Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-24
SIMPSON Is MISSING.
HIS FRIEND THINKS He FELL INTO THE
RIVER WHILE ASLEEP.
He and Miller Being Homeless Sought Hest
in the Bclle-Isle Bridge, Whence
the Former Disappeared.

A white man named w. II. Simpson
"a x,,pposed 20 have fallen OF Belle
Isle bridge Friday night and lost his
/ life In the eddying current below, but as
vet no trace OF his body has been found.
/ The missing man, who came to this
! city with a friend named Albert Miller,
for the purpose of seeking work, had
been drinking a good deal on the night
I OF his disappearance, and about V'SV
/ o'clock he and his companion went over
/ to the bridge, which. with the exception
! of an outside walkway, Is a covered
I structure. The two wanderers, who were
| homeless went inside TO sleep, and In
| short Will they were slumbering peace
fully, Once Miller awoke. and his COM
| panion was stu with him. Later on,
according 10 his story he was aroused
/ by cry and looking down through an
opening in the bottom of the bridge. he
saw his friend struggling in the river
below.
/ ADVISED THE POLICE.
Miller came back to the city and told
| some OF his acquaintance OF the occur
renee. He also notified the police OF the
| accident. and yesterday officer John T.
Hall spent some time in investigating the
matter.
The two men did an exceedingly dan
gerous thing when they went in the
| bridge TO sleep, for the bottom OF the
structure Is poorly planked over, and
( there are many openings sufficiently
| large to admit Of a mans falling
through.
J Miller the companion OF the drowned
man, says he had been acquainted with
Simpson for some time, and that he met
| him In Baltimore a few days ago and
came on to Richmond with him. He does
! not think Simpson was thrown over,
! as has been intimated. Miller says that
! as far as he knew no one had a grudge
against his friend, and that there was
no reason for numbering him. as he had
no money.
! MILLER GREATLY DISTURBED.
! The companion Of the drowned man.
! who Is a travel-worn fellow about -
years Of age, with an honest face. APP
peared 10 be greatly disturbed about the
| accident last night as he seemed to
think the police would suspect him as
| the slayer of Simpson. lie said he al
! ways had the ldndest feelings towards
the drowned man, and that Simpson was
a good, straightforward fellow, who had
| been in hard luck recently.
Simpson boarded in this city several
| weeks ago at the lodging house of Mrs.
| Trlce. Sixth and Canal streets. He re-
, manned there for some time, and out
side OF showing signs of intoXication oc-
casionaly. his conduct was very good.
He was known in the house as Harris.
| After he had boarded at Mrs. Trice' :
place for some days he disappeared. and
did not show up again until Friday,
when he brought a friend named Mike"
there and asked the lady to give him
lodgings.
HAD NOWHERE TO SLEEP.
a short time before the supposed
drowning occurred Simpson and some
companions were in Bernstein's bar and
! restaurant. Simpson told the bar-keeper
that he was looking for place to sleep,
and said he was going over to the bridge.
He exhibited n paper which Recommend
ed w. II. Simpson in very high terms as
n dispenser of drinks. and was signed r..
IL. Church, York, Pa.
The police seem inclined to think that
the missing man is still living. and that
he gave Miller the "shake" during the
night IN order to get rid OF him.