Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-07-26
MYSTERY GIRL VISITS
W|NNESH|EK TOWNS
Young Gsa1 ,bout 10 Years Cid
Makes v b., to Calmar, Spill
vile an. .rt Atkinson.
Identity Nca;SnOwn.
REGISTERED AT FL nyKINsoN
AS RUTH LEWIS, o. ALAMUS
Left Her Suit Case Filie.I With
Clothing and Trinkets on Bank
of River Near Spillville.
Found Sunday by Os-
sian Picnickers.

sian PlcnickerS,
Sunday evening Sheriff Ellingson
was notified that a party had found
on that day a suit case on the river
bank south of Spillville, near where
the bowery was stationed on the
Fourth of July, containing woman's
clothing, trinkets, etc. Pinned to the
suit case was the following note,
written on a large card:
"Will whoever finds this suit
case please give what is in it to
the poor and needy. Don't make
any scandal about it either, and
God will reward you"
Signed ANON.
The suit case was found by R. B.
Jones, of Ossian, member of the
firm of Hauge & Jones, who was at
Spillville with a picnic party that day.
Monday Sheriff Ellingson drove
over to investigate, and visited Spill
vile, Calmar and Fort Atkinson. Let
ters in the suit case disclosed several
names. One letter was addressed to
Ruth Lewis" and was dated Lost
Nation, Iowa, April 1916, and was
signed by Mrs Geo. Cline. In the let
ter it was stated that money order
had been sent the girl, and that the
writer was in hopes Of seeing her
soon. The letter was mailed to Man
chester, Iowa, and the envelope was
marked "missent."
Sheriff Ellingson then learned that
the girl had been in Calmar a week
ago last Monday, and was wandering
aimlessly around the town. She came
TO the Frank Kuhn home and told the
folks she wanted to go to Spillyille,
and was going to walk and carry her
heavy suit case. Mrs. Kuhn told her
the weather was too hot for her to
walk that far and that Mr.. Kuhn
would take her over later, which he
did. She went to the Fisher hotel,
but they had no room for her, all the
rooms being filled. She then secured
a room at the Frank Kapinos home
and remained there until Tuesday af-
ternoon, when she decided to leave
and remarked she would like to leave
the suit case, as it was too heavy to
carry. She was told to leave the suit
case at the hotel, or leave it at the
house with her address. But she
didn't do either, and took it with her.
a lady saw her walk towards the riv-
er where the suit case was found
Sunday evening. The river was drag
ged, but nothing was found that
would denote the girl committed sui
eide.
After leaving Spillville on Tues
Gay she was observed in Caimar again
Wednesday, having walked in from
the vicinity of Ossian, being picked
Up and given a ride into town by
some man. Mr.. Kuhn saw her and
asked her where her sut case was
and telling ner at the same time he
vas the man who took her to Spill
vile. She remembered then and told
him she must have left it at Fishers
The girl wanted to go TO Fort At
kilson then and Mr., Kuhn took hel
there, but he was unable to find ou
anything about her, who she was, ol
where she came from. He left her a
the Smith hotel in Fort Atkinson
and told the landlady to keep her, a:
she had no money. Last Thursda!
was the last seen of her. The land
lady at the hotel in Fort Atkinson
awoke the girl early Thursday NOR
ming, so she could take the early trail
out, having been promised free rid,
on the train. Some people at the no
tel gave her little money. After sh'
was ready to leave the hotel sh,
didn't go to the depot and take tn,
train, but started to walk up tn,
track, and that was the last anybod.
thereabouts saw Of her.
Why she left her suit case on tn,
river bank is hard to tell. 1t looket
like a case OF suicide at first.
Sheriff Ellingson telephoned to tn,
sheriff at Clinton Monday, and tn,
officer said he would investigate anC
see if he could find out who the gil,
is
At Fort Atkinson she registered a
the Smith hotel as Ruth Lewis, O
Calamus." This town is in Clinton
county, Iowa. The girl was goo,
looking, fairly well dressed, and wa
thought to be about nineteen year
old. Why she left her grip on tn