The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-07
VICTIM OF BOAT
TRAGEDY seen IN
NEWARK BY MANY
Barge Captain Heard Cries and
Row on Vessel Tied Up
at Local Dock.
IDENTIFICATION MARKS
TORN FROM HER CLOTHING
Bruise on Temple Might Have
Been Caused by Blackjack.
Murder Theory Strengthens.

A sinister river mystery. similar in
some aspects to the Whitmore swamp
tragedy now confronts the Newark po-
lice. Believing that the unidentified
woman whose bruised body was found
floating in the Passaic River yesterday
may have been a victim of foul play. 8
searching investigation along the water
front is now in progress.
Startling facts unearthed by EVEN
ING STAR reporters and police head
quarters men today lead to the grow
ing conviction that the woman was en-
gagged in an alteration on a boat tied
TO a wharf along the westerly side OF
the river; was made unconscious by a
blow from some weapon similar to a
blackjack and was then thrown into
the Passaic.
Investigation today revealed the
startling fact that all marks of identi-
fication had been removed from the
womans clothing. The label on the
heavy outer cloak had been torn away
In such q hurry that a slit had been
made in the fabric. All laundry marks
and other means of Identification are
also missing.
'cHE AhNCVsS SnhEC NVhNAna
EVENING STAR reporters located
four persons today who viewed the
cadaver at Mullins morgue and in
stantly recognized the woman as one
who was an habitue of the river front
in the district between Bridge and
Clay streets.
Both Superintendent George Sim
mons, superintendent of the Rescue
Home at 81 Clay street. and his wife.
stated that the woman had received
assistance and lodging at the home on
several occasions.
Il remember her as woman or
Irish-American extraction" said Mr..
Simmons, who applied for lodging
and food at the home on several occa-
sions within the past six months.
cannot recall her name: but her identi-
ncation ought to be comparatively
easy matter, as she had many friends
along the river front"
Charles Hally, of 375 Ogden street,
and Mrs. Mary Quinn, Of Front street,
also recognized the woman as an
habitue of the river front. HALEY saw
the woman last about one week ago.
Andrew S. Child, in charge of a crane
machine of the Newark Gas Company's
plant at the foot of Lombardy street,
said today:
Captain Jacob Thompson, who found
the woman's body, told me last night
that he heard woman's screams on
Thursday night. The screams evident
ly came from boat further zip the
river, he told me. He also said that he
tried to learn where the row was go
ing on but failed He said that evil
IDENTIFY there had been a carousal In
one of the boats tied up at one of the
docks"
Captain ThOmpsOn'S Story.
Captain Jacob Thompson. who found
the woman's body. made the following
important statement to THE EVEN
ING STAR today:
"On Wednesday night at o'clock
left my boat, which was tied up at the
dock of the Lime and Cement Com
pany, below Bridge street, and went to
q saloon at the corner of Front and
Lombardy street. There had a glass
of beer.
when came out from the building
] saw three men, one of them in q long
coat. and a mddIe-sized woman stand
ing on the opposite corner. They ap-
peared to be arguing about something,
and finally started off toward the river
front.
Woman's Voice.
IT proceeded to my boat, and Just
as | was retiring, fifteen minutes af er-
wards, / heard woman's shrill talk.
as If engaged in an alteration. 1 also
heard mems voices. and 1t appeared to
me as if several people were in a row.
These sounds may have come from
a boat farther north along the river or
fIom the Bridge street bridge.
AT that time | paid no attention to
the sounds, merely supposing that
some people were having good time.
Yesterday morning / noticed. in look
ing up the river. that tug with q
white diamond and the letter M on its
bow was tied up. Two hours afterward
it slipped its hawsers and went down
stream.
"a peculiarly of the finding of the
body is that she could not have come
from above the bridge, as such bodies