Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-07-31
MYSTERY IN HIS DEATH
Coroner of Wapello Trying to
Unravel the Mystery Of
Pollock's Death
SOME TALK OF FOUL Play
Body Which Was Found in the Tail
Race Of the Mill Showed Signs of
Bruises, But There is Belief That He
May Have Fallen Into the Water by
Accident.
Special to Times-Republic,ln.

Special to Times-Repubiican
Ottumwa, July 31.-Joseph Pollock
OF Albuquerque, N. NJ, a nineteen
year-old boy, was found dead floating
In the tail race about fifty yards east
Of the south end of Court street. A
cloud of mystery overhangs his death
and so opaque is the cloud and so few
the circumstances from which credible
differences may be drawn that it is
probable the mystery will never be
cleared up. Whether the boy was
drowned in some accidental way or
whether he became desperate from
want of funds, being penniless when
found, or was the victim of foul play,
can only be conjectured.
The former possibility from all the
evidence produced at the coroner's In
quest is the most plausible one. Under
such theory two courses are posi-
bic from the attending circumstances.
About thirty feet up on the bank OF
the race from where Mr.. Pollock was
found In the water, was cap and a
pocket dictionary In the Willows. A
path runs directly from this point to
the water where the body was discov-
cred. If the cap and the book belong
to Pollock then it Is probable that the
boy went to the race to wash early
yesterday morning or during the pre-
vious night and losing his balance fell
In. The mud is very soft and deep at
this point and in falling he must have
n fnr nSi1
ory as the correct one, the body never
moved while the current is very
strong.
uncle of the boy, was notified yester-
day afternoon after the body had been
taken from the river and identified by
means of letter in a pocket of the
coat. Mr.. Pease arrived in the city
last night and brought with him let
ter from Pollock, written to Everett
Pease, a cousin. In this letter which
was written from Albuquerque, Pol
lock says that he left Monmouth July
81 and arrived in Albuquerque on July
"a. He stated that he would leave that
city en- route for Monmouth the night
of July 26. From the tone of the let
ter it was evident that he had a wager
with some other boys in the Illinois
city that he could make certain time
between Monmouth and Albuquerque.
Cumming" It..
1T is possible then that Pollock came
In on some Milwaukee train during the
night Saturday night, and that he was
knocked from whatever part of the
train he was riding on. as the train
crossed the bridge over the race. If
this Is the correct theory then all of
the circumstances except that of the
cap and book, near the bank, are ac-
counted for.
1t would account for marks which
are found on the boys head and neck,
for his position in the race and for
the accident happening at all.
TO the theory of violence the uncle,
in conversation with a representative
Of the Courier last evening, seemed
alightly inclined. He stated that the
boy expected, when he left Monmouth,
to secure about 500 in Albuquerque,
and he thought that he should have
had some of this with him. The marks
on the face and neck Of the lad seemed
to make the impression a stronger one.
These marks, however, it is stated by
medical authority, are nos of such a
character as to indicate death dealing
violence.
Did Not Drink.
In his evidence before the coroner's
jury, the uncle of the lad stated that
he was not a boy who drank, that he
had ''bummed" his way over many
miles, and was we'll able to care for
himself. He was not quarrelsome, he
aid, or liable - get into an alteration
with any one.
In connection with the suicide the
Dry, which is considered because the
lad was penniless, and it was thought
might have become desperate for this
reason and tried to drown himself, the
uncle stated that he was a boy who
had often been strapped while out
on one Of his trips, and was well able
to earn money if he needed it. He
further stated that Pollock was not
morose fellow, but happy and one of
the kind perfectly willing to take
things as they came.