Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-11-15
COMES HOME.
TO FIND HIS
FAMILY DEAD.
Moline Man Discovers His
Wife and Children in
Gas-Filled Room.
When Arthur v. Eckerman, sales

When Arthur v. Eckerman. sales
man at Shallene Bros. furniture
, store, returned from work to his
home at 1927 Thirteenth street. Nc
line. at $3.50 o'clock last night, he
found his wife and two little chill
dren. Vincent. aged 8. and Bernice.
dren. Vincent. aged 6. and Bernice,
of the floor Of his gas-filled living
room. The windows were closed,
the house alright. and four gas
burners In the kitchen stove were
pouring forth the poisonous fumes
which had brought death to his
family.
A coroner's Jury this morning re-
turned verdict OF suicide in the
death Of Mrs. Eckermann and Of
homicide in those Of the two chill
dren. finding that the mother turn
ed on the gas with the intention
Of destroying her own life and that
Of the two children" The tragedy
appears to be the elimination OF
sickness, domestic unhappiness and
mental arrangement.
Leaves No Explanation.
Mrs. Eckermann left no explain
atory note. She did not act In an
unusual manner when her hus-
band left home yesterday morning.
According to evidence presented at
the inquest. the children went to
their death quietly. The mother
apparently put her baby and little
girl to sleep. turned on the gas and
then laid down between them.
DR.. M. 8. Dondanville, who was
called by neighbors, stated that
the baby probably had been dead
for about six hours when the faith
or came home. The mother and
son, he said, probably had been
dead about three hours. The chill.
dren were dressed in their best
clothes and the mother also wal
clad in her best attire. The grief.
stricken husband and father de.
clined to discuss the affair at any
length.
Mr.. Eckermann is employed al
clerk in the Shallene Bros. furni.
ture store. He was born and rear.
ed in Moline, and with the excep.
tion Of about five years spent in
Waterloo, Iowa, lived here his en-.
tire life. He is brother to Oscar
A. Eckermann, chief architect fol
Deere & Co.
Sought Medical Aid.
Il have had some very difficult
times with my wife," said Mr.. Eek
ermann. when called to testify BY
Coroner Maberry. "She had seem
ed peculiar and in my mind she al
times seemed insane. On several
occasions I had thought Of calling
medical attention for my wife, but
ehe had violently opposed It. Fol
this reason I did not call a physi.
clan. have never heard her state
she would kill herself" .'.
Mrs. Eckermann, according tc
her sister, had been Ill for man,
years. the sickness dating back tG
the time the boy was born si1
years ago. According to the neigh.
bors, Mrs. Eckermann was q gOoG
housekeeper, and always did hel
work we'll. The house was kept ir
a neat and attractive manner.
Members Of the jury who inquir.
ed into the tragedy were Georgs
e. Carlson. foreman: J. H. Bush
ong, G. E. Landee. H. M. Oldefest
Richard Ross and Edward C. Pet
tit.
Funeral services will be held ir
the Esterdahl chapel, 1916 Fifth
avenue, Moline, at 2:30 Sunday aft
ernoon. The mother and her two
children will be buried in River
side cemetery. Services will b
private and for members Of thu
family only.
Mrs. Eckermann, whose maidel
name was Florence Charlotte Han
son, was born Jan. Is, 1884. II
Geneseo. She is the daughter .
Mr.. and Mrs. Erick Hanson o
Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Surviving he
are the widower, her parents, fou
sisters, Mrs. G. J. Kennedy, l.
Porte City, Iowa; Mrs. W. l.. VIII
son, Seattle, Wash; Mrs. Alber
Bloomquist, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Mrs. M. M. Eckwall. Kewanee, Ill.
two brothers, Paulus Hanson. Mar
tin Hanson, both Of Cedar Rapids
Bernice Virginia Eckermann wa
/born March 8, 1919. in Moline. Jo
? Vincent Eckermann was born Oct
6, 1918. In Moline.