The Cairo bulletin., 1914-02-07
bUR|fS LIVING
VICTIM BENEATH
new CITY HALL
Pittsburger Beaten, Robbed and
Buried Alive Under Cleve-
land New Building.
INTUITION OF HIS MOTHER
LEADS TO FINDING OF BOY
Had Been Robbed of Money But
Ro3ber Failed to Take VAL
liable Jewelry.

Il Cleveland, o., Feb. 6.-Robert z
Merc2',- formerly of Pittsburg, was
beaten, robbed and buried alive IN
the basement of the new City Hall
under construction onthe lake front,
This was learned today when thi
BODY cf the Young, man was fonr
by the policc, who had been spurred
to make the search by the young
mans mother, Mrs. Jennie Mercer,
Of Pittsburg. who declared that sne
had an intuition that the body OF
he. son was buried under the build
in,
Mercer had been, missing since
DeccnIher 2l. Police here had
searched for him for a couple of
weeks. hut could not get any clew
to his Whereabouts. He was en-
ployed as a timekeeper in the new
City Hall. His mother and his
fance. MisSi Alma McMullen, of
Pittsburg, came here and urged the
police to further efforts, but the
search was given up Mrs. Mercer,
b her tears and pleaoings, prevailed
upon Detective Shible toda to fol-
low hers intuition and search in the
basement There the body was dis
closed.
AT the time Mercer disappearcd
he had Sl00 in cash, gift from his
mother, and wore two diamonds val
ued in all at $1,000. When the
body was found the jewelry was in
tact but only one cent of the money
was left
1t 10 believed that Mercer was
beaten and robbed and then while
still alive but unconscious was
buried in, the basement. Marks were
found on the head which indicate
he was struck with q club.
The body was found in the south
west corner fthe sub basement of
tho big building. While Mrs. Mer-
Ger Waited in the office of the con-
str1ction company Shibley, with n
gang of workmen made the search
in The basement.
They sounded the earth and final
ly found one place where the dirt
seemed fresh. Upon digging into it
they came upon MERGERS body,
buried three feet in the ground. Tn 3
arms were folded across the breast
and the knees were doubled up.
Mrs Mercer collapsed when in
formed Of the find. The body will
be sent to Pittsbu1g for burial
Police declare that they have a
elew which will result in an al
rest in the case soon..
The body of Mercer had been
stripped of every piece of money
with the exception of a single cent
His murderer failed, however, TO
take any of the valuable jewelry.
A gold watch and chain, diamond
cuff links, watch fob, with diamond
studded charm, diamond stick pin,
several letters, ring of keys, gold
tie CLASP and silver belt buckle were
found undisturbed.
One of the letters was dated De-
cember 10. All bore Pittsburg and
Chicago postmarks. One was signed
From your little sweetheart Alma. +"
In the watch charm was a picture
Of Mercer's flancee.
81 knew they would find Roberts
body" said Mrs. Mercer. II have
had premonition ever since l first
heard my boy was missing that he
was killed at the City Hall and
buried there.
when left Cleveland three weeks
ago afer a fruitless search l told my
friends at home l had left my how
behind. Last Sunday l was unable
to stand it any longer. / came here
and insisted the police dig for his
body"
1t was due to Mrs. Mercar's nor
sistence in the theory that led to
the search. 1t was on the City Hall
grounds that Mercer was last seen.
After he had vanished his overcoat
was still hanging in the Temporary
offices OF the construction company,
Christmas Day the mother was
holding dinner for Mercer at his
home in Pittsburg when she was
notified by his chum, John Cooper.