Smyrna times., 1930-04-30
HARRY MAYER ENDS LIFE BY
DROWNING IN DOVER LAKE
LEAVES A NOTE INFORMING
WIFE WHERE TO FIND BODY
Ex-Mayor of Capitol, Also High
in Masonic Fraternity; Funeral
Services Held on Saturday

Services Held on Saturday
After he had been missing from
his home, the body of Harry May
er, So years old, secretary of the
Richard and Robbins Company
and former Grand Master of Ma
sons in Delaware, was found in
Silver Lake beside the cemetery of
the same name early Thursday
morning. Searchers found the
body after they had discovered a
note left in his office and directed
to his wife in which he told her
that his body would be found in
the lake opposite the graves of his
parents. A coroner's jury Thurs
day afternoon decided that Mr..
Mayer came to his death from
drowning. His funeral was held
OH Saturday afternoon at 2.30
o'clock in charge of the Rev Mil
ton S. Andrews, pastor of Wesley
M. E. Church, of which the de-
ceased was a member and inter
ment was made in Silver Lake
Cemetery, opposite to the point
where the body was found. Mr.
Mayer suffered slight stroke of
paralysis nearly two years ago
and since that time had not been
i'll health. He had remained at his
duties however, and was at his of
fee as usual on Wednesday. Fol
lowing dinner at his home he went
to his room to take a rest About
s o'clock he dressed and went out
saying that he was going for a
walk. When he did not return
late that night, his wife notified
the town police and they began a
search, thinking that he might
have had second stroke and fall
len on the street. Early Thursday
morning Mayor ]. Wallace Wood
ford, who is also an official of the
Richardson and Robbins Company
was called and went to the Office
where James Wise, who accompan-
ied them, found a letter directed to
Mrs. Mayer. With it was his bank
book and pocket book containing
"a sum of money. Mrs. Mayer
opened and read the note and de-
spite the pleading of Mayor Wood
ford and others insisted upon ac-
companying them to the cemetery
where she pointed out the graves
o. Mr.. Mayors parents. The body
was found shortly after o'clock
Thursday morning. Mr.. Mayer
was born in Canada but had lived
in Dover since he was II years
old. His first employment was
with the Diamond State Telephone
Company, then owned by Harry A.
Richardson Later he went with
the Richardson and Robbins Com
pany and became its secretary.
He was interested in civic affairs
and had been mayor Of Dover. He
was a member of all the branches
of Masonry in the State and was
Past Grand Master, and one of
the organizers of the Kent Gener-
al Hospital and director of the in
stitution at the time of his death.
He was also a director of the
Delaware Railroad Company, the
First National Bank of Dover, and
a trustee of the Wesley Collegiate
Institute and a member of the
Mapleshade Country Club. He was
one of the original members of the
Delaware Industrial Accident
Board. He took an active part in
the prohibition movement in the
State and was an ardent dry. He
was a Democrat and was urged as
a candidate of the party for var
ious offices but declined. Mr. May
er is survived by his wife, a son
and two daughters. His son, Har-
ry Mayer, Jr., is a student at the
Phillips-Andover Academy. His
Oldest daughter, Miss Elizabeth
Mayer, is a teacher in the Dover
schools and a graduate Of Wesley
Collegiate Institute and Of Mt
Holyoke College. The SECOND
daughter, Miss Mary Louise May
er, is a senior at the Women's Col.
.lege of the University of Delaware
and spent last year in France with
tthe foreign study group from tina