The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-11-15
DOUBLE
MURDER
y|PARk
Bodies of sses Found on
Lake Fl With Bruises
Outs on
FACE.
DEATH FROM POISON?
Mystery confronts Authorities Who
Think Girls May Have Been
Thrown Out Of
Auto.
DEATH FRoM POISON?

CHICAGO, Nov. ia mystery con-
fronted police here today in the finding
of the bodies of two young and pretty
women, dead from an undetermined
cause They were, found yesterday
by police tn Grant park. on the lake
front.
i Both had been bruised and had cuts
on the face and hands as though from
being dragged over the ground. There
were no other marks. Police were
unable to determine whether they had
been poisoned or whether they had
been drugged, thrown from an auto
mobile and left to die from exposure.
The two women were identified as
Mary Rhodes, Off Altoona, snnsylvan-
ia and Lillian Thompson. Boston, ac-
tresses.
Robert Mccarthy, of Boston, and
James Meeks, of Salt Lake City, made
ians with a theatrical company here
and were living at the hotel where
the dead women stopped.
Early today police Arrested man
whom they believed might be able to
throw light on the mystery. Both
Mccarthy and Meeks were held pend
ing further Investigation.
According to Meeks and Mccarthy,
the two girls disappeared Saturday
night. One theory advanced was
that they had gone on cabaret tour,
been drugged and then taken to the
lake front and thrown from an au-
tomobile The bodies were discov-
cred through telephone call. which
the police traced to an Office in a
downtown skyscraper.
No one was found, however, who
admitted knowing of the call.
The informant, according to the po-
lice, said he had been driving with
his wife and daughter and saw the
bodies as he drove by.
Miss Rhodes, according to police,
went by the stage name of MARY
Alma Ramey" She had been on the
stage since 1900 and played "Limpy
Morgan in Human Hearts," and
others. Later she played in vaude-
vile. Miss Thompson played in bur
lesuue and with carnivals.
Sylvia Citti, owner of a delicatessen
store, said the girls entered his place
Saturday night, remaining about fif-
teen minutes and going out alone.
May Have Frozen to Death.
CHICAGO, Nov. Is Two pretty
Young actresses, found dead in Grant
park, on Chicago's lake front, were
either frozen to death or died from
wood alcohol, poisoning, according to
officials here today.
The bodies were identified as Mary
Rhodes. of Altoona, Penna., and Lii
liam Thompson, of Boston.
DR.. Joseph Simmons, coroner's ply
sician. after a hasty examination OF
the bodies, declared the marks and
bruises were not such as to cause
death. Simmons said indications that
death might have been caused by al
cohol wood poisoning were obtained
from an examination of the young
wornen's heads. Simmons planned to
analyze stomachs of the victims TO-DAY.
Lieutenant John Norton, in cha sc
of the murder squad" expressed the
belief that the women froze to death.
A theory advanced by police that the
women may have been drinking and
were thrown from an automobile was
strengthened by Simmons statement
and tracks of an automobile near the
scene. Heavy indentations indicated
a car had stopped near where the
bodies were found.
Miss Thompson was found lying on
her back with her hands laid across
her chest. Miss Rhodes was lying
face downward. Their hair was tan
gled with cockieburrs. ..
Three men were under arrest today.
James Meeks, of Salt Lake City, and
Robert Mccarthy, of Boston, electric
fans with the Jane Cowl "Smilin'
Through" company. were living in the
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