Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 120, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1917 — FOUND DEAD IN KANKAKEE MARSHES [ARTICLE]

FOUND DEAD IN KANKAKEE MARSHES

Stephen Mullaney, Missing Since March, Found Dead By L. A. Bostwick Near River. The body of Stephen Mullaney, of Wheatfield, was found by Surveyor L. A. Bostwick, of this city, about 3 o’clock Tuesday arftemoon, about 12 miles north of Wheatfield in the Kankakee marshes. Mullaney had been missing since last March and it was supnosed by the people in the vicinity of the Kankakee that he had left for the west, as he had purchased a ticket of the Wheatfield station agent and for this reason no search was made for him. IMullaney was a well known character about Wheatfield and was about fifty years of age. Mr. Bostwick was surveying some land for the man on whose farm Mullaney was found. The body was in a tenable condition, due to exposure, ‘ and was badly decomposed and the clothes were rotted from his 'body. Immediately after finding the body, Mr. Bostwick notified Coroner Johnson, of Rensselaer, and the latter immediately went to where Mullaney was and rendered a verdict of death due to exposure, after which he was removd to the A. S. Keene undertaking partors in Wehatfield, to await the arrival jdL relatives. - iMulllaney was working for a farmer in the Kankakee district, where he was empolyed in building new fences. He was last seen early in March, when he left Wheatfield on foot with some groceries and a ticket for some place in the west. When he did not put in an appearance at the farm where he was working it was presumed that he had left for the west and no further thought was given to the matter. In the dead man’s possession was .found a quart whiskey bottle practically empty, and a little money, and it is the opinion of the coroner that Mullaney had consumed almost the entire quart of whiskey between Wheatfield and the place where he was found and that he became so drunk that he was unable to get Up and died from cold and exposure. Mullaney is said to have a sister in Indianapolis and a brother in Chicago. The latter is reported to be quite wealthy and an effort will be made to get in communication with both the brother arid sister, but so far the authorities have been unable to get any trace of either of them. The body will be held for a few days, awaiting word from them.