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Fall River MA Herald, 1 Feb 1898

Dead Body Found in Water Near Plymouth Avenue 
IT WAS FLORENCE SULLIVAN
Nobody Knows the Circumstances of his Fall 

There was a drowning east of the Plymouth avenue Station, Saturday night. The victim was a man 63 years of age, of medium height and build, whose weight would probably reach 155 pounds, with gray hair, medium complexion and smooth shaven face. The body was found Sunday, by three boys, Alfred Chevrier, 152 Fifth street, Willie McLaughlin and a Dion boy of the same street, who, as companions, were on a skating trip back of the Crescent mill. They discovered the body in the broken ice, 10 feet north of the west end of the railroad bridge and immediately gave notice to the Central police station. 

Officers Simmons, McCarthy, Braley, Mullaly and Allen were dispatched to take charge of the remains and investigate. The body was removed to the Plymouth avenue station, and visited by the medical examiner. The dead man's hair was cut short; he wore a blue suit and overcoat, soft hat, blue and white shirt, white necktie and congress shoes. In his pockets were found a book containing the name of Daniel Murphy, a nickeled heart-shaped case containing a magnifying glass, and a silver open-faced watch which had stopped at 11:40, which indicated that the drowning had occurred previous to that time. 

Dr. Dolan ordered the remains to the undertaking rooms of Gorman & Sullivan, where a complete search of the frozen pockets was made later. Investigation was made on the hypothesis that the name in the pocketbook was that of the deceased, but the Daniel Murphy of the east end, whose body this was supposed to be, was accounted for. A scalp wound was found upon the top of the head of the dead man which might have been caused when he fell in or was taken out. 

The police do not attach importance to any theory of murder, but believe that the man fell into the ice and water from the top of the trestle, either intentionally or accidentally. The pocketbook referred to, also contained the names of other Fall River citizens, and of physicians of this city, and in fact, in various parts of the country, which might to some pronounce him to be either a resident or stranger in Fall River. 

Mrs. Jane Clark, who kept a boarding house at 212 Bedford street a year ago, saw the remains and believed them to be those of one Hogan, a mason tender, who boarded with her at one time. Officer McMullin thought it was Hogan. 

At about noon today, after an unsuccessful search for him, the relatives of Florence M. Sullivan, 228 Tremont street, called at the Central Station and, listening to the description of the drowned man, immediately decided it must be he. A little later they called at the undertaking rooms of Gorman & Sullivan and positively identified the remains. The deceased has three sons and two daughters grown up. One of them, Michael, accompanied his father down street Saturday evening early. They parted in the centre of the town and the father was never seen again by his family alive. Mr. Sullivan, of course, was personally acquainted with many of those whose names were in his memorandum.