Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-11
MRS, ORA F. T|LT0N
MISSING FROM HOME
SUICIDE IS FEARED
Husband wakens Monday
Morning to Find Her Gone
City Marshal HARDWOOD and
Officers Devote Day to Search
of River Bank but Find No
Clue-Will Be Resumed This
Morning with Grapnels

Mrs. VIVA Tilton, wife of Ora F.
Tilton. has been missing from her
home at q North Belfast avenue since
early Monday morning and fears are
entertained that she has made way
with herself 1t is thought that per-
haps she may have wandered away
while suffering from temporary un-
balanced condition of mind. but there
appears to be a growing belief that
she has taken her life by drowning
in the kennebec river.
The first that was known of Mrs
Tilton's disappearance was when at
about o'clock Monday morning MIR.
Tilton telephoned City Marshal E. D.
Harwood that his wife had gone,
which fact was revealed to him when
he awakened from a nights rest. Mar
shall Harwood went as soon as pos
sible to the Tilton home and at once
took up the search for the missing
woman, also notifying the officers then
on duty. 1t was thought at first that
a possible clue had been found in
some tracks which were found in the
Tilton dooryard and were made by
woman's shoe but these were soon
found to be worthless as the shoes
which made them had high French
heels, whereas the shoes worn by
Mrs. Tilton had common sense heels,
Marshal HarWOod early took up the
search along the river bank and with
other officers of the police department
devoted almost the entire day to an
endeavor to secure some trace of the
missing woman. The shore above the
Augusta dam was first looked over
as far north as Mile brook and
then the search was taken up below
the dam and as far down river as the
mill Of the Augusta Lumber Co, bur
without avail. Not the slightest trace
Of a woman's footprints We're found,
either in the soft mud of the shore
near the waters edge, or elsewhere,
and at last the search was abandoned
for the night without the slightest
clue having been secured. The search
will he resumed this morning with
the aid of grapnels
What could have been Mrs. Tilton
motive for self -destru ction. if such be
the case, is not known. Her home re-
latons were agreeable, and the, only
reason that can be advanced is that
she was suffering from mental de-
rangement. 1t was learned Monday
that for the past week or two she had
not been in her usual state of health
and was somewhat melancholy, which
condition had been noticed by her
husband because of some of her say
ings, she having asked him on sew
eral occasions what he would do with
their little bow lad of about five
years, if she were taken away But
Mr.. Tilton did what he could in an
endeavor to get her mind off that
subject. When Mr.. Tilton and his wife
retired at about $50 Sunday night
she seemed to be about as usual and
that was the last time he saw her.
Mrs. Tilton is Woman about 90
years of age, five feet six inches in
height and of slender build, is of fair
complexion and has brown hair ana
dark eyes. 1t has been learned that
house dress of pink and white, black
shoes and black straw hat with a
bunch Of red flowers on if. 1t has also
been learned that sne took no money
with her.
A rumor was in circulation Mon
day that woman answering her de-
scription had been seen at $50 that
morning near the Marston & Brooks
shoe factory at Hallowell, but it had
no foundation. as 1t said that woman
vas dressed in entirely different gar
ments from those which she really
wore.