The sun., 1901-05-12
SAYS son WAS MURDERED.
nut ArTOPSr EErEAIS THAT WILLIE
MfORMTCK WAS DROWNED.


'c"seu ~ nc infcstlgated BY the Police Inc
Lad Was Seen Running Toward the Creek.
Dr John =. Rlegelman. Coroner's physl-
olhn In The Bronx. performed an autopsy
Yesterday on the body of Willie Mccormick,
which was found In a creek near his home
on Friday
The boys death was caused by drowning,
said the Coroner's physician and could
ma nothing in the case that would make
1t appear that he was murdered. as his rae-
tlves seem to think The only mark upon
the body was one upon the left cheek. which
was probably caused after DEATH when she
body may have come in contact with some
object In the water
DIR Regelmsn was Of the opinion that
tho body had been In tho wnter five or six
weeks, and in all probability since the night
the boy disappeared. March 81 last.
Il still believe my boy was murdered,
said Mr. Mccormick, and the fact that the
autopsy shows that death was due to drown
Ing does not do away with the belief held by
me and my friends that Willie was murdered
have received information TO the effect
that on several occasions my boy was chased
by an italian whom he had teased This
italian was n laborer and l asked the police
to find him. but they tell me that the Italian
had nothing whatever 20 do with the case
My poor boy was certainly murdered, for
he never could have fallen into that creek
accidentally
Detective Petrosini. the Italian eieuth Of
the Central once. was detailed on the case
yesterday for the purpose OF running down
this story. He reported to Capt Titus last
night thnt he could get no verifcation Of the
story. The Italian who was said 10 have
figured in the case had left High Bridge, and
the detective was told TO make an effort TO
nnd him
Tho night the Mccormick boy disappeared
his relatives said that he had put on his over
coat at his home at 7 o'clock. preparatory
70 going TO church with two OF his sisters
and that he was missed after he had started
down to the basement Of his home for the
purpose OF getting his hat. None Of the
family saw him after he started TO get his
hat
Additional light was thrown on this story
yesterday when the Rev Father Mullen,
pastor Of tho Sacred Heart Church in High
Bridge, declared that the public had not
been told that Willie Mccormick had been
seen opposite the church half an hour after
he had been seen at his home
Two boys saw Willie sitting on a fence
opposite the church. said the priest Willie
appeared 10 be in trouble lie was hold
ing his hands 10 his head The boys spoke
TO him and he jumped down and ran away.
sHilns saiHllns ne was going 70 his home They
OF them. John Horan. remarked That's
a funny way for Willie 70 go homo. Hos
going toward smiths, Hotel The boys
yelled 10 him, asking him why he was run
ming In that direction. Willie burst out
crying and ran on
At the point whore iCoth street and jerome
nyenu" come together the Koran boy and
his pOtnlaulNn hpV known us I,lrt Than
parted Young Horan saw Willie McCor-
mick going toward the woods back Of Baird's
OF the Detective Bureau investigated this
story immediately after the disappearance uf
III" Mccormick boy IN" lioran boy has
rcpsaed 1t several times since II was this
story that convinced the police that Willie
had not been kidnapped. but had probably
down along the railroad tracks and was
crossing the trestle over Cromwelfs Creek
when he fell in "
letter was received at The SIN Office
last night saying that Willi" Mccormick had |
or two occasions been chased by an Italian |
Willie took up the Italians hat 90 tease |
The letter va, signed M + Brown"
John ] Hilton. n transit man IN the employ |
OF the Dock Department informed Tue - |
Yesterday he had good reason 10 doubt that !
the body of Willie Mccormick could have
been in the place where IL was finally found
spent the entire week ending MAY I in that
very region, making WEp of tho shores
or CrOl well Creek He passed over every |
foot OF the crib hulkhcai that bor lrr, 'ne
south shore Of the creek. from the Harlem
River 20 l1l-t street
He SAYS ho saw NJ sign u n BODY IN tie
creek His work being on shore. however.
an object in the water might havc c.caped
his observation But Mr. Hilton briug4 |
to mind the fact that high tide had ~'' in |
when the body Va- found. stuck IN tie mud
while during the preceding two weeks TIE
water IN IA" creek was much lower
Nr Hilton further m'utiUnrd TINT Charles
W Thompson. one of the Dock Department.,
expert photographers, led a sounding party
thNt went up ana down the creek IN a bo,,t
several times during tho dlvs of AIrl 1925 |
SoundingS wrro taken every H'ty ic.t. MT |
only IN one place hpt every Nv" feet from
ono shore 20 tho other of the crock Nr
Hilton thinks i very uu.kolv that those
had It been in tho creek az the time