The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-02-11
BODY OF BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
FOUND IN TEXAS RIVER IDEN-
Titled AS MRS. HADLEY.
YOUNG HUSBAND, AFTER VISIT
TO GEORGIA, MAKES ESCAPE

Corpse Was Entangled in Roots of
Tree With Two Strands of Wire
Twisted About Her Waist. Hus-
band Tells Several Conflicting Sto-
ries About Her Disappearance.
CINCINNATI.-News was received
here tonight that DIR. Wilmer A. Had
ley, sought by the Richmond, Va,
authorities on warrant charging him
with the murder of his wife, Mrs. Sue
T. Hadley, formerly of Cincinnati, had
been seen near Friends Wood, Texas,
home of his mother, last Friday.
RICHMOND, Va.-One of the most
mysterious crimes in the history of the
south is today believed to be near solu-
ton in the identification of the body of
young woman found on the bank
of the James river, Dec. 80, as that
of Mrs. Sue Kathleen Hadley. She
was the talented and attractive wife
of DR.. Wilmer Amos Hadley, former
army surgeon, who has disappeared
and is now being sought in Texas
and other states.
Mrs. Hadley, before her marriage
five years ago, was Miss Sue Kathleen
-Tinsley of Cincinnati She was promi
nent in Cincinnati social and literary
circles and had large number Of
friends.
Disappeared Dec. 9th.
DR.. Hadley disappeared from Rich
mond Dec. 6, just twelve days after
his wife's disappearance. On Nov. rs,
she left her apartment here apparent
ly to take a walk with her husband.
Three hours later he returned alone
and told neighbors she had suddenly
accepted an invitation to accompany
friends touring through Richmond en-
route for Pittsburg.
Seevral days after DR.. Hadley's dis
appearance his wife's sister, Mrs. A.
H. Evans, wife of wealthy chemical
manufacturer in Cincinnati. received
letter from him dated Dec. 7, from
Atlanta, Ga, which stated that his
wife had died in San Juan, P. R., on
Nov. "a, and that he had buried her
body there in the American cemetery.
He stated further that he had sailed
Immediately for this country and had
just arrived in Atlanta.
1t has been learned that DR.. Had
ley received his discharge from the
Westhampton hospital here on Dec. 5.
Says Wife Travels
Several days after DR.. Hadley told
neighbors that his wife had joined a
touring party and that she probably
would not return but would go to their
home in Texas. He also said he had
letters from her in which she mention
go having written to friends here
None of the Richmond friends received
any letters from her.
The woman's body when found was
entangled in the roots of tree on the
banks of the James river. Two thin
strands of wire were twisted about
her waist outside the clothing, indi
eating that a weight had been attach
ed but had been loosened in some
manner. No signs of violence were ap-
parent and the coroner would not say
even after the autopsy, that she had
been drowned
When the body was found the glove
on the woman's left hand had been
split and partly torn off, indicating,
the police believe, that rings were torn
from her fingers. 1t developed today
that some time subsequent to Mrs.
Hadley's disappearance Dr. Hadley
had diamond reset from a woman's
setting into mans setting at local
jewelry store.
Dragged or Drowned
The police are working on the theory
that Mrs. Hadley was either drugged
or drowned, or possibly drugged first
and then drowned. A chemical an
alysis of the stomach is now being
made.
Identification of Mrs. Hadley's body
came about through comparison by
neighbors and friends here of con-
fiicting stories as to her whereabouts.
DR.. Hadley is alleged to have written
to nurse in the WesthamptOn hos
pital that his wife had died in Texas.
The discrepancies in the various stor-
les concerning her caused friends of
Mrs. Hadley to visit the morgue where
they positively identified the body and
clothing.
DR.. Hadley was last heard from in
Texas, where he was located on a
ranch, but officials today expressed