The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-03-11

Early Morning As If Earth
 Opened and Swallowed Her
 Form. Waters of Berkshire Pond May
 Disclose Solution of Strange
 Mystery-Left House 30 Days
 Ago and May Have Tried to
 Gross Ice.
 Missing for weeks from the home of her brother on Huntington road, 22- year-old Margaret Turner. a U. M. c. employe is the cause of a police mys- tery today when search throughout the city failed to reveal any trace of her.
 Not a clue can be found by the po- lice, and only the sinister-1ooking waters of Berkshire pond, which in February was covered with ice, were looked upon by detectives as likely place of last resort in which to look for the pretty and vivacious young woman who came to this city from Bethel
 Further shadow was thrown upon the disappearance this afternoon when 1t was learned that her broth CT, who is, employed at the Handy & Harman Go. plant on John street, made no report of the facts to the police or to the girls relatives until last night, when the truth was fore ed from him by a brother-in-la law, who hadn't heard from her since she left Bethel in November and went to New Haven, thence to this city.
 Two abandoned wells in the neigh borhood of her home have been searched without result. The sus- picfon grows that the girl was on her way to visit her grandmother, Mrs. Michael Turner, and attempted to make a short cut across the ice on Berkshire pond with fatal results. The pond will be dragged With grap- bling irons.
 Detectives have been assigned to the case by Captain of Detectives George H. Arnold. That she would have been wa.ylaid or committed sut- eide seems improbable from investi- gations made today at the home of the girl for it has been established that she left the house at 320 Hunt ington road at about o'clock in the morning, February l. and tntended, evidently. to return at once to the house In fact, she had gone into a store not 100 feet from the dwelling and purchased few small groceries needed for cooking in the house. She was a girl apparently of exemplary habits, who never goes from home at night and had no company during the day.
 Discovery of her absence was first made by Mrs. Thomas DaNenp ort, who lives on the first floor of the old residence located but 9, stones throw from the intersection of Noble ave- nue and Blocker street and in the immediate vicinity of the old willow tree road where 40 years ago the body of Ellen Lucas was found fol- lowing one of the most sensational murders that was ever recorded in Fairfield county.
 According to Mrs. Davenport Richard Turner, his sister Helen, aged Is and Margaret Turner had lived together upstairs since last. november Helen is working at the U. M. c. Co. during the day. Richard works at the Handy & Harman factory and Mar garet had come to this city from Dam bury during the month of November, expecting to get work at any time, for she once worked at the ammunition plant but has since been> employed as a nurse in the Danbury hospital.
 Margaret was left to care for the hoiseho1d and to take care of a i've year-oId boy, Richard, belonging to a sister. May Bedna, once of Bethel, but living in New Haven. A grandmother Mrs. Taylor is said to live on River street, near the Berkshire Mills bridge
 Mrs. Davenport heard Margaret Tur- ner leave the house early on the morn ing of February i. She did not hear her come back, but the boy upstairs became restless and every time there was some slight noise downstairs opened the door and cried out at the head of the staircase leading to the general street door, Who's there?'
 This interrogation finally attracted Mrs. Davenport to the boy, who said that his aunt had gone out for few minutes, warning him not to touch anything until she came back The boy was hungry and was taken down stairs to await the girls return.
 When Richard Turner returred that night he at once disclaimed any know. ledge of the girls whereabouts as did the sister Helen. It was learned that Margaret had gone to the store of Meyer Bower, at the intersection of Huntington road and Beecher street. shortly atfer o'clock and had pur- chased a small quantity of provisions Mrs. Bower, who waited on her. said that she was fully dressed at the time and laughed and joked with her at the time of making the purchases Osten- sibly she was going directly home.
 It is believed by those Investigating the case today, that the girl may have changed her mind and decided to visit her mother, who lives on River street just beyond the westerly approach of the Berkshire mill bridge It may have been possible that in an attempt to make a short cut over the ice which officers of the Berkshire Mills com pany today declare was upon the pond at the time, she broke through and was drowned.
 This theory-but one of several now under tnvestigation-viu likely be thoroughly investigated by the po- lice tomorrow with the result that dragging of the pond may disclose the body.
 Richard Turner is about 20 years old. Neighbors to-day signified that they were of the opinion he did not realize the gravity of the case or dis annroved of the nuhlicitu