Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1910-07-26
HAVE. SUSPICION
OF FOUL PLAY
At PLEASURE PARK
Belleyille Police Have Mystery
to Solve of Mans Disap-
pearance on Lake.

suspicion of foul play is entertained
py the 'Belleville poice today, due to the
iact that last night in Hillside Pleasure
Park three men went out In a row.
ooat on the park lake. and it is posi-
tiveiy known that only two of the men
returned. What strengthens the belief
and adds to the mystery of the incssent
Is the nnding OF a mans straw hat
two hours later floating on the lake,
evidently worn by one of the trio.
The hat was in a badly battered con-
dition, as If struck a violent blow by
the end of sharp instrument
Reluctant to Take Ride.
Another phase of the case which
lends strange aspect is that be-
fore agreeing to go out in the boat one
OF the strangers hesitated for some
time, but finally consented to accom-
pany his companions in the ride. For
several hours last night and at an
early hour today portion of the lake
was dragged with rakes but without
iesults. The pond was not searched
thoroughly however.
Andrew Salzgeber. who runs the
boathouse said today that about $3.50
O'Clock last night three men appealed
to him for a boat. One of them was
tall and exceptionally well propor-
2tioned and wore cap. The other two
were of medium size and Salzgeber
family remembers that they had straw
hats on. He stated that they remained
for awhile, and either one of two of
the medium-sized men "hedged" be-
fore concluding to go for a ride. They
entered boat No. 33 and sailed off.
Salzgeber then left to go to supper
and left his son. Andrew, Ia years old
in charge of the place. In his absence
two of the men returned, according TO
the boy, and one of these was the big
man. 1t Is thought that they came
back shortly before 7:30 o'clock, be-
cause the older Salzgeber says that he
returned from his meal about that
time.
Find Eat In water.
About 10 o'clock James Mulvihill, of
this city. one of the sheriff's men In the
resort saw hat floating on the water
north toward the rustic bridge over the
lake, and he called to Salzgeber, and
together they went out to secure the
headgear. They found that 1t was sin
gularly torn across the side of the
crown. Apparently 1t had not been sat
upon. Salzgeber thought 1t strange and
remembered the party of men who had
been rowing.
He went to his son and without in
forming him of any facts inquired as
to how many put in appearance at the
boathouse and the boy promptly replied
that only two of them were seen. This
aroused Mulvihilrs suspicious, and he
notified Patrick W. Mccoy, another at
tache of the sheriff's Office in the park.
The latter told Chief of Police Michael
J. Flynn, and when Flynn was ap-
prised of the affair he at once ordered
that the water be dragged. Three boats
were put out.
William E. H. Thaller, manager of
Hillside Park, today said he thought
there was no ground for suspicion, and
he was inclined to think there was no
murder or foul play. He advances as
his reasons that when the boatmen
returned after their row 1t was day
light, and also that there was another
party, men and women, inaa boat at
tHS SdIlc lliD6 DIS tiiS Joy
seekers were on the water. IT any
thing out of the way occurred. he said.
Il would have been noticed by persons
connected with the wild west show,
whose quarters are located near the
|. banks of the lake.
=. Chief Flynn today went to the park
again and is still dissatisfied over the
cdS ~ IT was said at the park that 1t
is common occurrence for persons to
go out in the boats and leave them
by going ashore in various sections of
the place. The missing man may have
done this, it was explained
A theory that the hat was. thrown
from the bridge over the centre of the
lake was upset when 1t was recalled
that the wind was coming from the
southwesterly direction, and If scaled
off 1t would have been blown to the
northern part of the water. 1t foated
from the southern section.
Salzgerber says that the tall man was
about 80 years old. and that the other
two were probably rs. All of the faces
were unfamiliar to him.
The number inside the hat is 16,601,
and 1t Is size 7. 1t bears the mark of
the Milford Company, 20 Regent street
and 615 Fleet street, London. The hat
is Of good material.