The evening world., 1903-04-27
John Meehan, of the Ella Jane,
a Poor Man, Gets Reward for
Finding Body Of AdoIphe
0penhym.
MONEY TO BE PAID AT ONCE.
Norris j. Hlrseh, Attorney for the
Estate Of the Silk Merchant Who
Leaped from High Bridge, Only
Awaits Certain Formalitles.

Morris ]. Hirsch. attorney for the es-
tate Of Adolphe openhym. said to-day
that the reward Of 5000 would be paid
20 Capt. John Meehan. Of the barge Ella
Jane, who discovered the body OF the
silk merchant.
Did the letters found or Mr.. Open
Hymns body disclose any reason for his
committing suicide?'' the attorney was
asked.
They were not really letters. but
private papers of nc moment n not
bearing at all upon their owners end.
The reward will be paid to Capt. Nee
han as soon as certain formalities have
been complied with"
OR. Hirsch was reticent about the
case. He declined to say what he
meant by "formalities'' with reference
70 the payment of the reward
Mr.. openhym leaped from High Bridge
into the Harlem River on March 30, and,
although hundreds of boatmen have
searched for the body. 1t did not come
to the surface until yesterday morning.
Capt. Meehan is employed on the scow
Ella Jane by the Health Department.
He sleeps on board with his two sons.
Rising early yesterday morning he
walked around his craft. looking over
the side into the water. Near the
stern he noticed a dark object bumpins
against the boat and soon saw tina. It
was the body OF a man.
Identified Ivy Letters.
He called his CONS. and when thew
rolled the body over they were con-
WINGED that 1t was that of the missing
merchant. Policeman Francis, OF the
West One led and Fifty-second
street station, was called and, searching
the body, he made the identification
positive. In the pockets were letters
and personal cards n a watch on
which were engraved the initials of the
owner. There was also $50 in bills In
the pockets.
Representatives Of the family went to
the police station to which the body
was removed and Morris J. Hirsch, the
personal representative of the firm. re-
turned from Atlantic City last night
and took charge of the arrangements
for tie funeral. The body will not be
buried until after a forma, inquest,
although 1t is likely that no new light
will be thrown upon the range suicide.
LeaDed from High Bridge.
Adolphe. Openhym left his beautiful
home at No. 352 Riverside Drive. That
morning he was with his family as
usual. and according 10 their statements.
he was apparently in his usual happy
frame OF mind. y few hours later a
man answering his description was
seen to leap from High Bridge.
Mr.. o%penhym's hat and umbrella were
found on the bridge. yet his family re-
fused to believe he had aiken his life.
A reward OF $1,000 was offered for the
recovery OF his body. and. as the days
and weeks passed, this amount was
raised to 5000.
In the hope OF gaining this reward.
hundreds of divers and boatmen searcher
every loot OF the river bed for a long
way either way from the bridge. Dyna-
mite was exploded and fired
until old river men declared that no
body could remain at the bottom.
How nearly some of these search
ers came TO the body Is shown by the
fact that a grappling-hook caught in
the trousers and tore its way free
without raising the body.
~opts AScloi SaH l utCluc WHAT ne
will do with the reward. which Mr..
Hirsch says will be paid to him at once.
Tha old seaman has been all over the
world. He Is more than seventy years
old. and for sixty years he has followed
the sea.
Reward Falls In Good HnndA.
."This IL about the first FOOD luck /
ever had" he said to-day. IT have seen
about all OF the sea ! can. / guess, SO
III get me q little shack some place
along the river and settle down to enjoy
the rest OF my days on earth. That
much money Is a fortune TO an old man
like me who mas never had anything.
It meant. shat Il can work when l feel
like 1t ana smoke my pipe when I feel
inclined.
~ can cook as good as any man. and
In some little place where l can be near
the sea or river I'll be happy. I'll have
q o a and some ish-nets and turn a
few dollars that way when 1 want tor