River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-05-20
A Mysterious
Disappearance
BY MARJORIE CLOUGH

daughter, aged eighteen, was missing.
She had gone out during an afternoon,
telling her mother that she would go
to the library and do some shopping.
She had not returned to supper, and
her mother was very much worried
about her. Mrs. Maryweather tele-
phoned to various friends of Susie's.
asking if she was with them. and re
ceiyed negative replies.
The next day an investigation was
made as to where the girl had been
during the previous afternoon. She
had been to the library, where she had
taken out a book, the name Of which
the librarian did not remember. She
had not been at any store. The police
were notified of the disappearance; in
quiries were made at police stations in
neighboring towns, but without elicit
ing any information.
Wellington, where the MaryWeatherS
lived, was on the bank of river. On
the third day after Susie's disappear
ance at point on the river four miles
above the town, where boat was
kept for ferriage, book was found on
the shore bearing the stamp Of the Mel
lington library. 1t was returned to
the library by boy. who told how he
had happened to find it and where.
The librarian reported the matter to
Mr.. MaryWeather, giving it as his opin-
ion that it was the book his daughter
ba1 faIyo,, f,11% of fho Iibr0ru
Beyond tracing Susie to this point on
the river the find availed nothing. for
there was no other clew by which she
could be traced further.
Meanwhile every person who heard
Of the disappearance formed theory
believed that Susie had been kidnapped,
but when week had passed and no
application for ransom had been re-
ceived many doubted this explanation.
Those who adhered to it were Of opin-
ion that the kidnapers had found it nee
essary to their safety to kill their vic
tim. Another theory was that Susie
had drowned herself under an attack
of temporary insanity. No such men
tai ailing had appeared in the Mary
weather family, and Susie had always
been considered healthy in every re-
been noticed was an apparent preoccu-
patton.
Ten days passed and no clew to the
disappearance, other than the book,
was found. Then a man fishing in
boat near the middle Of the river ten
miles below Wellington caught his hook
in something that he pulled to the
surface and found it to be a plaid
dress. The body Of a woman was
taken out of the water that had evil
IDENTIFY been there long while. It was
very much swollen, and the features
were unacceptable. The hair-the
only feature unchanged-was Of the
most ordinary color.
A portion of the dress was sent to
Mrs. Maryweather, who at once fden-
tilted it as one belonging to her daugh-
ter or had belonged to her. The moth
er was positive that Susie had not worn
it the day she left home nor for long
while previous. She overhauled her
daughters old clothes, but did not find
the dress indicated.
The police formed a theory that SUI
san Maryweather had gone away for
had previous to her departure sent or
taken certain clothing, by wearing
which her identity could the better
be concealed. While wearing the plaid
dress she had committed suicide by
drowning This was a reasonable the
the police would not need to trouble
themselves further about it.
Mr.. Maryweather believed that the
body found was that of his daughter;
but, not wishing to destroy all hope in
his wife, be did not press his opinion
upon her. She took the ground that
the theory Of the police was absurd.
but she was unable to account for the
dress Of the same pattern as one her
daughter had owned being on the body
found in the river. The only hope she
had was that some other woman had
worn a dress made of material of
similar pattern.
No claimant for the body appearing.
Mr.. Maryweather disposed of it with
out revealing what he had done with
1t. 1t was not treated as the body of
his daughter-that Is, no funeral was
held since there was no certainty as
to its identity.
The day after it had been put away
a carriage drove up before the Mary
weather home. and who should step
out but Susie! She ran into the house.
flung herself into the arms Of her par
ents and announced that she had been
married. Her husband was without,
awaiting the result of her confession.
Neither he nor she knew that she was
supposed to be dead.
Susie's affair had been kept a secret
because her lovers parents opposed his
marriage. The day OF her disappear
ance he had met her and persuaded
her to go away with him and be mar
ried. They had crossed the ferry, and
Susie had accidentally dropped the