The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-01-04
Body of John Paridice, 20, Found by Hunter in
Van Ingen Woods South of Keno
sha Saturday Evening
CASE OF SUICIDE OR MURDER!
Belief That Man Had Been Murdered is Finally Dis
carded by Police Here to Give Way to
Theory Of Suicide.

Half-buried in the sand, the body of
John Paridice, aged 20, a former Keno
sha soldier, who had lived at 301 West
colt street, was found just after four
thirty o'clock Saturday evening lying
under a tree along the lake shore in
the Van Ingen woods one mile and :
half south of Kenosha. Indications
first seemed to point that the young
man had been murdered, and that his
body had been taken to the lonely spot
by the murderers. Later investiga-
tions served to clear up the mystery
attendant to the young mans death
and strengthened the belief that the
former soldier had committed suicide.
The coroner's jury, under the direc-
tion Of Coroner Truman T. Parker and
District Attorney Frank S. Symmonds,
and with the aid Of the police officials,
have made thorough probe into the
case, and while there are yet some
strange angles to it, have reached de-
cision that suicide was probable.
The formal inquest into the death
was being held this afternoon under
the direction of Coroner Truman T..
Parker when the formal report on the
autopsy would be filed. Late this af-
ternoon the finding Of other cartridges
of the deceased added to the belief that
the man had committed suicide.
Body Found by Hunter.
The mystery developed on, Saturday
afternoon, when Herman Apple, former
army captain, stumbled across the body
while he was hunting in the Van Ingen
woods. Without molesting it, he hur-
ried to call the aid of Captain John D.
Alexander and other members Of the
Kenosha Cavalry troop, who were exer-
eising some of the horses nearby. The
body was in such a position that it ap-
pesred that the man had crawled under
the trees to rest, had fallen asleep and
had been frozen to death.
Captain Alexander gave strict orders
that the body should not be touched
and left detail on guard while he
summoned police authorities and Coro-
ner Parker.
Wrapped Closely in Coat.
The police ambulance, with Sergeant
Emil Meissner and Detective Charles
Rock and Policeman McGivern, an
swered the call, bringing Coroner Par
ker to begin his investigation. The
body just as it was found lay stretched
out on sandbank under tree. The
army overcoat which the man wore had
the collar turned up around his neck:
the left hand was thrust through the
overcoat pocket and into the trousers
pocket; the right hand was over the
breast. The cap had blown halfway
off, leaving the hair filled with sand.
All then gave the appearance that
the man had died from exposure. At
she direction Of the coroner the re-
mains were brought to the Hansen
morgue on South street A partial
aearch Of the place where the body was
found failed to reveal any hing of in
terest.>
First Thought to Be Murder.
At the morgue it was discovered that
the left eye was sunken, and it was be-
leved then that the man had been shot
through the eye, Further investiga-
tion revealed that there had been q
bullet shot just below the heart.
Though the vest was buttoned closely
about the body, the bullet had not
pierced hole through the breast, but