WOMAN DECAPITATED BY COUNTRY CLUB CAR.
Mrs. Caroline Wahlenmaier, Wealthy Widow, Meets Instant Death.
Mrs. Caroline Wahlenmaier, 65 years old, widow of J. W. Wahlenmaier, a wealthy pioneer citizen of Kansas City, was struck and killed by a northbound Country Club car at 5 o'clock yesterday evening at Firty-first and McGee streets. The head was severed from the body and death was instantaneous.
Mrs. Wahlenmaier made her home with her son, A. G. Wahlenmaier, an automobile dealer, at 5110 Main street. She had been to a neighborhood grocery store and was on her way home with some purchases. The care was slowing down to take on passengers, and did not move more than six feet after it struck her. Witnesses told Patrolman B. D. Crowley that the woman seemed absent-minded, and either did not notice the car or thought that she could cross ahead of it. They declared that they did not believe the motorman was to blame.
The motorman, L. R. Marshall, 4530 Virginia avenue, and the conductor, V. T. Todd, 4836 Charlotte street, were arrested and taken to police headquarters. They were held until two of the sons of the dead woman appeared and asked that they be released, declaring that they believed the accident to be unavoidable, and due to the failing faculties of their mother. The two men were released under orders to appear and make statements today at the prosecutor's office.
Mrs. Wahlenmaier was the owner of the Wahlenmaier building, the finest office building in Kansas City, Kas., and many other properties in both Kansas Citys. She is survived by three sons: A. G., with whom she made her home, W. F. of Seattle, Wash., and F. C. Wahlenmaier, an oculist living at the Densmore hotel, and a daughter, Mrs. L. F. Barney, wife of Dr. L. F. Barney, living at the Hotel Grand in Kansas City, Kas.
Both Mrs. Wahlenmaier and her husband were born in Germany and came to the United States with their parents when they were children. She would have been 66 years old today. The parents of both settled in Kansas City, Kas. Mrs. Wahlenmaier lived for forty-seven years at her hold home at 436 Washington boulevard, Kansas City, Kas. Her husband was a pioneer lumber dealer and for many years conducted a lumber yard at what is now Fourth street and Washington boulevard. He was prominent in civic affairs and became an extensive property holder. When he bought the land on which the Wahlemaier building now stands at Eight street and Minnesota avenue, it was covered with underbrush. He died thirty-one years ago. Mrs. Wahlenmamier recently went to live at the home of her son, near where she was killed. She had one sister, Mrs. Catherine Brune, who lives at Lakeview, Kas.
