Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-31
BODY OF WOMAN,
BELIEVED SLAIN.
|SFOUND IN RIVER
Corpse Lodges in Roots
Along Banks of James,
Near Westham.
WIRE ABOUT WAIST LEADS
TO THEORY OF FOUL CRIME
Victim, Apparently Twenty-Five
Years Old, Thought to Have
Been Dead Month.
DISCOVERY is MADE BY NEGRO
Marks Found on Raincoat May Lead
to Solution OF Mystery Which
DISCOVERY is MADE BY NEGRO
Marks Found on Raincoat May Lead
to Solution OF Mystery Which
Confronts Authorities.

The body OF an unidentified woman.
well clothed. and apparently between
twenty-five and thirty years old, who
is believed to have been murdered, was
round clinEing to tree roots on the
banks OF the James River half a mile
above Westham Bridge, five miles from
Richmond, shortly after 10 o'clock yes
terday morning
One Side of the face was crushed,
presumably by n blow from some heavy
instrument. the nose broken and a
tooth Knocked loose The body Is said
by officials 10 have been in the water
Tor month or more. There was a
wire about tkc womans waist. indi-
eating that weight had been attached.
TO the river bed.
identification Of the woman and
solution Of the mystery OF her death
depend largely upon what may be
learned from an examination OF her
clothing. which Will he made to-day.
City and Hcnrico County authorities
none 10 Identify the woman through
Whatever labels may be on the mans
taincoat in which she was attired when
thound; the make, size and number OF
her shoes, or any possible laundry
marks on her clothing.
CERTAIN wO3IAN WAS KILLED
AND THROWN INTO WATER
There is little question among the
authorities as to whether or not the
woman met death through foul play
Captain OF Detectives Alex Wright. of
nichmond; Sheriff Sydnor and several
or or the Henrico County deputies. with
Dr j. Fulmer Bright, coroner of Hen
rico County viewed the body with
the exception OF Coroner Bright VINO
has reserved his opinion until an au
,opsy is performed, the au,horittes
stated that their belief was that the
Women had been murdered before be-
ing thrown into The James -YIyer
Pster Miles, colored, trapper. who
n, sires ~ lsio North Twenty eighth
street. FOUND the body as he was walk
mihs dS shs river bank In setting his traps.
10 his story. but went TO the Westhnm
station. from where the AUTHORITIES
o.c We, hotiheu or the Srucsome d.scov-
The woman wore mans brown
thaincoat: h underneath which was a
nrown,sn :. oS maa, coIored sweater Her dress
and marked with black polka dots Her
SSihoek,ngs Sha sings are OF high grade black SILK.
SIe sui., "nre Ore Tan SHOES. but slightly worr
win ht-colored cloth or buckskin
tops. The heels are tipped with rub
ber: she had on two pettlcoats. one
OF blush color. the other OF knitted
BAND ABOUT THROAT
DRAWN INTO KNOT
The woman was about five feet four
nches tan, and weighed between 1870
~ pOuiuS. t1eT n3lr, which had
been coiled on top OF her head. was
light brown or blond was
Ihere IS possibility that the woman
was throttled. according TO the au
thorities. Around her neck is n cor.
ton band less than an inch wide. which
nag On oeen tSn pulled into a hard knot.
black kid glove, which Ind bemn
partly torn from the fingers Indica
tions lead the authorities 20 believe
mat one or more rings were stripped
from the hand.
The spot where the body was found
lsriv Is svc!uoed "a and unfrequented particu-
months an automobile may ~ reach eh'ree the
pace, but now it is almost inaccessi-
ble Tor vehicles.
WILL PERFORM AUTOPSY
AT O'CLOCK TODAY
Sherif Sydnor. with his men and
Captain Wright, searched for foot
prints about the scene where the bodv
'nm,d was found d.; None-were discernible. nor
mile each 1iue uv,,, oc , found for half a
Coroner Bright stated that an am.
topsy toPa % oyer the body would be held at
Fulton. eseh' IN
~ would not state definitely that
nav me woman rnad had been murdered until
tion." DR.. Bright said signs nnint
10 foul play. and the case looks had
inr nu. 100 , many unusual cases of simi,
!nr nature have taken place TO call
edge" '"ef Nho"l-
The coroner. in referring to the wire
~around ~ me woman's body, pointed TO n
suiclde here several years ago when r.
was discovered that the man had tind
Them 1eif f,rcd of rocks SkS,o around himself and
fore dropping into the river.
sYDNOR AND WRIGHT
CONFIDENT OF MURDER
But both Captain Wright and Sheriff
Sydnor appear convinced that the wo
man was murdered 1t is their tbeorv
that the woman was automobiIo ridinS
When the tragedy took place The ,t,n,
man was attired in clothing similar 70
tnat usually worn while riding through
the country. "
NIhe authorities believe that the wo
nrS was first struck in the side of
lnSSss9aGe S!,e and knocked unconscious.
aitSTfsynlch she probably was throttled
IhefT8he Slayer wrapped the wire
abotFBhe waist OF the woman and
iuin,hg,SS .,i,h into mt the river a; some point
the body was found according to Tho
official theory. ~ inc
Until the woman's clothing Is close
~ eHaih,hed ha, ih tor marks which will lead
VIII be unable to attempt a solution
OF the mystery. Because of the innc.
cessinii,ty &c SID M or the spot and the condition
OF the pody IT was impossible for the
undertakers to carry tho cornsc into
Richmond yesterday. The body will he
Drought into the city some time to-day.
and then 1T is expected by The dotnco
tives that a clue will be found to the
woman's Identity. ''
NO MISSING PERSON
ANSWERS DESCRIPTION
with the. woman's identity estab
iishcd we VIII have gone n long way
v there be one" said DR.. Bright last
= Both CantaIn Wright and sherifr