The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-29
Mystery in Disappearance
Of January q Partly
Cleared Up.
MOTIVE FOR CRIME
IS NOT DETERMINED
Skull Crushed, Head and
Feet Pulled Together and
Tied With Rope.
D. r. Cox was murdered!

D. r. Cox was snurderedI
This was proven beyond cues
ton yesterday morning when his
body, with fest and head drawn
together and tied sscursly with
rope and his skull crushed as
though by . heavy blow, was
found floating in the Missouia
river near Quartz.
Word Of the finding was sent to
Sheriff Hoffman and Coroner Fessler
at Superior. who. with Under Sheriff
Krease, went to Quartz in an antomo-
bile and took the remains to Superior,
where they are being held temporarily.
Body Weighted?
It is the belief OF the Mineral county
officials that the body previous to be-
ing dumped into the river. had been
weighted with stone, but that the
action OF the water had loosened this,
finally, and allowed the corpse to rise
to the surface
0rsatef Mystery Than Ever.
The mystery surrounding the
diaappsarance Of Cox from Mis-.
souia on the night Of January q, is
solved. But greater mystery
, sdsvelops-
Who did the killing?
Mhat was the motive?
These are the questions Sheriff
Green and his deputies have already
started to solve. The Missou,a county
sheriff has gone 10 Superior to work
on the case.
identified by Clothing.
While decomposition had rendered
complete Identification Of the body i'm
possible, word from the Mineral county
authorities last night regarding the
clothing left no doubt in the minds OF
local officials that the corpse is that
OF DIR. Cox On the night OF his
disappea rance he was dressed In a
dark colored oyercoat. sray snit. silk
shirt, silk socks and silk underwear.
These correspond with those worn BY
the man whose body was dragged from
the current Of the Missoula river yes
terday.
In the trousers pocket was found a
keyring bearing = tag, 1921 Main
street. Joplin. No." This was the for
mer home of Cox and the present home
OF his wife. Another was Travellers
Protective association tag and bore the
155.1s5. Still a third was from the
Bankers Casualty company OF Mime
apolis, with the number. $500.
The remains probably will be brought
to Missoula as he has a brother. p L
Cox. residing here. His first wife
Mrs, ORAL Cox, two children and sis
ter also live IN Nissoula.
disappeared January ~.
1t will be recalled that d. r. Cox
who lived on the south side, on Sun
day, January 27. went to the Cheste
Slaughter home on Vine street. to se'
his children, who were in the care o
Mrs, Slaughter. He left his watch ant
money. 3120. with his brother. +. T
Cox, who resided at 400 South Fiftl
street. He was making short Gu
by way of the Van Buren, street bridg
and as II would be dark upon his re
turn, he did not want to have any val
uables on his person.
He reached the Slaughter home abou
4 O'Clock that afternoon and left at
that evening. That was the last eve
seen OF him alive.
Various Theories.
Various theories had been advance
as to the cause Of his disappearanc
The first was that he had been mnI
dered and thrown into the river at II
Van Buren, street bridge. Anoths
was that he had run away to avoi
the possibility Of bigainy prosecute
and the threat OF prosecution Il
blackmail. A third WAS the suppos
.tion that he killed himself in despa
by jumping into the river.
The sheriffs office here was II
clined to the belief that he had ju
skipped cut to get away from troub
lCeutinued- ea. HaEs Three.A