Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-07-24
HAD BROTHERS HERE
Lifeless Body Of Woman Found Hanging
to Fence Post,Was That Of Martina
Winther-Body Shipped Here


The remains of Miss Martina
Whittier were shipped hire from Chi
cago Tuesday afterfs ON accompanied
by her sister Christina, who left Satur-
day to identify her sister who had
come to her death in some mysterious
manner.
The young woman left Chicago last
week. Before leaving sent her brother
Chris. of this place telegram that she
would be here on Wednesday. She
failed to show up on time and it caused
her relatives much concern. The next
day report came that woman had
left the Rock Island train on Wednes-
day with a ticket for Audubon.
This information was communicated
to her relatives. The day following
word came that young woman was
found whose description was much the
same as the one who had disappeared
from the train the day before. This
gave the detectives a clue which finally
resulted in their finding her relatives.
Miss Christina Whittier, a sister
went to FINLEY Park Saturday and up
on reaching there positively identified
the body of the woman as being that
of her sister Martina. She was about
30 years of age and had come 10 this
country from Denmark last Christ
mas. She had never been in Audubon.
Her brothers are Chris, Peter and Nels
and three sisters also live in this vici-
nifty. Her mother is making a home
for her son Chris. Her father is dead.
The body was laid to rest in Maple
Grove cemetery and was followed TO its
last resting place by a large number of
Danish people who offered their sym
pathy to the bereaved relatives.
We were unable to secure much In
formation from the relatives but the
following was taken from Sundays
Chicago Tribune which facts were
brought out at the inquest:
The body of the young woman found
hanging from fence by corn field
near Oak Forset was identified yester-
day as that of Martina Whittier, a
Danish seamstress, 35 years old, who
started for Audubon, Ia, ON Wednesday
She is said to have been suffering
from mental Authorizations for several
months, and it is believed she committed
suicide after jumping from a Rock
Island train on Wednesday and after
wandering about the country for hours.
The body was identified by Mrs.
Zena Olson, $50 Dearborn avenue with
whom the girl roomed until week ago.
She then went to a rooming house at
Ill West Indiana street after having
had quarrel with Mrs. Olson. The
girl was queer" continually talking
about her prosecutors She left the
Indiana street address on Wednesday
afternoon. On Wednesday evening Q
woman disappeared from Rock Is
land train between Blue Island anG
Joliet. She had shown ticket fol-
Audubon, Iowa.
About one o'clock Thursday morning
the woman appeared at the farm house
of Joseph Berger. excited and sobbing
She asked for shelter, saying "Blacl
Handlers were after her trying TO fore,
her into life of shame. She WA
directed toward the Oak Forest infirm
airy and disappeared. Friday the body
was found hanging to fence on TIN
farm of Chris Able near FINLEY Park.
Christopher Whittier of Audubon
Iowa, the girls brother, telegraphed h
Coroner Hoffman that he would com
at once and claim the body. The in
quest, which was started by Deput.
Coroner Webster, will take place o.
July 25th.
The Identification of the girl followe,
the finding of card in her pocketboo
with the name Martha Winter
written on rattle slip. The address
Iii Indiana street, was also found
Mrs, Margaret Rumsie, keeper of th
Indiana street rooming house, told {
the disappearance of the Whittier CIR