The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-18
THE DEAD BODY FOUND.
1T WAS IDEETIFIED AZ THAT on
W.H. SIMPSON Alas HARRIS.
A Somewhat Mysteriou. Disappearance of
white Man IL Partially Solved.
History of the Case.

The body OF the man who gave as his
name W. II. Simpson alias Harris, and
whose mysterious disappearance at the
time afforded reason for suspecting his
companion Of throwing him or the Tired
egar bridge on Friday night. November
3d. was found in the river near the Tired
egar bridge yesterday afternoon. The re-
mains were discovered by Lee Brooks.
The head was lying on a rock. and was
slightly raised out Of the water. The re-
mains were at once taken to the bank.
and Coroner Taylor summoned. He found
that the body was considerably decOm-
posed. In the pocket Of the mans coat
were found papers with the name "W. II.
Simpson" on them, and other things about
the remains served to identify the body
as that OF Simpson. alias Harris. The
remains were turned over 10 the aims
house officials, and were buried at the
public expense
At the time Of the mans disappear
ance IL was suspected that he had been
pitched off the bridge into the river by
a PAL OF his who slept that night with
him on the Tredegar bridge. Efforts were
made 10 recover the body but were UNI
about as follows:
Last August man giving his name
as Harris applied at the boarding house
Of Mrs. Trice. on Sixth and Canal streets,
for lodging. He stated that his home was
in Baltimore and he was n barber by
trade. He left soon afterwards. and Mrs.
Trice saw nothing more Of him until
the afternoon Of November 81, when he
returned with two other men. one Of
rf J. fr
name Of the third man was unknown. ex-
cept he went by the cognomen Of Mike"
Harris as he was known to Mrs. Trice.
said ne wanted to engage board for him
self and companions. but that he had no
money. IL was agreed that Mike" should
have room at the boarding house, and
Harris left some clothing 1t the house.
The three men, who were at the time I'M
der the influence Of liquor. left about
O'Clock In the afternoon. About II O'Clock
that night the man Mulligan returned.
aud spent the night He left the house
az . o'clock the next morning. stating that
he was going TO the Tredegar Works.
Whe'J he had secured employment lie
returned for breakfast and reported that
Harris and his unknown companion had
slept In the Tredegar bridge and that
the former in his sleep had fallen into
the river and was drowned. He further
stated that the man who was with Har-
ris had suddenly disappeared and could
not be found
Mrs. Trice Immediately had the case re-
ported TO police headquarters and Ser
geant Hall began a search for the missing
man. The fellow had evidently left the
CITY however, for no clue to his where
abouts could be discovered.
The Waterman at the Tredegar bridge
stated that when he relieved the night
Waterman that morning, the latter said
that man, who seemed considerably
agitated. told him that a man had fallen
from the bridge about o'clock i'm the
morning. and was drowned
Inc three men We're IN Bernstein's
restaurant and bar on Cary street. sew /
eral times Friday afternoon. November I'd. /
and got supper there SIR. Bernstein /
said that Harris introduced himself as
W. H. Simpson. He exhibited a paper /
which recommended Wv. II. Simpson as
good bartender. and was signed "E T.. /
Church. York Penn The unknown man. .
who went by the name Of Mike" called /
at Bernsteln's the next morning, and told /
the proprietor that he had heard from /.
Watchman from the Tredegar COMPANY !
that he had seen two men crossing the /,
bridge about II o'clock Friday night. and /
that one Of them had come 10 him 0he /
Waterman and said that he feared some /
bAtliltn llHAA 10 DIFlltu 10 AIIs Simpson,
his companion, as they had both gone to /
sleep on the bridge, and that he was /
aroused by a noise and splash in the .
water below. and could see nothing Of /
his friend. He was sure his companion /
had fallen into the river.
The place where the man is supposed /
60 have fallen from the bridge, or been /
pushed of, is about ten feet from the
bank on the Richmond side. The sleepers
are covered with planks for some forty
feet from the end.
The man Mike" whom the authori-
ties were seeking, Is about twenty-five
years old, five feet ten inches high dark
complexion and moustache, and when
last seen wore dark coat and trousers
and q black derby hat.
The story of the companion Of Simp-
son was not credited at first, and the
finding Of the body was unexpected Who
Simpson really was has never been ascer-
tanned.