Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01
'IANCE IDENTIFIES CORPSE
Il Lay Face Down in an 1nacces.
sible Creek near Catskill
When Discovered by
Canoeists.

village, was Identified this afternoon
as that OF Miss Dorcas 1. Snodgrass,
a nurse. who hal been missing from
the home of her sister in Mount YER
non sinca July II. The Identification
was made by Frederick Schmi 1t, tae
young womans flnace. an electrical
contractor of Mount Vernon, and by
Police Lieutenant NJ. l. SIlverton of
the same place
The body was so badly decomposed
that identification, except from the
jewelry and clothing, was difficult.
Upon their arrival Mr. Schmidt ami
Lieutenant SIlverton went to local
undertaker's where they were shown
a diamond ring ana portions of cloth
ing taken from the remains. Both
men identified the articles as the prop
erty of Miss Snodgrass. Schmidt rec
ogniZed the ring as the one he hai
given her upon their engagement. The
police officials, from Information re-
ceived from Miss Snodgrass's sister,
Mrs. John L. Crider of Mount Vernon,
identified the clothing.
Mr.. Schmidt and Lieutenant Silver
ton then visited the village cemetery
where the body. at the direction of the
coroner, had been placed in a small
house. They made thorough inspec.
tion of the corpse.
SCHMIDT APPEARS STUNNED.
After the examination Mr.. Schmidt
made no statement, but as he left the
improvised morgue, he said to Lieuten-
ant Silverton
I'm satisfied 1t is the body of Miss
Snodgrass" He appeared partially
Of Sa
Tie returned to Mount Vernon late in
the afternoon.
Lieutenant Silverton was equally
emphatic. II am certain" he said
that at least the mystery Of Miss
Snodgrasss whereabouts is cleared.
have known her for years and although
her face is in such a condition that
the examination we were able to give
revealed little. I am positive that the
identification Is complete"
The first clue to Miss Snodgrass's
identity was discovered to-day when
Coroner Candenburg of Coxsackie ex-
amined the clothing. On the corset
cover he found written in ink: I'D
Snodgrass" with the letter %" either
but partly formed else nearly OBJ
liberated. The last name. however
was clearly legible The coroner i'm
medately communicated by telephone
with Miss Snodgrass's sister, Mrs.
Order According to the coroner Mrs.
Crider then felt certain that her sis
ter's body had been found
MANY THEORIES ABOUT DEATH.
There are many theories advanced
as to the events Immediately preceding
death ard 20 the cause Of death itself
Coroner VGndcnburg has certified tim,
from the circumstances surrounding
the case the cause OF death was drown
ing" Local Officials however. nj.
though unwilling to make any defn,ta
ntatements. are inclined to believe
MISS Snoderass was the victim of foul
play. Lieutenant Silverton did not
declare Miss Snodgrass died ms the
result Of an accident . The officials
think the murder theory probable and
arc also investigating any possible
events that might haye eliminated in
suicide.
Sheriff Aoram Post OF Greene county. IN
charge OF the police Investigation. TO-.
night said:
In my opinion Miss Snodgrnes's dead
body was brought UP Du Bots creek in a
launch or boat and deposited at or near
the place where 1t was found. do not seq
how 1t would have been possible for a
body to have been carried by the tide as
Tar up the stream. This, to my mind
negatives the theory that Miss Snodgrass
fell or jumped OF boat in tho Hudso,
river"
Practically the same views were ex.
pressed by Loren j. Hubbard, chief OF
police.
INVESTIGATION Is BEGUN.
District Attorney Wilbur to-day began
an investigation. Tonight he said that but
little had been learned. Nothing at ALL"
he added, Ito Justify any steps in any sort
OF criminal proceeding" He declared,
however. that a thorough investigation
would be made.
II would not say 1t was impossible for
the body to have floated In from the Hud-
son." he said, but. to me. 1t seems de-
cidedly improbable"
In his investigation to-day District At
torney Wilbur discovered a black sailor
hat in the PUSHES bordering Du Bots
creek, about 900 feet above where tina
body was discovered. 1t is thought the
hat belonged to the unfortunate woman.
The body was found yesterday after
noon by James Young and his daughter.
who were canoeing. 1t was lying In the
reeds and PUSHES along the border of Du
Bols creek The arms were outstretched
and the head, face downward, was up
stream. The spot where II was discovered
Is several hundred yards up narrow
winding stream almost unnavigable at
low tide even to light rOwboats The
many turns in the creek lead the inyes-
tgating officials to doubt that the body
was carried so far by the tide.
CREEK FLOWS THROUGH MARSH
Du Bots creek flows through a we'll
ligh impenetrable marsh. 1t Is bor-
aered by heavy growths of Tiers and
shrubs. During to-iay's investigation
che banks of the stream and the bushes
were thoroughly examined but no evil
uence of a struggle was discovered.
Many small boats enter the bay in
the river whore the creek empties into
the Hudson. This fact gave rise TO
the theory. advanced by some that
Miss Snodgras's body had been con-
veyed to the place where 1t was foun
by one of these casual visitors.
There are numerous stories current
to the effect that various residents
49, f~s from tina nraAk shors aad gs-