New-York tribune., 1919-10-20
Mrs. William E. Lemke,
Wife of Iron Manufac-
turer, Stumbles Over
Body on Motor Boat
Suicide, Say Police;
Family Denies 1t
r.
Left Home in Cheerful
Mood Only Seven Hours
Before, They Declare

John w. Lempke. the twenty-one-
year-old son of William K. Lempke, an
iron manufacturer, rode away from his
home, at 221 South Parsons Avenue,
Flushing. on his motorcycle about
p. m. yesterday. He was bound for
College Point to inspect his fathers
motor cruiser, which had been moored
there for a week, Il temptation to
Sound pirates. The young man wore
the blouse and trousers he had worn
as member Of the Naval Reserve. AS
his cycle flashed down the driveway he
waved gay farewell to his mother
and sister, Mildred Lempke.
"I'll be back soon," he called, "and
take you out in the car"
Seven hours later his body was
found, garbed completely in feminine
finery, from high heeled shoes and silk
stockings to blue serge dress of fine
texture, lying, apparently strangled, on
the cabin floor Of the Mildred j., his
fathers cruiser. His hands and feet
were tied; an oilcloth had been fas-
tened about his head like hangman's
cap, made fast about the neck with Il
rope that had sunk deep into the
flesh. There was a small mark near
his mouth which might have been due
to & burn.
Police Call 1t Suicide
The police declare it was a case of
suicide and assert the young man had
drunk part Of the contents of a bottle
of lysol which they found i'll the cabin
Of the boat The parents of the youth
declare it was murder. that they will
have their family physician at the
autopsy and will spend their last cent
tosdisprove the allegation Of the police
and to trail the murderer.
Mrs. Lempke and her daughter waited
all the afternoon for the young man
to return. At supper time he had not
come, and after an anxious and Nasty
meal they set out in the automobile
away for the afternoon. 1t is about
three miles from the Lempke home to
the mooring place Of the Mildred J. off
Seventh Avenue, College Point. Mrs.
Lempke and her daughter made short
work of the distance.
The young mans motorcycle was in
q shed at Char TeWes's confection-
cry shop near 80, nding. Tewes told
the worried wolnt that Lempkc had
left it there abou. 3 O'Clock and had
rowed out to the Mildred j. That was
the last Tewes had seen of him.
Stumble Over Body
The women found man to row them
%<, =
aboard and entered the cabin. She
stumbled over something on the floor,
and liEh; which she flashed at it
revealed wnat she took to be the body
Of a young woman, lying in con
torted position. One glance suficed to
tell Mrs. Lempke there was no life in
the body.
She went out hastily, told the boat
man there was something wrong and
she must go ashore ard telephone her
husband. On getting her message Mr..
Lcmpkc borrowed ncighbor's auto
mobile and sped to College Point.
He cut the rope which bound the oil
cloth around the neck Of the figure on
the cabin floor and the dead face of his
son stared up at him. Mr.. Lqmpke
staggered on deck and into the row
boat. Az soon as be could reach a
telephone he notified the police.
The body had been clothed COM
plotely in woman's apparel and every
fastening was neatly adjusted. The
youths own clothes lay on Il chair
nents Of the rather small cabin showed
not the slightest sign of struggle.
Nothing had been broken, upset or
even disarrangcd. Forty-four dollars
and eg ty-cight cents were in -
pocket Of the young man's clothes. His
family thought he had no more with
him when he set out.
Body and Feet Bound
His body had been dashed with
wrapping after wrapping of rope. Tho
right hand was bound in front of his
body and the left one behind it. An
other rope bound his ankles.
The clothing he wore belonged 70 no
one in the family. His mother declared
scoffed at the idea that her son might
have donncd it himself
The lysol bottle. Of which the police
made so much, was her own. she said.
She kept it on tho motorboat to be
used az an antiseptic in case of acci-
dent. It WAS likely, she thought, that
some Of its contents had been used. as
she did not remember she had renewed
the supply.
"Thc boy was murdered without a
doubt" said Mrs. Lempke. 81 know
that boy couldn't have killed himself
in the manner he was killed, even II he
had wished to do so. But no ddn' Z
wish to do 40. I know him and know
that TO be true. He was happy and in
the best of health. He had everything
to live for. His father provided for
him bountfully. and there was nothing
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