suicide victim Probe Confirms Suicide Theory in Lemke Case John W. Lemke 1897-12-09T00:00:00 1919-10-19T00:00:00 John William Lemke Lemke's father was William Edward Lemke (usually written William E. Lemke, although once appearing as "William O. Lemke") of Sexauer & Lemke (along with Ernest Sexauer). His mother was Marie "Mary" A. P. Hille. The circumstances surrounding Lemke's death were especially odd in 1919. He was found in the forward cabin of his cruiser strangled, with a bag on his head, and wearing feminine clothing. Lemke's parents believed that the incident was murder, while the police and Dr. Charles Norris (Chief Medical Examiner) believed that it was a suicide. Norris argued the "Lemke was a subject to transvestism (a desire to dress in clothes of the opposite sex)... It is a fact, Dr. Norris pointed out, that subjects of this psychopathic disorder frequently end their own lives unless their desires are satisfied." Because Lemke's death was officially labeled a suicide, he is listed under as such in this ontology.