The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-09


morning In a grocery store in Har-
rison. This makes it almost impossible
for her to have thrown herself from
any bridge along the river without
being seen by somebody.
Mrs. Andrew Branzag, who, with her
husband, conducts a grocery store at
425 William street, Harrison. says that
her store and purchased several articles
and complained then OF pains in the
head.
Mrs. Murdcck was employed by Emil
La Hote, who occupies the rooms over
the store. She was well known to Mrs.
Baranzag, and oftentimes told the
woman that she had no one In this
country to care for her.
Didn't Hint Suicide.
Nothing of any intention To commit
suicide was mentioned by Mrs. MUIR
dock. and when Mrs. Branzag was in
formed that the body of the unknown
woman in the morgue Saturday was
that of her friend. she was dunn
founded.
Mrs. Sarah N. Hull of Harrison, vls-
tied the Mullin Morgue today and or
dered the body removed to Brierley's
undertaking establishment at Kearny.
Mrs. Hull is the beneficiary named in
the insurance policy carried by the
dead woman, and Mrs. Hull will see
that she is given decent burial.
II the story of Mrs. Branzag is to be
believed. and there is no reason to
doubt IT. the mystery surrounding the
affair deepens. The body of Mrs. Muir
dock was discovered around o'clock
last Friday afternoon. and Mrs. Bran
gag says that she is positive that she
saw the woman in her store around
noon time. Where did Mrs. Murdock.
If she intended suicide, go to after she
left her employers home? Young La
Hote says that when he arose early
Friday morning that he noticed the
door leading to his fathers housekeep-
er's room was ajar and that the bed
was unoccupied,
PuzzIiDR Questions.
According to the same source Mrs.
Murdock had been drinking last Thurs
day and that she remained in her roorn.
Neither the son or the latter's father
appear to know whether or not the
woman was in the house on Thursday
night. But the grocery store keeper
down stairs is positive that Mrs. Muir
dock was in the store Friday near noon
time.
The question that is being asked by
the police is: Could the woman have
fallen into the river Friday morning
without being seen by some onee
Would the body reappear on the surface
of the water so soon after entering it,
1t is these and other similar ques-
tions that lend an afr of mystery as
to how the woman met her death. II
the story be true that she had been
drinking, then who was with her in
these convivial bouts? Where did she
obtain her liquor, and did she say any
thing to the saloonkeeper who sold her
the drink that she intended to end her
life?
Jacob Thompson captain of the barge
Alice. who found the body of the
woman last Friday, told an EVENING
STAR reporter that bodies of drowned
persons do not come to the surface in
such a. short time as twelve hours, the
length of time which County Physician
Elliott said the body was in the river
And If Mrs. Branzag is correct, the
woman's body was not in the Passaic
River more than two hours.
The identification made last Saturday
afternoon by Mrs. Kate Webb, Of 7714
Clay street. was made in good faith.
Mrs. Webb is a respectable woman and
when she heard Of the dead woman in
the Washington street morgue went
there and identified her as Mrs. Martin
by three marks on the body. So posi-
tive was she that she started off to ir-
form the woman's husband.
Identincafions Positive.
When it became known that Mrs.
Webb was mistaken. another attempt
was made to have the body identified.
Scores of men and women were visited
IN this city and Harrison, and every
possible clue that pointed toward solv-
ing the name Of the then unknown