The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-05-21

dead hoy, as n pair on which he bull
up the heels for Postal telegraph
operator.
BY means OF the word "Riley,"
written in ink on the lining of the
right sleeve of his coat, the body of
the mysterious young man found dead
in Kansas City was Identified today
as Higgerson Riley, of Henderson,
formerly a telegraph operator at the
Postal Telegraph company. The word
was found by Mr.. Lee Hite. II had
been placed here by pressing club.
The clew 20 the identity was given
by w. b. Harris, manager OF the
branch OF the Postal Telegraph com
pany. who described the boy and the
fact that ne received post card from
Riley. who was In Stella. Neb., April
II. The clothes that were sent with
che body fully established the identity
OF the young man. His father is
John C. Riley. proprietor Of the Riley
Printing company, and a prominent
man of Henderson.
Higgerson Riley was well known
by Mr. Harris, who Is from Hender-
son. and on October ~ he came 10
Paducah. and was employed. He
worked at the telegraph office. and
in the night worked an instrument in
newspaper office. He remained in
Paducah until December "a, when,
after getting Christmas gifts for his
parents, returned to Henderson.
Nothing more had been heard of him
until Mr.. Harris received the card
from Stella, Neb., with the following
message: "The block is clear when
the second trick is on. Chats mel
April II. 1909"
While in Paducah Riley boarded
at the New Richmond hotel. and by
his good disposition made many
friends around the hotel. He was al
ways neat about his personal appear
ance. and wore tailor made clothes.
He wore a brown coat with slanting
pockets. The clothes of the dead boy
correspond in every particular. Riley
always wore high heels. and the
shoes from Kansas City have had
high heels added.
Riley was small of stature, weighed
11J pounds. and was about 10 years
old. He was a popular young fellow.
The cause OF his death has never been
definitely whether he was
killed or committed suicide. He drank
some, but his friends say never to ex-
cess.
The Body Buried.
The body was buried yesterday af-I
ternoon in MoKendree cemetery. No
preacher was present at the burial,
owing to the weather and short time
in preparation The grave was
covered with flowers. as many friends
of the Hlte family were confident the
boy was Richard Hite.
Tried Concealment.
What is a mystery TO the police Isl
the fact that Riley apparently used
every effort to conceal his identity
Every label on his clothes had been
removed. with the exception OF the
brand OF his shirt, which Mr.. Charles
Weille identified as being purchased
at his store. His trousers and coat
are tailor made. but all labels are cut
or torn out while the label of his soft
brown hat was trimmed out. Part OF
the top OF the monogram OF the firm
Is visible. and clothing dealers say II
was purchased from werner BROTH
ers." OF st. Louis. II Is probable
that Rileyewas ignorant of the mark
on the lining of his sleeve. and forgot
to remove the label of his tie, al
though when the black tie was re-
ceived in Padueah the label was re-
moved
Chief Collins is of the opinion
Roley's death was a case OF suicide.
He says no murderer would have taxi
en- the time to remove the brands
from his victims clothes. Il IL
thought that the boy was respondent
and never wanted his parents to learn
Of his condition.
Although Mr.. Hite made the mis-
take of bringing the body back to
Kentucky. II was the means OF idenu-
Tying the lad. as the undertaken in
Kansas City was preparing to bury
the body in Potter's field. when the
body was claimed and given a decent
burial in the Hite lot.
Hasn't Been Heard OF.
Efforts TO find John G. Riley.
father of Higgerson Riley, failed by
long distance telephone and telegraph
Mr.. RILEY is not in Henderson today.
and Mrs. Riley replied that she was
unable to give the address Of her son.
as she had not heard from him in
some time.
Chief of Police Collins received a !
TO his telegram 10 the fam
ly at Henderson that the father Is In
Louisville today and no word relative
10 the whereabouts OF young Riley
we're given
Stella. Neb., the place from which
u,muuuuuuuumsuuuouruu~us