and aequaintances of
Mrs. Louise Vermilya to make certain
whether the similar demises consti-
uted only a remarkable series of co.
incIdenees as Mrs. Vermilya asserts.
Nine deaths are included in the
long list with which Mrs. Vilmilya's
name has been connected, including
two husbands, two step-children,
three children and three roomers at
boarding houses she kept.
Pending the report of the toxlcol-
ogists which are examining the Wis
cera Of the late persons whose deaths
have occurred beneath Mrs. Vermll-
ys's roof, the police have made no ar
rests, No positive evidence has been
uncovered.
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, Richard 7. Smith,
conductor, was only a boarder at her
home, former roomer asserts the
two claimed previously to have been
married, and that they lived together
as husband and wife.
"That while the woman told the
police she had assisted an undertake
ef at Crystal Lake in embalming
bodies, the undertaken there denies
she ever had any such experience.
She gave this as reason why she
could discuss the death with COM
posure
That r. n. Bruington. a photog-
rapher of Peoria, and brother-ln-law
of the Conductor Smith, had made
love to the widow after Smiths death
50 as to investigate suspicious he
then had about the reason for his
relatives demise, and that she told
Bruington part of her matrimonial
history, which he desires to give to
the coroner.
That Smith died during convul-
sions and after drinking some sub
stance, whether medicine or not, be-
ing unsettled: but that the doctors
gave the cause of death. from the
description of the symptoms given by
the widow, as acute gastritis,"
Photographer Bruingtons story re-
lating the confidential talks he had
with the widow. while he was court
ing her is expected to develop new
interests. In a talk with the police
OF Peoria, he said Mrs. Vermilya had
periods Of mental depression, In
which she was fond of talking OF
death and the many visits 1t had
made to those near and dear to her.
lie said to the police:
She told me it seemed strange to
near that nearly every one she knew
wei and cared for died. and asked
me II was afraid of DEATH"
A new coincidence developed to-
uay following the sudden illness of
mrs Vermilya, herself, when a sister
iiYlng in the house adjoining. Mrs.
Mrs Mary Buchholz, suddenly be-
came ill.,
Mrs. Nermilya told inquirers today
she had never studied medicine, or
sought to become a nurse, as had
ueen reported, but that she had some
ittle knowledge of medicine that she
mad acquired to enable her to be of
aiu 70 neighbors and relatives in time
Vi Illness She insisted she was in
noceht and condemned the police
her.
Inc deaths which are being look
ed into follow:
rleo Brinkamp. first husband OF
mfS' Nermilya, died on farm near
N"Irlheton, ILL.,, after prief illness.
Charies Vermilya. second husband
wued after six days illness of "gas-
nus at Maplewood, III.
Florence Brinkamp. -four years old
u'ughter, died at harrington.
Oora Brinkamp. eight years old
0aushter' died at harrington.
marry G. Yermilya, step-son, "a
years old.
&c hfiikdlnp, -dauShter
% years old.
.. rank Brinkamp. son, died Of
pneumonia in Chicago.
hehard I. Smith. conductor. and
eported to be third husband. lie
boarded at her home.
nitlur Bissonette, policeman
aioa a'et' to whom she was engaged
eu :, OF 'gastris" last Thursday.
wi, "o conductors who had worked
ea "sn smith on the railroad. told the
o"er that Smith had told them he
,h a living with Mrs vermilya
h. ousn not married to her, and thai
~, nad been threatened with death
undertaken ~ "'0"' az
o.>o.shette was really engaged I,
~, >'S'-~~>>~~~-S-~~|~~|~~S~S~
''''ued on Page 9, Column H.