San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-09
THE RIVER MYSTERY.
MORE OF THE DOUBLE DROWN
ING YESTERDAY.
The Body of the Drowned Man to
be Shipped-The Baby not Re-
coyered-The Mother Fran
tic-The Inquest.


| FAINT babe of two months, in the river
just behind Harnisch & Baer's ice cream
parlor, is the source of considerable COM
ment and speculation.
Mrs. WeSSon, who was much disturbed
| and grieved over the loss of her babe
! could not be seen in the afternoon. When
| the excitement had somewhat died away
and the body Of the man had been recov-
| cred, parties who had witnessed the affair
| or most of it, were found. Justice Adam
| then began taking testimony, among
| which was that of Mr.. Henry Bohn, a
| saddler in the employ of Mr.. Heye, who
testified that he heard a splash in
| the water and rushed to the bank
| where he found the man, struggling in
the water, having hold of the feet of his
| wife. Mr.. Bohn testitieS that he rescued
| the woman, and attempted to rescue the
man, but the latter forced himself away
| from him, with the words, ''let me go,'
| and then sank. Mr.. Bohn says nothing
| of any other party, or of the babe.
| Mr.. j. III. WeSsOn, a half brother of the
| deceased, testified that his brother was I'm
| good spirits, and had plenty of money.
| He had gone, with his wife, to West End,
| to purchase some property.
A young man named L. j. Martin, of
Uvalde, stopping at the Mahncke, told
| the reporter, last night, that he was sit
| ting in Harnisch ~ Baer's garden, and
eating his cream. at the time of the ac
cident. He noticed Mr.. and Mrs. Wesson
| sitting on the baniSter of the bal
! cony, in the garden, above the
rivers edge, with the child laying
partly on both of their laps. He was
IA hn ha I'd a m
and, looking up, saw the two parties fall
backwards over the baniSter. Rushing
down into boat, with the aid of another
party he drew out the woman, and was
reScuing the man, when some one made a
remark about the baby being in the river.
The deceased then broke away, fiOating
down stream, and sank. Mr.. Martin saw
the child float down stream To the bridge
and sink there. When the reporter told
Mr.. Martin that the authorities had been
looking for him to give his testimony, he
said that the account which he had just
given the reporter, would be substantial
| ly the same thing to which, If called
upon, he would testify.
Mr.. II. Alton, performer in the
Fashion theatre, states that he and
| another young man Ct. j. MARTINI were
| the only persons in the garden besides the
persons figuring in the accident. Alton
| did not see the parties fall, but united the
boats to help rescue them, while they
were yet above water. He says that when
Mrs. WessOn was taken to land, she wept
bitterly. saying, Let me die with my
child" 1t is stated by the parties with
the woman during the afternoon, that she
continually lamented only about the loss
of her baby.
A number of people characterized their
actions as suspicious, two young men. NJ.
| Jesse and w. Dullnig. stating that they
had observed the parties standing on Mar
| ket street bridge, for over an hour.
Mr.. Il. H. WeSSon. half brother of the
deceased. is reported in morning paper
| to have said that he had hoped TO get his
brother TO return to Columbus, and that
| he feared that his brother was not per-
fectly sound in mind.
Miss Mary Baer says they came in,
both looking respondent and he asked
| her what refreshments she would take
She not answering, he gave the order.
| Wien Mrs. WeSsOn was taken out OF
| the water, her dress was not wet, except
about the skirts, and she could not have
fallen into the river backwards, or she
would have been wet all over.
The water along this place of the river
averages from four TO six feet in depth,
and has been the scene of number OF
drowningS.
Divers went into the river searching for
Anderson Washington finally secured the
body of Mr.. WeSSOn, near the boat land
ing at Hewitt'S cigar store. 1t was taken
TO Sheern's mOrgue on Market street,
where it was dressed for burial. Search
for the body of the child was continued
for some hours, but it was not recovered.
Search was resumed this morning.
Relatives of the deceased and OF the
wife of deceased were sent for, some OF
than arriving TODAY.
Mr.. II. II. WesSOn this morning admit
ted that under the momentary excitement
he had remarked that his brother was
crazy, but this was said from the manner
in which he had been told that the acct
dent had occurred. He asked that in JUS
he says is her version of the affair, be
given: She says that they were in the
garden, her husband sitting on the rail-
ing and she standing next to him. Grow
ing tired, she sat on the bannister,
also, resting her feet on the chair,
Her husband held the baby in his lap
and one hand around her. He looked up
into the trees remarking 81 see something
you don't See" Mrs. Wesson then look
ed up for the object birds nest, when
the accident occurred. She says that she
thinks her husband lost his balance, and
having hold of her, both fell into the
river. She further states that her hus-
band was in no manner in low or de-
pressed spirit Yesterday.
Although Mrs. Wesson has been offered
the privilege of giving her testimony be-
I fore the coroner, she has not yet done so.
Up to a late hours this afternoon the
body of the baby has not been found.
The remains of Mr.. Wesson and that OF
the child, when found, will be sent to
Columbus the former home of Mrs. Wes-
son.
Wesson. arrived from Columbus this
morning.
Rigid search has been going on all
/ r,o,.nino 70 recoUpr the bOdV of the dead,