The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-17
BODY OF YOUNG
WOMAN IN POND
Edwin A. Bain, Son of Prominent Cit
izen, Reports That She Is
Suicide.
PASS FRANCHISE ORDINANCE
Right to Construcs Street Railway on
Certain Streets VIII be Sold TO
Highest Bidder on July 10.

Petersburg. Va, June ia cor
oner's jury, composed of VI. B. Cog
bill. w. A. Rockwell, " NJ Camp
bell, W. /. Jones, s. B. Hoag and T.
w. Goodrich. empaneled by Coroner
Leigh. heard evidence in the cause OF
the death Of Mary Olivirus, whose
body was recovered from a pond near
the city reservoir here this morning,
in the chapel of j. T. Morris & Sons
undertaking parlors. tonight and re-
turned n verdict To the effect that
Mary Olivirus committed suicide by
drowning about 4 o'clock this morn
ing. Among the witnesses examined
were Secretary A. w WEIGH, of the
Petersburg Y. M. c. A. by whom the
young woman was employed as a ser
want; Edwin ]. Balm. who testified
that he was sweetheart of the
young woman and the only witness to
the drowning; DR.. Edwin j. Nixon
and Joseph T. HARDY. an honored en-
ploye of the City Water Department.
An autopsy was held by Coroner
Leigh this afternoon and all the EVIL
dence before the jury tended to show
that the case was one of suicide.
Petersburg. Va, June i6.--Miss Mary
Oltverus a Bohemian girl, about nine
teen years OF age, who has recently
been employed in the homes OF several
Petersburg families committed SUI
eide early this morning by Jumping
into one of the several service ponds
used In connection with the city res
srvoir. The exact cause of her rash
act has not been ascertained, but 1t is
stated upon apparently reliable author
ity that disappointment in love affairs
was the direct cause.
The fact tina the young woman mad
ieaped into the pond and probably COM
mitted suicide was reported to the en-
ployes of the City Water Department
about 4 o'clock this morning by Ed
win j. Balm. the eldest SON or EDWIN
A. Balm. a prominent citizen and bust
ness man. with whom she was In COM
pany at the time.
According to young Bain's statement
he had been with her earlier In the
evening and had been informed OF her
suicidal intent, but hat he had reasoned
with her and taken her home While
returning to his home on st. Andrew
street, young Balm says he was over
taken by the young woman. who again
declared her intention TO commit SUI
eide She ran rapidly toward the pond.
Young Balm following, but before he
could reache her she had sprung into
the water and gone down.
Mr.. Balm cannot swim, according 10
a statement made by him. and ne I'M
mediately gave the alarm TO Assistant
Engineer Joseph r. Hardy. In charge
of the pump house of the City Water
Department
When the body WAS recovered ABOUT
10 o'clock this morning 1t was clothed
in n coat said to be the property OF
young Balm. and piece OF RIBBON
about two inches in width was tightly
drawn through the mouth and clincned
between the teeth of the dead girl.
Coroner Leigh viewed the body at
the undertaking establishment OF j. T.
Morrlss & Son this afternoon ana de-
cided TO hold an inquest.
II was stated today by party who
knows young Balm well that the couple
was seen going in the direction OF the
elty reservoir between IL and A:so
o'clock last evening. There is much
sneculation as to the result of the cor
oner's inquest.