Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-06-30
The Post Dispatch saws:

ANNheAbJ VI WCI-uiCooCu Didu,
about IS years old, who was found dy-
ing at the edge Of the Mississippi,
about one mile north Of Jefferson
Barracks, Sunday afternoon, and the
whereabouts of an old mar who re.
ported finding him constitute a dou-
BILE mystery to be solved by the au-
thorities Of st. Louis county and the
police Of st. Louis.
The appearance Of the suicide is such
that the police believe he was a pros
porous business man.
The entire absence OF valuables or
papers which might identify him leads
them to believe that his body was
robbed either as he lay dying or i'm
mediately after his death.
The suicide wore clothing of fine
quality, his hands were gloved, his
hair neatly trimmed and everything
about him showed evidence that he
vas a man OF means. The old man
who reported finding him was plainly
dressed.
After pointing TO the place where
the suicide lay ut the edge Of the
river, the old man told the soldier he
would walt while the latter went to
Jefferson Barracks for a physician.
When the soldier and DR.. Fred w.
Palmer, surgeon at the post, reached
the place the man who had been lying
on the bank was dead. The other had
disappeared.
PoCKETBooK WAS EMPTY.
Beside the body lay an ounce bottle
about one-fourth full Of carbolic acid.
The mans throat and mouth were
burned by acid and the physician said
he had committed suicide.
The body was taken to Luxem-
bourg, where the inquest was held
Sunday evening and a verdict Of sui
eide was returned. The body was
buried in a private cemetery at Lux
embourg at 6o'clock Monday morning.
Justice Nyerper who conducted the
inquest says that a large leather peck
ct book found in the pocket was
empty when taken at the inquest.
1t did not seem flattened, as II 1t
had been empty some time, he says,
but was pulled out as II its contents
had recently been removed. No other
article Of value was found on the
body.
THOMAS +. RoDEN ON HIS CARD.
On the mans person were also found
a linen handkerchief bearing the
initials AZ. r." embroidered on n
corner; a card bearing the name
"Thomas f. Roden,' and another
card bearing the words; "Thomas f.
Roden, candidate for County Clerk,
subject to the action Of the Demo-
ocratic Convention May I, 1904" and
an envelope addressed to Fred Bishop,
112 W. Liberty street, Mexico, Mo.
The letter was mailed In Glasgow,
Mo-, May 10 and had the name Of ii.
A. Stegner on m corner. A letter
written on Chicago & Alton Railway
stationery and addressed to G. L.
Moore, Bloom evidently name OF
town. This letter contained an esti-
mate for building a sidetrack at Van
dalIa, ILL.,, and was written at Louis
lana, Mo-, Jan. Is, 1904. 1t was un-
signed.
The dead man was about 35 years
old, was s feet 0 inches tall and weigh
ed 1856 pounds. He had dark hair and
and a dark complzlon. His face was
somewhat round, smooth shaver, and
his featured were regular. He wore q
suit OF black clothes OF good quail
It and evidently tailor-made. On his
hands were gloves. He wore tan
shoes. His general appearance was
that of a business man.
HE TRIED TO DROWN, TOO.
The body, when found, was slightly
bloated from contact with the water,
but as the man was still alive when
found, 1t is believed that he swallowed
the acid, jumped into the river ana
then struggled to get back on the
bank. Where he was found she water
is shallow and there is little current
A. Sulla, living in the neighborhood'
saws an old man answering the de-
scriptlon Of the one who first reported
the suicide to the soldier, also toiu
him a man was in the river. He says
the old man was q stranger to him.
Make hay while the sun shines Inc
Jenkins Rake is the rake TOT do it witn'
No other rake made like It, Heavy
Truss rod. Positively will not sag
under a load, high wheels and spring
seat. Ferris &. Cauthorn have Them