The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1911-11-17
CHICAGO AUTHORITIES THINK
SUSPECT MAY BE ANOTHER
MRS. GUINNESS.
STRANGE RUN OF CONDOLENCES
Two Husbands, 2 Step-Children, 3
Children, 2 BOOMERS All DIE
No Positive Evidence
Against Her.

Chicago, Nov. 3. - Chicago police
pursued their investigation into the
deaths of nearly half a score of rela-
tives and acquaintances of Mrs. Louise
Vermilya to make certain whether the
similar demises constituted only a re-
markable series of condolences as
Mrs. Vermilya asserts.
Nine deaths are included in the long
list with which Mrs. Vermilya's name
has been connected. including two
husbands, two step-children. three chill
dren and two at boarding
houses she kept.
Developments following the estab-
lishment of police surveillance at the
woman's home, were noted in several
cities where she had lived. Pending
the report of the Psychologists who are
examining the viscera OF he last of
the persons whose deaths have oc-
Cured beneath Mrs. Vermilya's roof,
the police have made no arrests. No
positive evidence OF crime has been
uncovered.
From letters received by the police
and from separate Investigations, the
following new facts became known
yesterday:
Latest Developments.
That while Mrs. Vermilya has said
that one of the members of the death
roster, Richard T. Smith, a conductor,
was only a boarder at her home, a
former roOmer asserts the two claim
ed previously to have been married.
and that they lived together as man
and wife.
That, while the woman told the po-
lice she had assisted an undertaken at
Crystal Lake, a former home, in en-
balming bodies, the undertaken there
denies she ever had any such expert
ence. She gave this as a reason why
she could discuss the deaths with com-
posure.
That r. n. Burlington, a phOtog-
rapher of Peoria. and brother-in-law
of 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 widd- had told him
part of her matrimonial history which
he desires to give to the coroner.
That Smith died during CONVERSIONS
and after drinking some substance,
whether medicine or not being unset
tied; but that the doctors gave the
cause of death, from descriptions Of
symptoms given by the widow. as
acute gastritis.
Mrs. Vermilya told inquirers she
! had never studied medicine, or sought
to become a nurse, as had been re-
, ported, but that she had some little
) knowledge OF medicine that she had
acquired to enable her to be Of aid
to %neighbors and relatives i'll time OF
illness. She insisted she was innocent
and condemned the police for main
a tanning a surveillance over her.
i The deaths which are being looked
into follow:
s Fred Brinkamp, first husband of Mrs.
Vermilya; die on farm e Barring
ton, ILL.,, after brief illness; Charles
a Vermilya, second husband, died after
six days illness of "gastritis" at
Maplewood, ILL.,; Florence Brinkamp
It I year old daughter, died at Barring
ton; Cora Brinkamp, 8 year old daugh
It ter, died at ~Barrington; Harry G
Vermilya, step-son. 35 years old; Lii
&c liam Brinkamp. step-daughter, 26 year:
e. old; Frank ~Brinkamp, son, died o
pneumonia in Chicago; Richard T
Smith, conductor, and reported to b.
third husband. He boarded at he
10 home; Arthur BissOnette, policeman
roomer, to whom she was engaged t
be married.; died OF "gastritis' las
~ Thursday.
1t was the suddenness OF Bissor
~ cites death, coupled with the widow
- statement that he was addicted
NJ drink, whereas members OF the polio
force had known him as an abstaine
~ that prompted the investigation and
w. determination of the coroner to haV
the p~oliceman's viscera examined by
toxicologist. Prof. Walter Paines,
- poison expert who testified in tt
Hyde murder trial at Kansas City,
making the examination.