Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-11-04
Chemist Reports Bissonetta
Died Of Arsenic Poisoning
Mrs. Vermilya, Land-l
lady, Faces Charges. I.
SERIES OF DEATHS
CHARGED TO WOMAN
Coroner Lays Plans to Ex-
hume Bodies Of Relatives
and Former Boardera
Who Died uddenly.

Chicago, Nov. 3. - Prof. walter
Haynes of Rush medical college 10.
ported to Coroner Hoffman today that
he had found abundant arsenic In
Policeman Arthur Bissonette's liver to
have caused death.
Immediately after the announces
ment that Bissonette's death waa
caused by poison. Chief Of Police Mo-
Weeney prepared to swear out q war.
rant for Mrs. Louise Vermilya, charg.
ing her with the murder Of Arthur Bis.
sonette and Richard T. Smith, an iii.
nois Central conductor, who died mys.s
teriously while q roomer at Mrs. Ver,s
milya's home.
The first thread in q poison mystery
that the police say is likely to reveal
a series of murders, more wilful and
cold blooded than any in police history
here was unraveled today with the ans
nouncement that Bissonette had b0ens
poisoned Bissonette died suddenly .
week ago after becoming III at the
home of the widow, Mrs. Louise Vor-
milya, with whom he boarded. Th0
examination OF his viscera showed
arsenic in more than sufficient guam.
tity to cause death. u, | :.a
With the police Investigation OF Bis:
sonette's death was revealed series
Of eight other deaths within the last
few years Of persons related to or
closely associated with Mrs. Vermilya.
Smith died year ago while q boarder
at her home. a.s
Mrs. vermilya for the last few days
has been under close police guard sat
her home According to the plan. she
will be taken at once to q police sta
ton, although her physician declares
she is seriously Ill. u @S
Other deaths were:
Fred Brinkamh. first husband OF
Mrs. Vernilya, left $4,000 to tho
widow.
Charles vermilya, second husband:
died two years ago, leaving $4,000.
Frank Brinkamh, son by first mar.
riage, died a year ago, leaving mother
$4,000.
Harry J. vermilya, stepson. died .
year ago after quarrel with his step
mother over the sale of house.
Lillian Brinkamh, granddaughter ofs
Fred Brinkamh, died In 1906 at home
Of Mrs. Vermilya. 7.
Richard l. Smith, died q year ago
Willie TOOlulA6 0I AOE AVAAOs 4k0PuSOA
to have left her $4,000 life Insurance..
third husband.
Cora Brinkamh, daughter. died when
eight years old, at former home, Bar
rington, Ill.
Florence Brinkamh. daughter. died
at four years Of age at harrington.
The decision to arrest Mrs. Vermily8s
n oFf a hSr 4S<n
examining doctors, Coroner Hoffman,
Chief OF Police McWeeny, States At
torney Wayman and other officers.
To Exhume Other Bodies
Previous to the examination, Corr
oner Hoffman had declared he would
cause to be exhumed, the bodies of at
least part Of the others to see IL
arsenic could be found.
When first examined after Bisson-
ette's death, Mrs. Vermilya declared
her. This was disproved by the dis
covery later of his will made only .
short time before, leaving all his prop
erty. amounting to about $1,000, to his
fiancee, Miss Laura Baird OF Mime
sofa.
Other statements made by her also
were proved to be untrue and Captain
Harding, while unwilling to arrest hor.
Immediately placed her under surveil-
lance. rst
Woman Now Seriously III.
She then became seriously Ill, suf-3
fering from commissions and appearing
to be in almost the same condition
that had marked both Smith and Bis
sonette before their deaths. An extra
guard was placed over her and nurses
kept at her side constantly.
Last night she asked permission to
call her lawyer and make will. A
doctor was then called who announced
that she was suffering from pneu-
monia
Reports from Peoria, ILL.,, where Mrs.
Vermilya formerly had lived, indicate
that dead bodies had possessed NOR
bid fascination for her.
Hazel Brinkamh. divorced wife Of
Frank Brinkamh, added further suspi-
cion against Mrs. Vermilya when her
sister told the police that Brinkamh
1 has also feared violent death and
that there had been an agreement with
his wife that whichever died first, the
survivor would investigate the cause
- j i 4 Z