The Topeka state journal., 1913-04-22
BURY in CELLAR
Woman Tells Weird Story of
Mother and Sister.
st. Louis Police Find Bodies in
Dark Basement.

st. Louis, April 22.-The bodies of
Mrs. Ernestine NJ. Komnichau and
her daughter Selma were found short
ly before noon today buried in the
basement of building at 2412 South
Broadway. Marie Komnichau, an
other daughter, was arrested at the
city hospital shortly after noon for in
vestigation in connection with the
mystery.
The investigation that led to finding
of the bodies resulted from a tele-
phone message to police headquarters
shortly before noon today, when the
owner of the building, A1phonze Stuhr,
reported that he had noticed pecu-
liar odor about the house. Two de-
tectives went to the place and in the
basement they found a newly made
grave. They uncovered the feet of
woman and then began the work of
digging up the body.
Both bodies were immured in con-
crete
city. hospital weeks ago after she had
broken a leg in a fall downstairs.
Mr. e. L. Stuhr went to the hos
pital yesterday and asked Marie what
had become of her mother and sister.
She replied, according to Stuhr's story,
that they had gone somewhere in 1lli-
nois but that she did not know where.
Marie komnfchau, who is 49 years
old, told reporter at the city hospital
this afternoon her story of the deaths
and burial of her mother and sister.
She explained that with her mother
and sister she had conducted a notion
store in the front room of the house at
No. 2412 South Broadway for nearly 20
years.
My mother and sister were afraid of
being buried in cemeteries she said.
They were afraid their bodies would
De stolen, and also afraid that they
would be buried alive. That was the
only reason did not have their bodies
attended to in the usual way.
My mother died nine months before
my sister did. I don't remember the
exact date, but sister died February 10
and 1 figured it back at that time so
l know there was nine months differ
ence. My sister died of heart trouble
and from taking too much headache
powders. My mother died of old age.
Before my mother died she made sis
ter and me promise that we would not
take her body out of the house so the
undertaken could get her. We had no
doctor for her-there has not been a
doctor in her house for ten years and a
doctor could have done mother no
good.
Il put her body in showcase, which
we took from the notion store, and
poured plaster of paris around the
glass and cracks to keep the air out.
body upstairs in rear room. No one
knew of it for none of the neighbors
had paid any attention to mother and
they did not inquire about her.
when sister died, 1 knew that peo-
pie would ask about her and that if
neighbors found 1 was keeping her
body they would ask about mother
too So L told the neighbors that
mother had died and that Selma had
taken her to Illinois for burial. Then
I took both bodies into the basement.
I laid them on the basement floor and
poured plaster of paris and cement
over them.
Marie said that she needed help in |
removing the body of her mother from |
the showcase, and called in German |
woman who was passing the store and |
whom she never saw before.
"She was clumsy" continued Marie, |
and was no help. i told her she need |
ut mind about staying. I never saw
aer again and do not know whether
she ever told any one."
Marie said that one man, Adam ALL
neroth living on LamiS street between
Third and Broadway knew of the
leaths.
HE is a very religious man" said
Marie: HE has called on us, now and
hen for long time. He said prayers
,ver mothers body and over sisters
,ody I don't think he knew the
bodies were buried in the basement
or 1 don't remember ever telling
him.
Marie asked the police not to allow
he bodies OF, her mother and sister to
,e removed from the house.