Evening star., 1960-03-20

one of the Midwest's scenic wo
That decision, by cruel q
derS this week in one of the
most shocking crimes in Illinois
history.
The three women, wives of
leading Chicago businessmen,
were close friends and had
much in common. They were
avid gardeners, active in the
affairs of the Presbyterian
Church in their suburb of
Riverside and devoted mothers
of grown children.
Husband an Invalid
But Mrs. Getting, a dark
haired and reserved woman of
so, had been under strain of
long standing. Her husband,
George Getting, general super
visor of internal audits for the
Illinois Bell Telephone Co., was
stricken with heart disease that
kept him from work for three
years. Just a month ago he
suffered a setback.
Her friend Frankie" urged
her to take a few days rest be-
cause she was "frazzled on
the verge of a nervous break
down"
frankie, q woman who loved
roses, bridge and country club
dances, was Mrs. France
Murphy, Al, wife of Robert
Murphy, vice president and
general counsel of Borg-Warner
Corp. The two women often
had visited the year-round re-
sort. accompanied by their
husbands.
The third woman, Mrs. Mil
dred LindquiSt, so, had never
been to Starved Rock but was
more than willing to go if Mrs.
Getting would come along. The
brown haired Mrs. Lindquist, a
smart dresser. regally attrac-
tive, was the wife of Robert
Lindquist, a vice president of
Harris Trust & Savings Bank.
The three husbands thought
q few days vacation for their
wives was a fine idea.
Friend Backs Out
A fourth woman, Mrs. Rus
sell Middaugh of Riverside, had
hoped to come along but at the
last minute found she couldn't.
So Monday morning. Mrs.
Murphy picked up her two
friends in her station wagon
and they left Riverside in a
gay. expectant mood at 10 am.
They drove the 81 miles to
Starved Rock, southwest Of
Chicago, and checked into the
lodge at 1890 pm.
They had lunch at the lodge,
changed into hiking clothes and
put on overshoes in their rooms
and then started for one Of the
trails that criss-cross the l.437
acres of rough, rocky and
heavily wooded terrain along
the south bank of the Illinois
River.
There would be no problem
with crowds this day. There
were only 26 overnight visitors
registered at the lodge.
Encounter Janitor
Near the lodge they passed
by Emil Boehm. 81, a janitor
employed there.
Its a lovely day for a hike, y
one of them said.
Yes, it is" he agreed.
They walked Onto a hor-
rible death that wasn't dis
covered for two days.
At his home in Riverside, Mr.
Getting, So, looked at his wrist
watch and frowned. 1t was 1C
pm. Monday and his wife
hadn't telephoned. Mr.. Oct
ting had told his wife not to
worry about him, but she in
sisted she would call to learn
how he wae ting. 1t wasn't
like her to forget.
He WASH alarmed, but he
te'~ ned the lodge before he
retired.
-- brother, Herman. said
lodge employees told Mr.. Getting
his wife and the others were
not in their rooms.
Mr.. Getting thought they
might have gone to a movie
so went to bed.
Herman said his brother
colled the lodge Tuesday anc
was told tn ewomen had break.
fast there that morning, but
were gone.
Heavy Snow Falls
Mr.. Getting called agair
Tuesday night, each time leav-
ing word for his wife to cal