Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-22
Body Found in Closet
Of House at Battle
Creek, Mich, and
Called Suicide
Husband Is in West and Has
Not Been Heard From

Waldoboro, Me, May 21.-Although
morning performed an autopsy on the
disinterred body of Mrs Robert D.
Purdue, formerly of Battle Creek,
Mich, who was found dead early in
March at a rooming house in Chi
cago, have not made a report, 1t is
the belief of persons well informed
that the evidence already gathered
points to murder. At the time the body
was brought here for burial the cir
cumstances concerning the finding of
her body pointed equally to suicide or
murder The authorities at Chicago
who investigated the finding pro-
nounced it a case of suicide.
The body was exhumed on last Fri
day afternoon and was found to be in
excellent condition. 1t was removed to
the undertaking rooms of A. E.
Waltz, where Drs. Gregory of Booth
bay H. dor, Coombs of Waldoboro
Card of Alma and Parsons of Damar-
iscotta performed the autopsy. The
principal wound was a bullet hole
over the heart the shot having appar-
emily been fired directly downward
through the heart, ranging to the
right and lodging in one of the lower
ribs. 1t is the opinion of Coroner
Waltz that the shot could not have
been fired by Mrs. Purdue and have
taken the course that it did. 1t was
a 22-calibre bullet. The right side of
the body was considerably bruised
and discolored. Two long curved cuts
appeared on the neck. These 1t is said
were not deep and according to the ex-
aminers may have ben inflicted after
death. The brain was in a perfectly
normal condition, while the stomach
was empty.
North WaIdoboro Woman
Mrs. Purdue was a native of North
Waldoboro and her maiden name was
Clara Mank. She married man by
the name of Sanborn, who committed
suicide by cutting his throat. They
lived in Roekland at one time. She
became acquainted with Purdue
through a matrimonial advertisement,
1t is understood, and their marriage
followed in Battle Creek, Nov. 9, 1913,
Rev. w. S. Potter officiating. Each
of the parties in securing the license
gave their ages as SO and that each
had been married once before. It is
stated that her relatives were much
adverse to her marriage to Purdue.
Relatives of Mrs. Purdue still re-
side in this State and it was through
the advice of her sister, Mrs. Angel
eta Porter of Damariscotta Mills,
that the autopsy was held. The hus-
band of the woman and a man named
Kennedy accompanied the body to
this State and no notice was sent in
advance, and it was only by accident
that Mrs. Porter heard of 1t, she says.
Mrs. Purdue at the time of her mar
rage is said to have been worth be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000. 1t is known
that she established her husband in
the meat business in Battle Creek.
Previous to his marriage he was a
brakeman on the Grand Trunk. He
left Battle Creek in 1906 for Toledo
and did not return until 1913. After
disposing of his meat business he left
for Chicago.
Husband Not Heard From
Purdue, who is now believed to be
in the West, was to have come to
Waldoboro with his attorney, but up
TO the present time nothing has been
heard from him. The county attor-
ney at Chicago is still investigating
the case and word from there is ex-
pected any time.