The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-14
TOpekan Thought To Have
Been Murdered at Cairo, Ill.
Body of Alex Irwin Found in
Mississippi River.
HAD Been DEAD TWO WEEKS
He Collected Money for Big
Saw Company.
When Body Was Found His
Pockets Were Empty.

The body of Alex Irwin, the son
of Mr.. and Mrs. Alex Irwin who live
at 3O1 Hancock street, was found in
the Mississippi river at Cairo, Ill,
Wednesday night bearing every midi
cation that he had been robbed and
murdered. 1t was held by the cor
oner Will, the family here was COM
municated with. Arrangements will
be made today for it's shipment to
Topeka for burial.
Irwin travelled for tho Onward Saw
! company Of st. Louis and collected
money Tor the firm. Frequently on
| nearing st. Louis after one of his reg
ular trips he carried large sums of
| money anG his aged father stated to-
| day that there was no question but
that he had been robbed, murdered
and his body thrown in the river.
that his son bad frequently stated
! that the only time he ever had had
| any misgivings was when be was
nearing St. Louis with his collections
| in his possession.
Found by Fisherman.
The communication received by the
State Journal from Cairo today states
that the body was found by fisher
man Wednesday night and that it's
water for about two weeks. Because
| of the length of time elapsing the
coroner was unable to find any evil
dence of violence. However, there was
no money in his pockets, his watch
was gone and even all letters and pa
| perS had been removed from the
pockets.
Irwin was identified by a claim
check which called for brip checked
at the limo hotel at East st. Louis.
With the claim check Cairo officers
located the grip and in it found letters
written by the Onward Saw company
to Irwin at the address of his father
at 301 Hancock street, Topeka. There
was also soiled laundry in the grip
showing the same initials Irwin was
not registered at the hotel where the
grip was located.
His father and mother received a
letter from the son written from Car
bondale, Ill, May 81, stating that he
would leave that night for st. Louis
Nothing his been heard from him since
and from the coroner's statement it is
gathered that his body had been in
the river since about that time.
Born at Wamego.
Irwin was 40 years of age and wa:
born at Wamego. Kan. He worked
for the Dibble Grocery company here
for three or four years and went from
that firm to the Onward Saw com
pany, for which he has been travelling
since. He was married about eigh
months ago to a young woman living
at Van Buren,, Ark. His parents stated
today that his wife Is still at Van Blu
rem. The son was here about tive
months ago for a visit and has made
it a practice to stop for a few day
wi his parents every two or three
months.
His aged mother is an invalid anC
the effect of the notice of her SON
death upon her was feared by her hus
band and their daughter. Mrs. Kat
Cox, 316 Klein street. She has teeI
cause she did not hear from him. Tn
Onward Saw company has been en-
curing thru letters to his father, am
the father and Mrs. Cox have beel
suspicious. They We're not at all sur
prised today when / ey learned of hi
; death.
Family Had Premonition.
, 81 have had the feeling for severa
days" said his sister, that everything
otherwise. His company has bee
writing here trying to locate him an
we knew he was not the kind of ma
: to leave his firm long in the dark
''It is just as we expected" said tn
aged father. Il don't know how I
tell his mother. She will be all brok
en- up and she's an invalid now. Sh
was all wrapped up in that boy. Per
: sonally / have felt for a week or NOR
that we had lost him permanently"