Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-17
POLICE SEARCH sWAMPS
FOR MISSING NUN
Confined from Rage On.

'ontinued from Page One
been seen by any person i'm the nolehbor-
hood aince her disa appearance.
leading TO the villa is road which
runs 70 steep incline. This stretches
about 500 yards to the edge OF Tacony
creek
few feet from he creek was found
sister Rite Ninccnt's shawl and other
! belongings Tho shawl was stretched out
carefully, as though tho sister intended
10 lie down to rest and subsequently
! changed her mind. lust beyond the
creek there is road which leads through
Montgomery County.
The missing nun is % years old. ) feet
: inches in height, Of light complexion
with rosy cheeks. She weighs about lia
pounds, has red hair and wears glasses
sister Vincent was novice In the
Order Of the Sisters Of st. joseph. s.,
Joseph's Villa Is maintained for the care
OF tubercular nuns. Dr. Robert H. Boil
ing. sos Germantown avenue, is medical
adviser Of the institution. and II was he
who first expressed the opinion that Sister
vincent may have been tho victim OF n
arrangement as q direct result of her
physical condition.
Mother Mary tgnatius. superior of the
convent, upon learning of the dlsappear-
ance OF the nun, He'd i'm Charles u. Nc
Avoy, OF Norristown. former District At
'Ni'i'S w NAbuAkOtlltIN county. ana
through him the aid of the police was
enlisted.
Doctor Boiling said that the night be-
fore Sister Vincent disappeared she hrd
temperature Of 100, and gave signs OF
her disease having reached an advanced
stage. He said that the young woman
was admitted TO the convent about nine
months ago, and, although apparently
bright and cheerful Al first, became mel
anCholy as time went on
Sister Vincent is daughter of John
Hasgcrty, q salesman. who lives at 1914
WatlSins street, In this city. MIR. fIag-
gerty himself led in the search OF Tacony
Creek when II was thought that tho BODY
of his daughter might he beneath the
waters there. This was Saturday and
nntil that time no news Of the nuns dis
appearance had leaked out. for the po-
lice were asked to conduct q quiet
search and to keep the knowledge OF the
nuns disa ppearance to themselves, nc
curdlng TO Chief Lever, OF Cheltenham
township. Chief Lever said that secrecy
had been requested in order to prevent
the circulation Of any uuwarranted or
sensational stories.
The young woman's father entered the
waters of Tacony Creek when the search
was carried on. and although II was
bitter cold day and the waters ~ the
creek icy the man was so Srlef-stricken
that he seemed TO have absolutely no fear
or iniurng his health by the exposure
He was assisted Inv the search by rs
others, and so thoroughly was the work
done that Mr. Haggerty was certain,
when they finished that his daughter was
not drowned Tho police activities we're
thercupon increased and tho aid Of Cath
olc societies. with their tremendous mem
bership. enlisted
Philadelphia Detectives Ganley and Shea
were detailed to the case. and in order
to establish absolutely the question OF
whether Sister Vincent had been drowned |
they even opened the food gates OF the
Tacony river dam, near the convent. to |
draw off the water. The use OF dynamite |
was employed several times.
FEAR FOR HER HEALTH [
\ search of the country about the con-
vent part OF which is covered with small |
woods. was conducted, out no trace was |
found there OF the young woman.
Fear Is entertained that unless Sister |
Vincent has obtained shelter her physi |
cal condition will be seriously affected.
She was in a weakened state. and sew |
eral weeks ago was so low that she was |
thought to ue dying. and Father Hnrrl- |
gan was called In to administer the last !
rites
Sister Vincent was dressed in the earb |
Of a nun when she left the convent and |
there is no indication that she WAS |
enabled to change this garb, The police |
have likewise found nothing to indicate |
that she bought railroad ticket, and be- !
lieve, for that reason, that she cannot |
have gone many miles from this city.
she was a graduate )f the Girls Cath |
oic High School in this city, where she
was always good student She con-
tracted tuberculosis, 1t ia said. as teach
er in settlement classes in the parish OF
The Church Of the sSnnuucation. She be-
gan the life of n nun in st. Thomas par
ish. I'm this city, and entered St. Joseph's
villa only when she became TOO Ill to con-
tinue her work.