Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-02-08
NO VERDICT is
RETURNED UPON
WOMAn'SDEATH
Coroner's Jury Decides to With
hold Ruling Pending Further
Investigation OF Case.
FINE FELLOWS AND MIKEsELL
Two Men Found in Drunken StupOr
Beside Body Are Assessed
Lightly on City Charges.

a uS-45iDA 10 WIt0lOlO NeTu4CL
pending further investigation into
the death of Mrs. Ella May Fellows,
2S10 Seventh avenue, was reached
by a cOrOner's jury at an inquest
held at the Wheelan undertaking
parlOrs last night
Frank Fellows, husband of the
dead woman. and Harry Mikesel,
friend OF Fellows and a visitor at
the house of death on the night of
the tragedy, were remanded 10 jail
upon order of Acting Coroner 10
.eph 2. Kelly This morning the
former was fined IS and the latter
So on disorderly conduct charges
and both were released by the pO-
lice
lice. Later in the day the acting
coroner swOre out warrants for
both men for drunkenness as
means Of holding them while the
case is under investigation.
Fellows and Mikesell were found
sitting on chairs in the kitchen be-
side the body Of Mrs. Fellows when
the police arrived about o'clock
Thursday morning. Both men seem
I'd to be in a drunken stupor and
were unable to talk
Il could detect the odor of whis-
ky about her mouth testified DR..
DaSilva. Il saw no evidence of foul
play or violence Of any kind, nor
are there any bruises upon her
body with the exception of a slight
blue mark between the elbow and
shoulder on the inside of the left
arm. There is also no evidence
which can usually be noted upon
those who are overcome by gas. 1t
my opinion that alcoholism and
exposure caused the death of Mrs.
Fellows
DR.. De Silva stated that he per-
formed no post mortem upon the
remains, and asserted it to be his
belief that such a procedure at this
late date would reveal nothing.
Three Theories Advanced.
Last evenings investigation fail
ed completely in solving any of the
three principal theories advanced
from the very first with the dis
covery of the woman's scantily
clad. lifeless body, namely:
First, that death resulted from
effects of alcoholic excess and eX-
posture, the hypothesis advanced
and substantiated by DR.. De Silva's
testimony; or.
Second, that Mrs Fellows died
from effects Of gas, liquor and eX
posture. jets on the kitchen gas
range being opened by herself with
suicidal intent; or,
Third, the supposition of muir
der. There exists among those who
hold to this theory, however. wide
divergence Of opinion of how and
by whom the crime may have been
committed
StrauguIatiOn or smOthering in
any form or known manner would
have left unmistakable tell-tdle
marks and symptoms, according to
DR. De Silva
Injection of an insidious poison
iPtO the veins of the unfortunate
woman is a possible but improbable
cause of death.
Forcing or coaxing her to be
come intoxicated and then in the
debauch unthinkingly opening the
gas jets without the knowledge of
the unfortunate woman is a moro
plausible suppositiOn But the body
bore no signs of asphyXiation. &C
cording to Dr. De Silva's testimony.
A fourth solution Of the mystery
is upheld in some official quarters
That is. that in the drunken orgy,
in which a quarrel is supposed to
have developed, the gas jets on the
stove were accidentally pushed
open.
If further evidence is brought to
light in proof that Mrs. Fellows
was murdered or came to her death
through criminal drunken negli-
gence. her husband and NTikeseIl
will he implicated as the two men
responsible They maintain that
there were no other visitors at the
house that night. in direct contra
~liCtion to Miss Mayme Moran of
ArcOla, III. a companion of Mrs.
John Cross. upstairs roOmer. who
testified that she saw and heard
two strange men quietly enter the
Fellows home at II 40 Wednesday
night She said they made but
little noise and that she did not
hear them depart.
All KnvEn Witnesses Heard.
Mrs. Cross, who. with her hus-
band, three children and a friend
and companion. Miss Wayne Mo-
ran of ArcOla, ILL.,. occupied The
two front upstairs rooms at the
Fellows residence, Miss Moran,
Mrs Clarence Gotthardt, who. with