Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-05
RETURNS TO NORFOLK
WITHOUT REQUISITION
1idewatcr Police al Work to
Solve Mysterious Ocean
View Tragedy.
MARINE Is NOT INVOLVED
"''c''''rs Confident Service hnn De-
'h'neh innocent In Connection
With Mrs. Mercer's Fate.
ISpeciaI 10 The rimcs.nisn.

Especial 10 The Times Dispatcb
HoHFOi.k. VA. April i.-Arrested
IN Baitimorc carly today. Edward r.
Mercer denied any knowledge OF his
wife" murder and declared that he
can establish an ai.bi from tho limo
nc left his wife at his mothers home
im Norfolk until his arrest.
Mercer. - -cars old. was recently
discharged from ;hc Coast Guard
service. He expressed his Willingness.
|" return to Norfolks without rcauisI
zion papers
The hody OF his wife. Rum Mar
cer, u years>oId with bruises on her
mead ana face and her clothing ,orr
vas found on tho beach at occa,
view. Va. early SUNDAY morning.
Held NJ NnEiStratr'. R-uuc>,.
NJ inc request Of Magistrate =. r.
wright, Of Ocean View. Merce- was
arrested and held on "A charge NJ
murder Policemen found him a, The
h""dies club, opposite the CIV Hail
Baltimore.
when told he was wanted for the
murder OF His wife, Mercer. baltimore
police say. showed little emotion. La.
ter. on the walk from the cou-,.
mouse 10 tho central police ,ation.
he became nervous.
didn't Kill my wife and it's no,
FiEht that should he. arrestod," he
said. I've have been married abou,
six months. l met my wiee while I
was soldier. stationed at Camn
'rant' at Rockville, H.. some years
ago was discharged from the
t"ist Guard service March %. NJ.
"itc and lived At my mothers home.
az ~" Bank street, Norfolk. MY wife
and have had little quarrels. but
'hey never amounted TO anything
Mother Much Distrc,.cd.
MIS- bs'tie Mercer. mother ot al
ward +. Mercer. husband of In,
young woman whose body was found
on the beach off tho Cottage Line at
ocean View. is distressed Over tho
arrest OF her son in Bnlt.nor. ea-Iv
this morning in connection with his
wif.'s death.
What arc YOU going TO do with
M! SO" when YOU bring him hcre?"
"rS. Mercer asked OF Defective. Leon
Ho"i,xky this morning. II know
'himss look had for him. but I'm his
mother and want to know what is
Foing I" happen 10 my S-r''
The detective assured her thar tho
police were taking every safeguard
~ unraveiing ihe mystery surround.
IN" the death Of Mrs. Ruth Mercer
ana that the boy would have no
ironbla clearing his name If he was
not in tho city after Friday night.
Murine Not Involved.
detectives NowitzEy. Manhy and
hurch. "h" have been Investigating
IN" death o! Mrs Mercer, have given
nr the idea that the marine detained
at the barracks "a; -. iic:ena ycs;er
day had anything to do with IL and
asked that hc he released i, is said
thcH cannot prove that II marine wa.
with the young woman oh Saturda y
The man who left the Mercer nop,.
with Mrs. Ruth Mercer on Saturday
afternoon was In civilian clothes. I,
Is said. and efforts are being made
To locate him.
u has been definitely settled that
the man and woman seen in an auto
mobile on the Naval Base Road early
sunday morning were not Mrs. M.r-
cor and her escort. Detectives have
learned the names OF the parties who
'vtrc IN the car and none of them had
ever seen or heard ot Mrs. Mercer.