Evening journal., 1913-09-24
MOTHER SAYS
Her SON WAS
NOT MURDERED
Mrs. Gregg Inclined to Belief
That Youth Fell to Death
From Car
NO EVIDENCE THAT
BOY HAD BEEN ROBBED

The theory that William Howard
Gregg, whose mutilated body was
found along the car tracks opposite
Lawncroft Cemetery early Sunday
morning, was murdered. is not credit
ed by his mother, Mrs. Alice Gregg,
Of No. 200 East Seventh street
This belief is now likewise shared
by Robert f. Cloud, deputy coroner OF
Delaware county, Pa.
When interviewed by an EVENING
JOURNAL reporter this morning con-
cerning the death Of the youth, Mrs.
Gregg did not seem inclined to place
much faith in the murder theory.
She SCOTS the contention that VIII
liam was murdered for the purpose
Of robbery, declaring that he could not
have had very much money Twenty
cents was found in the grass near
his body and his mother is inclined
to think that this is all he had at the
time.
Il was also stated that there we're
marks upon the boys finger that look
ed as though a ring had been roughly
torn from his hand, which his peo-
pie say could not have been so as the
boy never wore a ring. They believe
the bruise on the finger could have
been made by severe blow. Another
statement was published to the effect
that the boys pockets were turned
out when the body was found. but the
Delaware county coroner yesterday
informed Mrs. Gregg that there was
no truth IN this report. II was these
reports that caused the belief that the
body had been robbed.
The parents Of the dead boy are in
clined TO take a new theory In the
matter. which would eliminate the
murder idea They believe that the
boy was riding on trolley car on his
way TO this city late Saturday night
and either fell or was pushed from
the car, striking his head aud causing
! the injuries that caused his death.
{ This theory also doeh aNaN nifh Tho
= mystery VA 81 h|IaH thc boy naprfncf
to be az the lonely spot on the roat
!, whore his body was found, at night
y Il is also thought probable that tho
bov might have been hanging 20 {
handrail on the side OF the car ant
= leaning too far out, his head ma,
have struck pole. which are rather
. close to the trolley tracks at thai
point This would account for thu
y hole in the back OF his skull. Wher
7 ] II. nI hf a
been swept from the car IN the dark
lness without having been noticed.
= Mrs. Gregg last night identified the
! clothes that her son had worn at Tho
y time of his untimely end. They were
. the same that he had worn when M
4 left home some time previous. This
= dispells statements that the youne
mans clothing had been changed az
: tier he was killed and that the cloth
! ling he wore when his body was foun'
y lid not belong to him.
~ The body Of the dead youth will b.
brought TO this city this afternoon b.
his uncle. who left this morning TO
:. Marcus Hook. Tho funeral will TAX
place from his mothers home, NJ
200 East Seventh street at o'cloc
j. Friday afternoon. with interment /
5 Riverview Cemetery.
# II was rumored about Marcus Hoo
c yesterday that Thomas Carr IN
y, motorman who discovered the bod
G was not the first to see il. Tw
young men who were picking musf
n rooms are said TO have noticed tn
u dark object and thought It was
e. drunken man. The theory that Greg
l. met his death while intoxicated wa
s. ldispelled by the autopsy. his bloc
,f failing to show any signs of alcho
ism