The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-04
NIGHTS MYSTERY
BATTLES POLICE
Murder or Robbery Theory Ac-
cepted by the Officers.
Do Not Think Eskridge's Body
Is in the River.
CAR DRIVEN into ICY WATER?
Evidence Points to Deliberate
Plan to Cover Crime.
No Way for Victim to Escape
From the Auto.
IT WAS A "HOODOO" CAR
Other Accidents Made Owner
Fear the Machine.
No Worries or Illness to Prompt
Suicide.
IT WAS A "HOODOO" CAR
Other Accidents Made Owner
Fear the Machine.
No Worries or Illness to Prompt
Suicide.

The fate of w. S. Eskridge,
S5, a grocer, 1925 Taylor street,
was shrouded in mystery that
baffled police and the sheriff's
office today, following discovery
of his motor car, wheels up and
submerged in the river, about
400 feet south of the east end
of the Sardou bridge.
Police-tevery man of whom was as
signed to the case by Chief George
II. Hannan-were working on the the
ory of foul play-murder, robbery or
kidnapping. or all three. They do not
believe Eskridge was in the car when
1t plunged over the 40-foot bank. or
that he participated in guiding it into
the water
Icskridge, whom his wife described
today as perfect husband" always
at home nights, devoted to his family
and free from financial worries. left
home about o'clock Tuesday night
to attend a meeting of grocers at the
Chamber of Commerce. He had in
tended going to Oakland to collect as
counts connected with a store he
formerly ran in Oakland he told his
WlAts nut IEDitI hNNs do It Nelo 81 AeAlNr
1 guess 1 won't have time"
Find No Tracks.
Clyde Tresner. chief of detectives,
failed to establish today that Eskridge
was at the meeting. 1t was apparent
that the grocer changed his mind and
started for Oakland. Tracks where
his car, a Dodge sedan. left the road
on the east side of the river short
distance east of the bridge showed
that the machine apparently had
stopped Immediately. The impression
showed that the rear wheels had been
allowed to settle for a short time or an.
attempt had been made to back the
car onto the road again. From then
on the tracks were straight to the
river bank. No tracks could be found
where the car stopped beside the road,
and none were in the mud along the
route to the river or up the bank.
A passerby discovered the car in the
river and notified the police. Esk-
ridges disappearance was Immediately
connected with the discovery and 1t
was identified as the grocer's car
shortly afterwards with the aid of the
porters.
Apparently In Car.
Police and the sheriffs force first
believed Eskridge's body to be in the
enclosed car. Mocha MICS were sent
but after the machine was dragged
from the water the seats were found
to be empty.
The theory that Eskridge accident
ally drove the machine over the bank
into the icy water and that his body
drifted out after the car had sub
merged was discredited by Tresner
and Robert Miller, undersheriff. All
the doors of the cab were fastened
shut. The windows on the side against
the current were intact Windows on
the lower side were broken. but log
protruded from the water partially
barring exit from ehe small enclosures.
which. it was pointed out, would emit
a mans body only with difficulty if
unobstructed. No marks on the bank
gave evidence Eskridge might have
jumped as the car shot over and rolled
into the water.
Gears Were in Low.
Gears of the machine were locked in
low. the spark was advanced. and the
throttle halfway open when pulled to
the bank Police and sheriffs forces
declared this was almost positive evil
dence that the car had been driyen
into the river purposely. With the
gear in low il would have been highly
improbable that a man would drive
the 200-foot route from the road to
the river accidentally" or without
finding it possible to stop in some way.
Suicide. accidental and flake disap-
pearance" theories were abandoned
promptly by the police after Tresner
interviewed Mrs. Eskridge.
No Reason for Suicide.
Mrs. Eskridge was firm in her con-
viction that her husband had met foul
play.
He had no reason for disappearing.
suicide or anything of the kind" she
declared. "He was a perfect husband
devoted to his family. We had nc
domestic trouble and we were togeth
constantly. He had not been out
nights more than two or three times
since we came to Topeka from Ma
con. Mo-, year ago. We spent all