PRATT, Lois (Koehring) died 1945

PRATT, KOEHRING

Posted By: LA (email)
Date: 7/30/2019 at 14:31:10

DEATH OF BRIDE HELD ACCIDENT
Waukon, Ia. – Special: The case of the disappearing bride has been solved, with death by drowning providing the answer to Allamakee county's two-day mystery.

County officials decided last Tuesday that Mrs. Charles Pratt, 27, reported missing Sunday, by her husband of a week from their honeymoon cottage at Waukon Junction, “met accidental death by drowning from all general appearances.”

Question Relatives
The officers, Dr. C. C. Boyden, the county coroner, County Attorney Herman Haelblen, and Sheriff L. J. Bulman, reached this conclusion after examining the body, found floating in three feet of water, approximately 20 feet from the couple's cottage on the Mississippi earlier in the day by Bert Williams, Harper's Ferry, and questioning the bereaved groom, Pfc. Pratt, home on a 30-day redeployment leave from the European theater, and the woman's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Koehring.

Finds Bride Gone
The bride, apparently happy and in fine spirits, was last seen alive Sunday morning as her soldier-husband left for a fishing expedition on the river. When he returned several hours later, the husband could find no trace of Mrs. Pratt, to whom he was wed Aug. 18.

When a search of the vicinity failed to locate her, the soldier notified her parents in Waukon, and they joined him in the hunt. Late Sunday, they notified the sheriff.

Trailed to River
Allamakee county officials and a number of friends of the bride and groom, headed by Sheriff Bulman, fine-combed the wooded area along the Mississippi, while a number of fishermen searched the waters.

Late Monday afternoon, bloodhounds from LaCrosse were taken to the scene. They trailed her from the honeymoon cottage to the river's edge.
Fishermen's and cottage owner's boats were pressed into service and they dragged until late Monday night. Dragging operations were resumed Tuesday morning.

Discovers Body
Bert Williams, Harpers Ferry, an employ of the State Conservation office, using a high speed boat, churned the waters for a wide area and it was while making one of his “runs” that he discovered the body floating, only a short distance from the Wagner Cottage, which was rented by the victim and her soldier husband.

Examination of the body later disclosed that there were no marks of any kind. Several advanced the theory that she probably went down to the river, to be there when her husband returned from a fishing trip, was seized with a fainting spell and fell into the water and drowned.

Funeral Thursday
The body is at the Martin Brother's funeral home, from where it will be taken Wednesday to her parent's home. Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon from the Salem Reformed church in Ludlow township, the Rev. E. M. DeBuhr, pastor, to officiate.

Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery.

source: Dubuque Telegraph Herald, 29 April 1945. P 2 C 3