The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-07-10

ed. found that the daughter came to
her death from "inhaling illuminating
gas, self-administered with suicidal in
tent" and that I'VE further find that
1t was her intent to cause the death
Of her mother In the same manner,
and We fail to find any evidence
knowledge of the intent Of her daugh-
ter"
On every side were evidences that
the two women were in financial diff
culties. There were no carpents on
the floor, the furniture was poor, q
pawn ticket for 81 on a necklace was
found, while letters discovered men
toned the fact that they were penni-
less. Mrs. Wehrkamp was an invalid.
and her health had grown worse late
ly. These conditions are believed to
have been the causes. for the deaths.
Letters found in the apartment in
dicate that the two women have
wealthy relatives. Although they liv-
ed in the apartments for more than
two years. the police were unable to
locate any one In the city who knew
much about their affairs.
One letter led the police to believe
Nilliam Knabe. vice president Of the
Skasbe Bros Piano company. Of New
Y.'e End Cincinnati. The letter, ad-
the COM Sos stationery, and @ bearing M
Mr. Knabe. etSature, was found in
the partment. Gas a personal let
ter. and inquired Aunt Mary"
Letter to Ohio Woman Found.
Another letter. addressed to Mrs.
Ernest J. Knabe, of Norwood. Ohio.
was also discovered by the police. It
was written July 3. by the elder wo-
man. and contained the following sent
ence: When 1 am gone. want you
to see that Kate gets the insurance,
since you are wealthy and have all the
necessities of life, while Kate is penni-
less"
Another letter. found in the mail
box of the woman, read: Don't rap
on the door. 1 must go downtown on
important business, and mother is
very ILL.,"
DR.. 6. w. Taylor, who had attended
both Of the women. was the only per-
son found who knew anything about
their affairs. He told the police that
Mrs. Wehrkamp had informed him
that she got an allowance from a
wealthy relative in Baltimore twice a
month, and that she frequently visited
there. He could not recall the name
Of the relative.
into the rooms for several hours, 1t
began to escape into the Railways of
the apartment house, w. P. Barnhart
noticed the odor, and became suspic-
ious. He notified the janitor who no.
titled the agents Of the building, and
| the latter called the police.
Mother Died as She Slept.
1t was shortly after noon when po-
licemen arrived on the scene. The
front door was tightly locked, and Po-
liceman Holmes climbed around a
narrow ledge, outside Of the second
| story Of the apartment house, and en-
| tered by an unfastened window. The
rooms were heavy with the deadly
fumes. and he was almost overcome.
but managed to turn off the gas and
open the door.
Mrs. Wehrkamp was in her night
| clothes. and reposed on her bed as
though death had come to her while
she slept. The body of the younger
woman was found on the floor near
the bed. She was fully dressed. with
the exception of her shoes. This led
the police to believe that she had en-
tered her mothers room while the lat
ter slept. and had turned on the gas.
Evidently she had taken every precau-
ton to prevent entrance from the out
side.
Woman Dead Several Hours.
A hurry call of Freedman's hospital
brought DR.. e. s. Tyson, who said that
both women evidently had been dead
several hours. Detective Platt was
| then sent from police headquarters to
conduct an investigation. Coroner
hewitt was also notified, and arrived
on the scene shortly afterward.
An inquest was ordered immediate
ly by Coroner Nevitt, and a jury sum-
moned. AS the jury conducted It's in
vestigation, the apartments still had a
faint odor Of gas. The janitor. DR..
Taylor. Mr.. Barnhart. and others
were heard as witnesses, but none
could throw much light on the past
lives Of the women.
One note discovered later by the
police indicated that one of the wo-
men had communicated with a fortune
teller about her future. Another show
ed that a loan had been negotiated
on the furniture. The police found 81
in cash in the rooms, but little else of
value.