Minnie Reum
July 8, 1892-June 8, 1953
Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 9, 1953, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
Body of Woman Found on Road
Autopsy Is Ordered to Determine Death Cause
The death of Mrs. Minnie Reum was due to natural causes, Dr. Robert Frost, Michigan City Pathologist, ruled today, following an autopsy of the body completed at noon. Dr. Frost said death was due to a heart attack. Investigating officers said Mrs. Reum might have been dumped from an automobile, but it is believed that she was dead at the time her body was abandoned.
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The body of a 60-year-old Niles woman was found under mysterious circumstances on the Ullrey Road about three miles north of Niles near Pucker street about three miles north of Niles near Pucker street about 10:30 p.m. Monday.
An autopsy to determine the cause of death of Mrs. Minnie Reum, 1015 North Eighth street, was ordered by Coroner Franklin G. Rice Jr.
The Berrien County Sheriff's department reported today that it “fairly apparent to investigating officers that death did not occur at the point where the body was found.”
Joseph P. Howe, 1003 Ontario street, discovered the body. He was driving north on Ullrey road when he passed the dead woman. He returned and parked near the body, which was lying on the north side of the road.
At the same time, Eugene Murphy and his wife, rural route two, Niles, arrived at the scen in their car. Murphy called Niles police, who notified, the sheriff's department.
Conducting the investigation were Sgt. Robert Rinker, Sgt. Edward Sandera and Detective Joseph Anderson, all of the sheriff's department.
In the report made today, the officers said they found no trace of violence about Mrs. Reum's body, and nothing on her person to connect her with the scene where her body was found. There were no footprints in the area.
Investigation officers have concluded from the evidence that the woman died elsewhere and her body was brought in an automobile to the spot where it was found. A search for the automobile is underway, but officers today reported little hope of finding it.
Surviving are one son, Marcus Burnell Marks, Niles; four brothers, Thomas, Lonnie, Fred and Otto Applegate, all of Niles, and three sisters, Mrs. Goldie Jones, Muncie, Ind., and Mrs. Sylvia Mahoney and Mrs. Gertrude Chalmers, Marion, Ind.
Mrs. Reum was born on July 8, 1892, in Marion, Ind., and came here in 1929.
Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Thursday by the Raymond L. McCoy, pastor of the First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.