The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-28

B0&r0er at Inc hanE4A ASTA6s
who was driven out by William
Il. Hanna, father of Gertrude
Hanna, the young school teach
er round dead In an unOCeupied
parsonage here, yesterday, was
today charged with being re-
spensible for the girls cOndi-
tIOn of approaching motherhood
by the bitter parent OF the
young WOman
Hoopeston, Ill, April 2S+-One
man, believed by Sheriff Charles \.
Knox to be able to solve the mys-
terry surrounding the death of Ger
trude Hanna, the 25-year school
teacher found dead in an empty
parsonage here, is the center of
sweeping investigation today,
which is expected to result in the
mans arrest within "a hours and
the possible implication of several
others
Although county physician j. G.
Fisher expressed the belief that
Miss Hanna had died within several
days after she disappeared, March
81, it was definitely established
that the body had been placed in
the parsonage basement within the
last week.
J. NJ. Strong, a prominent man
here, who lives near the unOccu-
pied parsonage of the United Pres
byterian church, said today that he
had been through the entire house
a week ago today.
,, Body Placed in Parsonage
He was positive that the girls
body was not on the narrow win
dow ledge where twas found yes
terday by carpenters, at that time.
Mr.. Strong said he had gone u
/ the house looking for a lawn now
er but found the house entirely
! empty.
| Rev. Ut. Maloy, now pastor of &
church in Evanston, was the last
occupant of the house, leaving
/ Hoopeston last December. Since
| that time the church has had no
! pastor, although the house was be
| ing prepared for a new minister
when carpenters making repairs
found the dead girls body yester-
day.
| Although expressing 10 =::ii.s.
| that the girl had Been dead for
nearly a month. DR.. Fisher said to-
day that the intestinal organs were
in almost perfect condition and ap-
Ieared in as good condition as II
the young woman had been dead
but "a hours.
This led to the theory that tn.
body had been kept on ice OF in d
cool place.
Other parts of the body, however,
were not in good condition and fol
lowing taking of the body to a To-
cal undertaken it was decided 20
hold the funeral this afternoon.
Private Funeral Today.
A private funeral will be held
from the home of the girls parents
Mr. and Mrs. William T. Hanna
Rev. E. N. Smith, pastor of tbs
Christian church here, will offici.
ate.
Pursuing the story that a mar
living in Hoopeston is responsible
for the girls death, Sheriff Enoi
and States Attorney John II. Lew
man spent the day rounding III
young men who were intimatt
friends Of Miss Hanna. The sher
: iff expressed the opinion, however
that if one certain man is found, h
will be able to clear up man
angles of the case, which has prov
ed the most battling in local au
thorities' recollection.
William Hanna. the girls father
also broke his silence of yesterday
and declared he believed he knew
the man who was responsible fOl
the girls death. An autopsy on thr
body last night disclosed that Mis-
Hanna was approaching maternity
and the man sought is thought t
be one who was said to have beer
seen frequently with the girl.
To AnaIyze Organs.
Pending a chemical analysis o
the young womaa's internal organs
an inquest over the body has beer
postponed by Coroner John Cole
The contents Of the stomach havt
been cent TO Danvilie. where 1t i.
understood they will be Forwarded
today to the University of Illinois
at Urbana, for examination.
I A thorough examination OF th'
! body disclosed no marks of vic
lence. according to Coroner Cole
and there were no acid burns abou
! the mouth. AS result, the cor
oner holds to the theory that the
girl was chlorotormed or asphyx
lated, though he would make no fur
ther explanation Of the reasons fol
his BELLE.
Opinion is practically unanimou.
that Gertrude Hanna was murdered
suicide theory having been aban
dened after Mr.. Strong told of hi
visit to the empty parsonage
i week ago.
Chicago. April 2S.-Rev. J.
: Maloy said today he had been re
Quested several weeks ago to al
in a search for Miss Gertrude Han
Ina. It was thoaght. that perhsp
t she had returned TO work in Ch
( cago, where she had been a cleT
! lin a mail order house for som
time