The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-04-05
BOY IS DROWNED
MATES ARES|LENI
CLEARWATER is STIRRED OVER
QUEER TRAGEDY.
CLARENCE ROTH is THE VICTIM
THREE COMPANIONS MADE NO
REPORT OF DROWNING.
BRUlsE FOUND ON LADS FACE

His Mates Left Him Dead In the Water
and Went Home-Three Hours A.
terward One Of Them Led Search.
ers to Wrong Spot.
Clearwater, Neb., April Especial
to The News: Clarence Roth, aged
seven, accompanied three other lads
to Marwood's bayou yesterday after
noon. The three other lads returned
to town without young Roth, but said
nothing. At 9 o'clock the boys parents
became frantic over his long absence.
The three companions, pressed for an
explanation, acted queerly and offered
no definite explanation. They said the
little fellow had followed them" One
of them finally led the way to the wa
ters' edge and declared the boy had
been at a certain spot. Further
pressed, he reluctantly admitted that
the real spot where the boy had been
last seen was 500 yards away. He
held a lantern out over the dark wa
ter. The missing boys hat was float
ing on the surface. At twenty minutes
before II the lads body was found
near the hat. He had drowned in
three feet of water, water so shallow
that, had he been in control of his
senses and muscles, could not have
been over his head. A scratch was
found on his face, just below his nose
on the right side of his lip.
Clearwater feels intensely over the
tragedy. 1t was thought today that a
coroner's inquest would be held No
arrests had been made up to late
hour.
Mates Keep Under Cover.
The three mates of the drowned boy,
still reticent, kept under cover this
morning and had not appeared on the
street up till short time before noon.
ut was not my fault; didn't do it;
am not to blame" These are the
words of two of the lads.
Clarence Roth was a little fellow in
his seven summers. His parents are
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. G. Roth. His father
is proprietor of saloon in Clearwater.
The three lads with whom the lad
went to the bayou yesterday afternoon
were boys named Gorie, Ratlebaugh
and Lamb. e
Reported No Accident.
At 6 o'clock in the evening Mr.. De
Camp passed this trio returning from
the water. They said nothing as to
the missing boy.
Mr.. and Mrs. Roth missed their
child at supper. They began hunting
for him. Not until 9 o'clock did they
get the information that the lad had
even been to the bayou with the three
other boys. At that late hour they
found young Gorie, widows son of
twelve years and a lad bearing none
too good name in the community, who
when sharply questioned, declared that
young Roth had followed him and his
mates to the bayou in the afternoon.
He finally consented to point out the
spot where the missing youth had last
been seen. He pointed out spot
500 yards away. Then he retracted
and admitted that the first point was
not the true one. After much time
he did lead the searchers to the exact
spot where the boy had gone into the
water. With lantern he designated
the location and under the lanterns
dismal guide light the missing boys
hat was found.
At twenty minutes before II Ralph
Thompson, with stick, located the
dead body Of the drowned boy. 1t lay
on the edge of deep hole, but was
In shallow water The bruise on the
face was clearly visible.
Young Gorie had nothing definite to
say. The other two lads remained con-
sistently silent.
ut was not my fault; didn't do it;
| am not to blame" That is as much
definite information as has been Sc
cured.