Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-06-13
PUSHES PROBE Of
TRAGEDY IN BAY,
H|NT|NG MURDER
States Attorney Not Satisfied
Winter Girl Committed Sui
eide, Despite Evidence.
Especial to the Evening star.I

Especial to the Evening star.l
BALTIMORE, June 13.-Whether
Ella G. Winter, young, good looking
and popular. was murdered or killed
herself because she believed the man
to whom she had given her entire
affections had tired of her, may never
be solved. The authorities admit they
are cropping in the dark.
d. Meredith Reese, wealthy lawyer,
club man and expert yachtsman. the
'man in the case" suggests that the
girl drowned herself. In the same
breath he insists that he never had
any intention of wedding the girl.
The county authorities openly charge
the girl was murdered. They assert
that Reese has not been frank with
them; that he knows much that might
aid them in solving the mystery.
But up to the present no charge OF
completely in the alleged crime has
been made against Reese. He is free
to go and come as he pleases. And
he Indignantly denies any knowledge
whatever regarding the manner in
which the Young stenographer met
death.
Body Found in Curtis Bay.
The body of the girl was found
floating in Curtis bay early last Mon
day The Thursday night before she
had met Reese at a boat floating and
accompanied him in a launch TO i
shore resort. Peter Bell. bartender
at this place, saw the couple depart
Reese says he landed the girl at q
float from which she planned to boarc
a car for home shortly afterward.
Lee Miller. boat attendant TT this
particular float. says the girl die
not land there that night. Her hal
was found far to the northwest o.
where the body was picked up. 1t Is
admitted it could not have floatec
there.
For a whoie week Attorney Weel
and Sheriff Hote have tried to recon
cile the known facts with a suicide
theory Today they admit this is i'm
possible.
II don't care what Reese or anyone
else may say or think" said Attorney
| Green today. Miss Winter did no
commit suicide. I will not say wha
caused her death. But it was no
suicide | hope to solve the mystery.
Reese says Accidental Drowning.
When the body was found, Rees'
admitting the close friendship 10
years with Miss Winter suggested
! that she had come back to the whar
after he left her, fallen overboar'
and been accidentally drowned. TN
theory he has now abandoned. II
saws that he believes now she dellb
! erately committed suicide. In proc
/ of this he cites statements OF Mrs
| Jennie Herrold. a friend of the dea'
girls. who says Ella threatened t
| kill herself. Mrs. IIerrolds daughter
Ruth. also says Miss Winter mus
have been self slain because she wa
girl of moods.
But neither Reese nor those WHIT
cling to the suicide theory clear VI
that mystery or explain why it wal
that Miller. the boat attendant. diC
not see the girl brought ashore b,
Reese.
Two autopsies have been held OF
the body. All they have established
is that drowning probably caused
death. Friends of the dead girl arr
inclined to criticise the Arunde
county authorities.
John Rice, negro deck hand OF
Reese's houseboat, has been detained
| but he has stubbornly d1Sclallned al
knowledge in the case. As a mattei
of fact he has been questioned so fa
only in a profunctory manner, al
though the authorities have beeT
urged to use third degree methods II
get him to talk. Two brothers o
Miss Winter entered the case today
They take open exception to the sui
! eide theory.
Brothers Deny Suicide.
"Our sister never had any intention
of committing suicide" declared
George Winter. She may have beer
accidentally drowned, but she neve
killed herself"
Sheriff Pottee and the brothers o
the dead girl today searched bricl
| yard and woods near where the ha
was found. This is one of the lone
liest spots in the Cabin Branch sec
ton. Whether they found anything
to support the murder theory is no
yet known. They are also seeking in
formation from another woman wht
shared Reese's affections. Her iden
! tity is closely guarded as it is though