Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-08
FRIENDS LOSE HOPE
FUTILE EFFORTS TO RECOVER
BODY OF JOSEPH HILLARY.
Lad Believed to Have Committed Sui
OH -
eide Upon Learning of Broth
er's Death

The disappearance Sunday afternoon Of
Joseph Clay Hilleary, the fourteen-year-
old son of Mrs. Mary Hilleary of Cherry
dale, Va.,w following the death of his
brother, Rennie, is no longer regarded as
mystery, the members of the lads
family and the friends who have partici-
pated in the search, accepting the theory
that he drowned himself in the waters of
the Potomac.
The efforts of the friends to dredge the
river in the vicinity in which the boy is
supposed to have gone into the water have
been no avail They spent all of yesterday
in dragging the river, without results, and
went to the river banks early this morn
ing to resume their efforts to recover the
body. but the river had risen to such an
extent that the grounds in the vicinity
were entirely covered with water, and the
current was SO swift that a rowboat or
small craft would have been dashed to
pieces. 4.
All hope of the early recovery of the body
was accordingly given up. 1t is believed
that If the boy jumped in at the point at
which the dragging has been done his body
has since been swept down the river by
the current.
The relatives of the youth believe that
his body will come to the surface farther
down the stream and this morning re-
uuested Major Sylvester chief of the Wash
ington police. to have the members of the
force stationed along the river front. Com
modore Sutton. harbormaster of the Dis
trict and the members of the crews of the
police boats to look out for 1t. The request
will be complied with.
The Hilleary Home.
The home of the Hilleary family is To-
Gated on the banks Of the Potomac river,
about two miles and half north of Cherry
dale post Office and is only a short dis
MOO fror,, tho Chain hridOa Tho how q
familiar with the surrounding country and
the river, and 1t is not thought to be pos
sble that he fell into the water by accident
The finding of the cap and coat on a
bush near the river bank, it Is thought,
demonstrated that they were placed there
with care.
The exact spot of the supposed drowning
is Ferguson's rock, which is only a short
distance from the Hilleary home. The rock
b a huge one, and usually stands out con-
spicuously. 1t was, however, covered this
morning by the high water Muddy foot
prints could be seen on the rock last night,
and on a smaller stone lying Immediately
In front of the longer rock In the water
On the smaller stone were clearly visible
marks similar to those caused by the slid
ing of shoes over the surface of the rock.
Mr.. John G. Hilleary a stepbrother of
the missing boy, stated to a Star reporter
this afternoon that he is of the opinion his
brother committed suicide and that his
body had been washed down the river Mr.
Hilleary further stated that Joseph was
about the house the entire morning Of the
day he disappeared.
1T was nearing 1890 o'clock. Sunday
morning. when We noticed change for the
worse in the condition of my brother Rem
ME- / called to Joseph and sent him over
the hill to the home of George Marcy a
relative, with a request that he go for the
doctor Immediately. A little later Rennie
expired. and started for the Marcy home
to tell George Marcy that there was no
the doctor he
brow of the Hill l met Joseph coming to-
ward home. ] sent him back to Marcy
with the message that he need not go for
the doctor,
Joseph Disappears.
when told that Rennie had died, Joseph
seemed to be more calm than were any
other members df the family. sent him to
the home af another neighbor and on several
other errahds. When he returned to the
house he teoksa sea. and chatted with
others who were in the room, A little later
I left to go t0rthe city to make arrange
ments with an undertaken for the funeral.
When returned my wife said she had
missed JoAephsand that the last she saw of
him he was gofng down the hill back of the
home in the adirection of the Chain bridge.
She said .ishe onast saw him about 1:20
o'clock"
Mrs HHSeany.ffhe mother, was told of her
double af1iictfon last evening The news
caused her mo surprise, as she had sus-
pected that his absence could be accounted
for by his suicide. She is, however pros
trated with erief and fears are expressed
that she will mot recover from the shock
Funeral services were held at O'Clock
this afternoon at the Hilleary home over
the remains OF Rennie Hilleary. The serv-
ices were conducted by Rev. Mr. Graves
of Mount Oiiyet Church. Baiiston. Va. The
fnterment was made In the burial grounds
on the Hilleary farm. The palihearers were
the cousins OF the deceased, Messrs. Ray,
Harvey. Curtis. julius. Ernest and William
Marcy.