May Foley

FOLEY

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 9/5/2014 at 09:58:49

MAY FOLEY MAY BE DROWNED IN RIVER
Parents Claim She Has Been Missing from Home Since Thursday Evening

Miss May Foley, aged 17, residing at 414 East Eighth street, may be dead, as indications point to the fact that she is probably the girl who met her death in the Mississippi river Thursday night. The scream and the cry for help have brought no further clues regarding the missing girl, except the story told the police by the girl's parents, who have not seen her since Thursday night.

It is thought that Miss Foley is the young woman who met her death by either falling off the government bridge or by being thrown from the bridge by the two men who were seen to leave the structure about the time of the occurrence. No trace of them has been found, and their connection with the tragedy can only be guessed at.

The story told by the girl's mother is to the effect that May entertained company on the front porch of her home until about 11 o'clock Thursday evening and then entered the house. She did not retire, as her bed was untouched. She left the house by way of the back door. Nothing has been seen or heard of her since then. The description of the girl who entered the bridge from this end as given by the guard corresponds in every detail with that given by the missing girl's mother. A further investigation will be made, but it is likely that no more dragging of the river will be made, as the current at the spot where the girl fell in is very swift.

Source: Davenport Democrat; Davenport, Ia., 23 Jul 1911, p. 11.

BODY OF DROWNED GIRL IS RECOVERED

May Foley Taken from Water Mile Below Linwood -- No Inquest Held

The body of May Foley, who leaped from the government bridge Thursday at midnight, was recovered a mile below Linwood yesterday morning at 8 o'clock.

The discovery of the body floating in the water was made by little Mabel Moeller, daughter of Edward Moeller, a fisherman, and within a few minutes the body was removed from the water by Mr. Moeller, John Yanke, and Herman Huber. The body was removed to the Halligan undertaking parlors and the funeral was held yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock. Services were conducted by Rev. M.M.
O'Laughlin and interment was made in St. Marguerite's cemetery. The pallbearers were Owen Murray, Joseph McIntyre, Joseph Hammond, Thomas Gillon, James Gillon, and John Gillon.

HAD FLOATED MILES

The body, at the time it was recovered, had floated down the river about seven miles, but when taken from the water had deflected from the current and had washed near the shore.

When the little girl first saw the body in the water she did not know what it was but informed her father of her find. He investigated and found it to be the body of a girl. With the assistance of the other two men he towed the body ashore and notified Coroner Rudolph. This morning Coroner Rudolph stated that no inquest or post-mortem would be held as the case was clearly one of suicide.

BUT FEW DEVELOPMENTS

Since the first information was given the police by Roy Thompson and Harold Page that a woman had fallen into the river and had screamed for help for help about midnight Thursday, the police have been a work on the case. Every indication and theory which have been evolved on the case have tended to point to suicide, but the motive for the girl's rash act cannot be ascertained. The story told the police by her young man companion on the night of the tragedy sheds no light on the on the subject, except for the fact that when he parted company, he remarked, as he had done before, that he would see her in the morning as she went to work. To this she is said to have replied, "Maybe you will and maybe you won't." He further stated that she seemed a little depressed during the evening but gave no vent to her feelings or thoughts.

POLICE FLOUT MURDER

Since the investigation has been made into the affair, the police have flouted the theory of murder. The presence of the two young men who were seen to enter the bridge a short time after the girl did, counts for nil, as their departure from the bridge was not coincident to the girl's death leap. The identity of these two men has not been learned.
Surviving the dead girl are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Foley, and two brothers, James and Michael Foley, of this city.

Source: Davenport Democrat; Davenport, Ia.,24 Jul 1911, p. 10.