Omaha daily bee., 1919-04-05
INQUEST FAILS
T0SHOW MOTIVE
IN C|RL'SSU|C|DE
Mother Of Mildred HoeItz De-
MES Engagement Ring In
cident, But Says Man
May Know Reason.

death from an overdose of strych-
nine Wednesday taken with suicidal
intent was the verdict OF the cor
oner's jury following the inquest
held yesterday at the undertake
ing establishment of Stack & Fall
coner. 1924 Farnam street.
The motive which prompted the
act probably will remain a mystery.
When Mrs. May Hoeltz, the dead
girls mother, took the witness stand
Paul Steinwender and c. Fl. Kubat
OF the county attorneys office failed
oNbring out in the woman's testl-
mony the nature of a quarrel Tues
day night and Wednesday.
Excused By Questioner.
Mrs. Hoeltz told OF disagree
ment with her daughter, and when
she asked if it was necessary to ex
plain in detail she was told by Mr..
Steinwender that she would be ex-
cused from telling anything she did
not care to relate.
Mrs. Hoeltz told reporter for The
Bee that she quarreled with her
daughter following a visit Tuesday
night to her daughter by A. J.
Smith, travelling salesman.
Il heard my daughter and Mr..
Smith engaged in an earnest con-
versation," she said. Il heard my
daughter say several times, That
subject is too deep for me-
Conversation Not Revealed.
"My daughter always had been
in the habit of telling me every
thing. | insisted on knowing what
Mr.. Smith was talking so seriously
about, and she refused to tell me.
Our disagreement followed.
1t is my opinion that the subject
oil this mysterious conversation and
my scolding Mildred caused her to
end her life. Unless Mr.. Smith tells
the subject he was discussing with
my daughter, the secret will have
died with her"
Denies Ring Incident.
Mrs. Hoeltz denied that her
daughter took off her engagement
ring before leaving the Brandeis
store. 1T could not be true, he
cause she was not engaged to mar
ry," she said. "She did not take
off any rings in the store because
she had them all on when | arrived
home after she took the poison"
Mrs. Hoetz was the first witness
called She told of the bitter ex-
change Of words between herself
and daughter Tuesday night, Il
told my daughter if she did NOT tell
me what her visitor had been talk
ing to her about, she could find
some other place to live
The witness related her story
with streaming eyes, and several
times was overcome with emotion
Engagement With Man. .s.
'When Mildred, according to her
daily custom, failed to spend the
lunch hour with me Wednesday, |
did not think anything of it. be-
cause | knew she had an engage
ment with a man to go to lunch"
she said.
Mrs. Hoeltz declared later that
the mans name was Rockway, and
said he was locomotive engineer
my daughter had been acting
strangely for two weeks" contin-
ued the witness. Il know why, but
is it necessary for me to tell?"
She was told by Mr.. Steinwender
that it was not necessary for her to
relate anything that she did not feel
like telling.
Walker at Inquest.
Harvey d Walker. alleged to be
one of Mrs. Hoeltz's suitors. and
whose wife is suing him for a di-
vorce, attended the inquest. He
declared he was not friend of the
Hoeltz family.
Simply a neighbor and specta-
tor" he said.
Mr.. Walker interrupted the in
quest when he saw The Bee artist
making sketches of the witnesses.
what right has this reporter to
come in here and draw pictures of
these women" the "neighbor and
spectator" inquired in angry and
excited tones.
4 have mighty little use for re-
porters, anyway
Mr.. Walker was told to take his
seat.
Later he displayed the interest of
a close "neighbor and spectator
when he remained by Mrs. Hoeltz' S
side advising her and comforting
her for three-quarters of an hour al
ter the inquest had been concluded.
Mrs. Walker is Interviewed.
While Walker was lowering
around Mrs. Hoeltz at the inquest,
Mrs. Walker was talking to re-
porter for The Bee at her residence,
1887 Capitol avenue.
II am sick OF this publicity" she
exclaimed. Il am glad, however,
Mrs. Hoeltz's and my husband
names have been connected at last"
Mrs. Walker refused to deny or
affirm Mrs. Hoeltz's statement OF
the meeting in Elmwood park be-
tween Walker and Mrs. Hoeltz.
She declared that she did not know
Mrs. Hoeltz, but had known Miss
Mildred.
Mrs. Walker is suing her husband
on the grounds of cruelty.
Anther feature the inquest failed
to clear up was the two lines in the
note left by the dead girl in which
she told her mother to forget and
forgive her and lead good, clean
life"
Denies Girls Meaning.
1t was in connection with this
note that Mrs. Hoeltz Thursday en-
phatically denied that the girls
meaning could in any possible way
b, construed as referring to her al
legged friendship to Mr.. Walker.
Her explanation Of the death note
was that Mildred had lost all faith
n man. Mildred was old for her
years and was simply tired of life
because she had lost all faith in the