Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-03
RIVER MYSTERY
May Be SOLVED
! BY BEDFORD MAN
Father Believes Body of
Woman Is Likely That
of Daughter.
WAS ENGAGED TO WED
OFFICER AT CAMP LEE
Parent Comes to Richmond, but
Withholds Positive Identif-
cation of Remains.
GIRL. VANISHED DECEMBER 1s
Had Been at Work in Hopewell, and
Disappeared Few Days Before
Date for Marriage.
WAS ENGAGED TO WED
OFFICER AT CAMP LEE
GIRL. VANISHED DECEMBER 1s
Had Been at Work in Hopewell, and
Disappeared Few Days Before
Date for Marriage.

Evidence that the woman whose
body was found Monday in the James
River near Westham is Bedford
County girl who disappeared Deem
bcr le. Just few days before the date
set for her wedding to an army officer
at Camp Ice, was brought to Police
Headquarters yesterday by the father
OF the missing girl.
According TO the father, she came
10 Richmond on December Is. worked
the following day at local depart
mcnt store. then suddenly dropped out
Of sight. She had been engaged to an
officer at Camp Lee. according TO the
father. and arrangements were being
made for the marriage before Christ
mas.
AUTHORITIES are withholding ~"
name Of the Bedford County family
until identification OF the girls body
here is certain.
FATHER - NOT CERTAIN or
IDENTIFICtTION OF BODY
The father came 70 Richmond and
many respects the dead woman rcsem
bied his daughter. particularly as TO
and and" eyes. eye ba, he You'd not pa" state dea lea
nitely that the body was that OF his
To-day the father will go to Camp
Ice in search Of tho officer TO whom
his daughter was engaged. and until
the rs %r sal ,hs names
OF all concerned. They say there is
possibility tha, tho Bedford County
married and icf, for for the ofticer's home
since tho girl disappeared the pa
at Camp Lee last night that an et
iianoe was stationed there, but could
not be located during the evening.
DAUtiiGrtR. W0nKED At.
HOPEwELI.. FATHER SAYS
toe had been employed a, HopeWeil
since last January; and did not leave
turned to Hopcwcil. writing, from
stating she had arrived safely and
was we'll. AT that time the young
woman had more than $500 In cash
with her. according to the father. who
stated there was no reason for her TO
become respondent on account Of hnan-
cial conditions
Because OF the fact that he had seen
her so infrequently during the past
several months the father was un
able 10 tell whether the clothing worn
by the dead woman belonged TO his
daughter.
Richmond authorities will go to
the dormitory in which the Bedford
County girl stayed. They think that
the rnatron will be able TO identify the
clothing found on the body
SOLUTION OF MYSTERY
AT HAND, THEY THINK
Police believe these developments
have led them nearer a solution of
the. mystery surrounding the woman's
death than any clues which have turned
The father of the BEDFORD County
I girl said that his daughter had had
severe attack Of influenza a few
ing the autopsy Coroner ]. Fulmer
Bright discovered dark mark on the
suffered either from pIeurisy or pneu-
monia.
The father was unable to identify
the shoes worn By the woman. One OF
these was sent to the factory OF the
manufacturers and the authorities ex-
pect to learn within a few days where
the shoes were sold. The Richmond
branch store Of the factory stated that
the shoes had not been purchased here
. during the, past two years.
1t is the belief OF the Bedford County
mere on December 16 had met with
misfortune. The fatner declared that
It has been the custom Of the girl
and sometimes oftener. She was not
dcspondent. at least no signs were
evident during her visit home, he said.
but .cheerfulness and a happy anticipar
ton of her coming marriage.
EXPECT ARMY OFFICER
TO SHED SOME LIGHT
Officials yesterday were inclined to
believe the body found in the James
River was that Of the Bedford County
woman. and stated that every EFFORT
would be put forth to trace her from
the time she left the department store
here on December 16. 1t is believed
that the officer at Camp Lee will be
, able to throw some light on the facts.
Regarding the dental work which
had been done in the mouth of the
woman, at the morgue here the ia ather
s declared he did not know his daugt-
%ter had had any such work done. But
he added, she, might have had the
bridge work done at Petersburg or
Hopewcl during her stay there.