The Wilmington morning star., 1945-07-16
Reconstructionist Models Skull
To Aid Identification OF Bones
Found Near Davis Road In 1913

Bradshaw Jr., chief of the Techni-
cal Division of the North Carolina
Bureau of Investigation, was intro
duced to Mrs. Gladys P. Curry, re-
construction artist and teacher of
plastic surgery at New England In
stitute of Embalming at Boston.
Mr.. Bradshaw wanted Mrs. Curry
to reconstruct skull for him. Per-
haps he considered himself too in
trusive, but he failed to forward
his trophy" to Mrs. Curry.
Several months later Mrs. Curry
began to write a book. She needed
skull with which to work and
remembered Mr.. Bradshaw and
wondered if he still would like his
trophy" reconstructed.
We've got a brand new one
down here now," was the officer S
reply. Wouldn't you like to have
that one?''
Mrs. Curry was almost intrigued
with what she might well have con-
sidered her good fortune, for she
was about to reproduce likeness
of human being-a complete re-
production of the head of a person
whom she had never before seen,
for the purpose of Identification.
May 6, 1913, a broadcast from
Sheriff c.. David Jones office in
Wilmington, told of pile of human
bones which had been discovered
about six and one half miles from
the city, lying close to the Camp
Davis highway. There were no
clues, other than few stands OF
auburn hair. There were not even
any hair pins to be found in the
vicinity of the bones.
When Mrs. Curry began to re-
construct the outward features OF
the dead woman, she had only to
follow the texture of the bony struc-
ture over which she worked with
wax. 1t sounded simple to hear the
artist explain how she rebuilt the
face. She was sure she was right
in her conception of this woman
who obviously had met with foul
play.
Coroner Asa w. Allen of New
Hanover county brought forth only
the meager information that the
bones had once formed the skele-
ton of a white girl between the
ages of 20 and 30. When Mrs. Cur
nv completed her reproduction OF
the face, complete with each little
muscle necessary for correct like
ness. she determined the person to
have been approximately 30 years
old when she died. Doctors said
death had taken place about eight
months before.
"Who was this girl? No doubt
she had walked willingly enough
to this deserted wooded section
never to return alive. But why?
Why also was there no clothing or
jewelry or other personal effects?"
These and many more questions
are still battling law enforcement
officers in North Carolina. The
American standard, to identify and
bury our human dead, continues to
keep the wheels of justice grinding
steadily in all such cases.
On visiting Wilmington over the
past weekend, Mrs. Curry's Curl
osity was prevalent. She said she
intended to spend Sunday at one
of the beaches, "or do something.
l certainly don't want to be couped
up in the Cape Fear hotel all week
end. This part of the country IS
new to me, and l want to see it.
Mrs. Curry was discovered IN the
sheriff's office Saturday afternoon
busily engaged in conversation with
the deputies. She talked about
"Sussie Q'-that's the name given
the unidentified reproduction OF the
dead woman found on the Camp
Davis highway. The figure is locked
in the sheriff's safe and plans are
being made to have it exhibited in
the hope that some Identification
will be made.
Mrs. Curry talked of a great
many things. The lady embalmer
was on hand when 26 bodies were
brought up after the Submarine
Soualus was brought to the surface
in Portsmouth harbor. She was
present and assisted the medical
examiner at the great disaster
when the Cocanut Grove night club
burned in Boston. More than 400
persons died in this fire:
But of one thing she is certain.
The final identity of the girl who
died on the Camp Davis highway
more than two years ago will be
ascertained in the formation of the
teeth.
Mrs. Curry rebuilt the face of the
woman several times, but always
maintaining the basic features. The
woman appeared lean, heavy and
of various other weights.
AS child, Mrs. Curry had mani
tested desire to become school
teacher. She liked to draw and was
possessed with a talent for carving
things from soap. However, her ar
tistic potentialities were not discov-
cred or developed until she became
interested in embalming and re-
construction work many years
later.
Mrs. Curry had been curious as
to what people looked like in death.
She still recalls a childhood play
mate who died and whom she was
not permitted to view.
She also remembers that as a