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VICTIM IS IDENTIFIED AS FORMER AIDE ON LAKE FERRY AT ERIE

Autopsy Shows Mother of Four Did Drown; Police Interview Cleveland, O., Taxi Driver, Sweetheart of Woman Found Near Public Dock

Police today were seeking the slayers of an attractive 27-year-old Erie mother of four, whose body was found in the bay shortly after noon Thursday by an attache of the Bender Marine Supply company, and dragged from the water by Erie coastguards.

The woman has been identified as Mrs. Ethel Fox Post, of 919 Holland street, a former housekeeper aboard the Erie-Dover passenger ship Keystone, who until recently resided with Mrs. Gertrude Beckman, of the same address.

Sweetheart Arrives

Raymond Russ, to whom the woman referred in a diary found on her body, arrived in Erie today and to talk with police regarding Mrs. Post. According to police, Russ was a sweetheart of Mrs. Post and visited her here a short time ago. 

Police said Mrs. Post had separated from her husband, Dorman Post, six years ago. They said they learned he resided in Columbus, O., but were unable to locate him last night.

Identification  was made by Mrs. Beckman and a sister, Doris Fox, of...

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Edwin VanGiesen

Edwin E. VanGiesen, 57, retired farmer of Hartfield, died Monday evening, Jan. 9, 1950 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Edward Johnson, 1009 Newland Ave., Jamestown where he had been for the past two years.

Besides Mrs. Johnson, he is survived by his wife Mrs. Nellie VanGiesen, two other daughters, Mrs. Georald Smith, Portland, and Mrs. W. T. Moss, Mayille, seven grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. 

The remains are at the Carpenter Funeral Home where the funeral will be held Thursday at 1 p. m. with interment in Westfield cemetery.

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Police Await Analysis of Body Before Continuing Probe

While the body of Mrs. Ethel Fox Post, of 919 Holland street, was in the Quinn funeral home, 133 East Fourth Street, being prepared for funeral today, police were bending every effort to determined whether she took her own life or was murdered. 

Further investigation into the death of Mrs. Post, whose body was dragged from Presque Isle bay on Thursday, will depend on a chemical analysis of the stomach contents now being made.

Await Analysis

District Attorney Mortimer E. Graham and Captain of Detectives George Christoph said that their investigation was at a standstill until it had been definitely ascertained whether it was suicide or murder. 

No word has been heard from the girl's mother, who is in Chicago, but the father, who lives in Westfield, N. Y., has informed the coroner that he will arrange for the burial.

Says It's Suicide

Dr. W. G. Stroble, county coroner, said that he was satisfied that the young woman, who was a former stewardess on the Erie-Dover ferry, Keystone, had taken her own life. 

In support of his contentions he said that it was not necessary that there be a large quantity of water in the lungs to substantiate a drowning theory.

His contentions were further supported from information given by Ray Russ, Cleveland taxi driver, and a former sweetheart of the girl, who told the police Friday that she had written him earlier that week threatening suicide.

Deny Dope Angle

A diary carried by the girl also indicated that she had contemplated suicide for in it she wrote: "Boy, oh boy, if I don't land a job soon, it's the lake for me.:

Mrs. Gertrude Beckman, with whom the girl lived, denied today that Mrs. Fox was a dope addict or that drugs had been mentioned in any way in connection with her death, as was stated in another Erie newspaper Friday.