The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-07-23
MYSTERY
in DEATH
BEAUTIFUL YOUNG
GIRL Is DROWNED
Police Looking for Companion
Who Was With Her-Body
Recovered Yesterday.

special Dispatch 20 tho 1nteuigencer
MORGANTOwN. ". Va. July "a
Mystery surrounds the death OF pretty
Nellie Hughes. aged l6 years. OF Mo
nessen. Pa. whose body was found in
the Monongahela river at Lock No.
10. near here. shortly after o'clock
Monday morning. The county author
ities are searching for a man who
was seen with the girl and who has
so far escaped apprehension. Accord
ing TO the police. the girl committed
suicide, but a number OF circum-
stances have not been explained
Miss Hughes had been visiting at
the home of her sister Mrs James
Raub. here. for the past two weeks.
She left the Raubohome early Satur@
day night. stating that she was going
10 a nearby moving picture show.
The girl was seen mex; walking along
the bank OF the Mononcahela river
toward Lock No. 10. at Il o'clock Sat
urday night with a well dressed young
man. From that time until O'Clock
Sunday morning no trace Of girls
movements has been found.
Saw Girl Leap.
John Williams. who was standing
across the river. which is narrow at
this point. about O'Clock Sunday
morning stated TO the authoritiessthat
he saw the girl walking along the
bank Her actions were strange and
he stood and watched her for some
time. Suddenly she sat down and
took off her shoes. She then took a
long pole which had been lying on
the river bank. and began poking in
the water apparently trying to find
deep place 4 moment later she
leaped in and disappeared. Williams
rushed across a nearby bridge and
notified the authorities After the
river had been dragged for two hours
the body was recovered BY Joseph
Manear. Williams stated that he saw
a young man in the vicinity a short
time before he noticed the girl
The body was taken to a nearby
undertaking establishment Il was
thought al first that the girl may
have been drugged. and the authori-
ties are investigating this phase OF
the case. There were no marks OF
violence on the body. Footprints OF
a man and girl lead along the river
bank TO a deserted shanty about 200
yards from where the girl leaped into
the river.
Sister Collapsed.
When the girls sister was notified
of the death she collapsed. and is
now under the care OF a physician.
The mother and brothers OF the girl
we're notified at their home in Mones-
sen. Two brothers Of the dead girl
came here and had the body shipped
70 Monessen. The girl has paid
several visits 70 her sisters here and
always had borne a good reputation.
MONESSEN. Pa. July 22-word
was received here yesterday morning
that Nellie Hughes had been mur-
dcrcd along the banks OF the Monon-
rahe river az MorCantown some
time between Saturday night and
sunday morning According 10 the
report the Eirl when found had
large hole Dob the back of her head
and her hands We're. tied behind her
back
Mother In Hospital
Mrs Thomas Hughes. the mother
~ the cirl. who had been confined in
The Mercy hospital. Pittsburgh. for
the past twenty days. had talked TO
her daughter over the long distance
telephone ar 6 o'clock Saturday night.
The mother had made ARRANGEMENTS
% have Nellie meet her ar the Mercy
ho-pifal Saturday and accompany her
20 their home here. but the mother,
feeling much better and thinking that
She could 20 home by herself. tels-
phoncd her daughter 10 90 home d.
rect from Norrantown During the
telephone conversation the girl
laughed and ioked
Since leaving school several years
aro Miss Hughes had been staying az
home helping her mothcs
NfCr ffe rows of the daurhter's
death rs- broken fo The mother she
suffered relapse. and fears are felt
f0r fr~ recovery
Friends and relatives % the Ffri
could l'to no reason Wy she should
..ke Der ife