Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-09
MARSH VICTIM
KILLED BY AUTO
IS POLICE THEORY
Finding of Skeleton, They Be-
lieve, Reveals a Tragedy
of the Road.
SUGGESTION OF MURDER
SECUTED BY OFFICIALS
Little Chance of Identification or
That Mystery of Death
Will Be Solved.

That the skeleton found frozen in
the marshes near the Belleville Turn
pike bridge. which separates Belleville
from Kearny, is that of a man who was
hit by a speeding automobile was the
opinion expressed today by William
Il. Pudney, the bridge tender. 1t is
doubtful whether the skeleton, owing
to it's advanced decomposition, Will ever
be identified, or that the cause of death
win ever be established.
Automobiles whiz by here at the
rate of forty miles an hour said Pud-
ney today, and it is plausible that the
skeleton is that of a man who was hit
by a flying auto. The body was likely
hurled where 1t was found, which is an
out of the way spot Ii
And that is the theory that the police
of both Kearny and Belleville regard
as the most likely. They are inclined
to discredit any murder suggestion.
The skeleton was found by 17-year-
old William t. Pudney, the son OF the
bridge tender. Shortly before dusk yes
terday his father sent him to gather
firewood in the marsh nearby. The boy
had started back when he saw a shoe.
'io tACt ChCA IN chtiClOf. n
clothing was rotted away and the body
was frozen hard in the marshes. The
boy called to his father, who t~elephoned
to Chief of Police William Tolen, of
Kearny, and Patrick ]. Condor. the
Harrison morgue-keeper, sent his
wagon to the scene of the gruesome
find.
Shortly afterward Detective Sergeant
b. \NnIfnr n1tpor TIaaIkl H.
10. Geissler. and Patrolman Michael
Williamson, all Of Kearny, arrived.
Then began the task of removing the
body from the frozen marshes. AT
zach blow of the pick and shovel more
of the skeleton was uncovered. until
finally, with a three-inch casing of ice,
1t was loaded OH to the morgue wagon
and taken to Condon's morgue. Har-
rison avenue n South Third street.
There wasn't a particle of evidence
which would lead to the identification
of the skeleton. 1t was in a complies
state of decomposition. The only thing
that might lead to Identity was a pail
of shoes. They were of cheap make
such as are worn by laborlng men.
All the police officials today secuted
the idea that death was due to drown
ing. They said that it would have beer
impossible for the body to float from
the Passaic river to where it wa:
found. The police say that the skeleton
IS either that of a suicide or a mar
who might have met with some injury
or the road.
B~ridgstender Pudney today approx
xnateIy fixed the date on which thu
man met his death. He said that {
year and a half ago he chopped dow
n tree at the exact spot where the bod,
was found. 1t is the belief of Pudne,
and the police officials that the Skeleton
was not where it was found more thar
q res
A woman who gave her name as Mrs
Mary Richards, of 81 Passaic avenue
called at the morgue this morning t.
Gee if she could identify the remainI
as those Of her husband, who has beef
missing some time. She was unah,,
TO malue the Identification. Anothe
woman called a short time later, bu
could not identify the skeleton.