Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-10-06
County Physician Gives His
Opinion After Examining
Body Found Here
ExONERATE TUGBOAT CREW
Coroner FIyna Makes
Thorough Investigation of
Cass--VIctIm Not In Fight.

Straits Mostrogeorge, the tugboat
fireman whose body was found un-
der the Roessler & Hasslacher dock
Friday morning, was drowned, ac-
cording to verdict of County Pry-
sician Carroll. Coroner James J.
Flynn has exonerated the crew of
the tugboat Edwin A. Fisher, and
claims that II Mostrogeorge met with
foul play, 1t was at the hands of a
longshore gang, or some persons
other than members of the tugboat
crew. Chief of Police Patrick J.
Burke declares that so far as the
police investigation has gone. there
Is no indication of foul play.
Parts of the story of Mervin, a
former deckhand on the Sayre &c
Fisher tug, would indicate that Mos
trogeorge might have been robbed
and assaulted on Saturday night,
September 81. Mervin has told
Coroner Flynn that the man carried
large roll OF money when he last
saw him that night. However, in
formation received by the coroner
from the Sayre & Fisher towing Of
flcials yesterday, would lead him to
believe otherwise. They claimed
his pay was not due until October
1, and as he had drawn no money,
they wonder how he came In pos
session Of SO much as Mervin claims
he had.
The county physician made a
close examination of the body Sat
urday afternoon. He afterwards
claimed death had been due to
drowning. The condition of the
body Is such that 1t is difficult to
ascertain If there are any bruises
on 1t, and it will be buried tomor-
row unless friends and relatives
claim it.
G. l.. Blew, superintendent of the
towing department of Sayre & Fish
er, together with other members of
the crew, were interviewed by Cor
oner Flynn yesterday. They stated
that Montrogeorge, under the name
OF George Straits" had secured en-
ployment as fireman on the vessel
September 16, and that he worked
on it until Saturday night, Septem-
ber 81, the night on which he is
supposed to have met his death.
He left the tug to go ashore that
Saturday night, and when he failed
to appear for service, the crew
thought little of It. They left when
scheduled to go on account Of tide
editions. At the time the tug
was tied up east of three other ves-
sells at Merritt's dock at the foot of
Fayette street. The crew members
say 1t is possible that Mostrogeorge
might have fallen or otherwise met
Ir ol, III
the vessels.
A dress suit case and some
clothes belonging to the victi mwere
left on the tug. Coroner Flynn
went aboard the vessel. He was
there informed that there were Of
ten slight disagreements over the
hoisting Of ashes, but found no signs
of any serious alteration, which
might have resulted in murder.
He closely examined the fireman
with whom Mostrogeorge had work
ed and with whom he is reported to
have had an argument. When the
fireman expressed willingness to
take the dress suit case and clothes
of the man, the coroner decided he
had mad nothing to do with causing
the mans death.
Coroner Flynn is now seeking the
whereabouts of a schooner captain
who came to his house last Monday
and inquired as to the drowning of
a man. The man told him that
sailor had been with him Saturday
night, September 27, and missed the
boat on which he worked, had en-
gagged a room in a hotel, went out
end failed to return.