Man, Wife Are Victims of Monoxide at Trailer Camp
Bodies of Couple Found By Brother-in-Law; Dead For Two Days
Anton Rieser (sic), 25 and his wife, Violet, 21, were found dead today
in a trailer at the Wisconsin Trailer Sales Camp on Calumet Avenue.
Dr. Theodore Teitgen, county coroner, said they were victims of fumes
from an improperly connected distillate stove. Dr. Teitgen said they
had been dead for at least two days. He set the time of death at 6 p.m.
Wednesday.
The bodies were discovered this morning by William Bonlander, route 1,
Rieser's brother-in-law. Mrs. Bonlander, Rieser's sister, received a
telephone call from another sister, Mrs. Harold Tompkins, 728 South 27th
street, this morning and was told that Rieser had not been to work for
two days. He was employed by Tompkins. Bonlander went to the trailer to
see what was wrong.
Last Seen Tuesday
The Riesers were last seen at the camp Tuesday night. Bonlander called
at the trailer yesterday, heard the radio playing, but left when he
received no answer after rapping on the door. The radio was playing this
morning when the trailer was opened and the Riesers were found dead, both
lying on the trailer bed. Rieser had evidently started to get out of bed
when he was overcome.
District Attorney John C. Danielson and Deputy Gene Spevachek investigated
the death with Dr. Teitgen this morning. The officers said no inquest is
planned.
The stove, which the Riesers got from Bonlander, was improperly connected.
The floor vent had not been placed outside the trailer and the exhaust
pipe, instead of being extended outside, was set against the trailer air
vent. It was not padded or sealed and the fumes escaped into the trailer
instead of outside. Bonlander said that he had explained how the stove
was to be set up and that Rieser had told him he was going
(continued on page 12, Col. 5)
COUPLE FOUND DEAD IN TRAILER CAMP
(Continued from page 1)
to call a service man in Manitowoc to set it up.
Dishes on Table
In the trailer was a letter, dated October 30th, addressed to Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas Labinski, Milwaukee, and signed by Mrs. Rieser.
"Dear Aunt and Uncle," the letter started. "Just a few lines to let you
know we are all well and hope you are the same..."
The letter was evidently dated a day ahead, authorities said. A second
letter, identical in wording was found on a pad but it had not been
finished. The letter stated that they had just funished supper. The supper
dishes were on a table in the trailer.
The Riesers had been at the camp for only a week. Previously they were
employed at the Log Cabin, a tavern about ten miles south of Manitowoc.
They were married a year ago last June.
Funeral services will probably be held tomorrow. The bodies are at the
Leschke funeral home.
Mrs. Rieser, the former Violet Ziarnik of this city, is survived by two
sisters, Mrs. Nile Gates of Two Rivers and Mrs. Dave Balte, Jr., of
Manitowoc; and five brothers, Andrew, Leonard and Adolph Ziarnik of
Manitowoc, Daniel of California, and Clarence of Lloyd, Florida. Her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ziarnek, are dead.
Rieser's parents are Mr. and Mrs. William Rieser of Marshfield, route 3.
They survive, together with a brother, Paul, of Marshfield route 3; and
three sisters, Mrs. Harold Tompkins, city; Mrs. William Bonlander,
route 1; and Mrs. James Weisfeld, Gilman route 1.
Manitowoc Herald Times, October 31, 1941 P.1 & 12