| Notes |
- Robert D. Morris, born at Columbus Grove, Ohio, May 28, 1877, married Orpha Drew in Los Angeles, Cal., a trained nurse of Lima, Ohio, in Aug. 1907. Mr. Morris is a contractor and builder, Los Angeles, Cal.
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- Morris
Funeral services for Robert D. Morris of 843 Boston Place, whose body was found floating three miles at sea near Newport Beach Monday, were held this afternoon at Todd & Reeves Chapel. Rev. Samuel G. Buckner, pastor of the First Christian Church, conducted the service. Burial was in Pomona Cemetery.
The Pomona Progress Bulletin, Pomona, California. Thursday, 8 March 1923.
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- Pomona Man’s Disappearance Mystery Here
The mysterious disappearance of Robert D. Morris, 843 Boston Place, whose wife is well known socially here, and the subsequent finding of his automobile near Balboa a few days ago – is being investigated at the present time by Pomona officers, it was learned today. Morris was at firsts believed to have committed suicide, his car being found near the beach, but later disclosures have caused the suicide theory to be abandoned.
Morris has been missing for several days, but the matter has been kept secret by local officers, who declined to discuss the case freely today, when questioned.
Morris was a carpenter by trade, and was not nearly so well known here as his wife, who has always gone by the name of Mrs. Orpha Morris. She is chairman of the Woman’s Department of the Christian church and also child welfare chairman of the Pomona Ebell club. Thursday night, she was elected a director of the local Welfare League.
The Pomona Progress Bulletin, Pomona, California. Saturday, 3 March 1923. Page 1.
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- Morris’ Fate Still Mystery
The fate of Robert D. Morris, 843 Boston Place, who disappeared from his home here early last week and whose automobile was later found abandoned near Balboa, was still an unsolved mystery here today.
Neither Constable Alex R. Chambers nor the local police department had been able to obtain any further trace of him, and Constable Chambers today expressed the opinion that he had possibly committed suicide, as his car abandoned on the beach at Balboa indicated.
Morris is said to have disappeared for short periods before, returning home after being away for a few days. When he disappeared last week, he was at first believed to have gone away as in the past just for a short time, but when his automobile was found at Balboa a search was begun.
He is not known to have any reason for disappearing and was not in trouble. However, according to person intimate with him, he had acted queerly for some time. He was a contractor here – in business for himself.
Mrs. Orpha Morris, his wife, is prominent socially here, holding important offices with various local social organizations.
The disappearance of Mr. Morris had been kept secret by officers until the news was published in The Progress on Saturday.
The Pomona Progress Bulletin, Pomona, California. Monday, 5 March 1923
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- Was R.D. Morris Murdered or Did He Kill Himself?
Mystery Surrounds Discovery of Body Off Newport Today
The finding of the body of Robert D. Morris, 45, contractor, 843 Boston Place, floating at sea three miles off the coast of Newport Beach at 6:30 this morning by three fishermen, solved the mystery of his disappearance from his home here a week ago last Saturday, but has brought to the attention of officers a new mystery – was he killed or did he commit suicide? For the body is not badly bloated, as would be the case if death were due to drowning, and marks on the body indicate that he was likely dead before his body was thrown in the water.
Morris left home here last Saturday Morning after having complained of a headache, according to his widow, Mrs. Orpha Morris, who is well known socially here. At 11 o’clock the same morning she received a telephone call from him. He told her that he was going to Covina on business, she said. Early last week Morris’ automobile was found abandoned on the beach at Balboa.
Constable Alex B. Chambers was informed of his disappearance by Mrs. Morris, but the local police were not notified. His disappearance was kept secret until last Saturday, when news of it was published in The Progress.
Widow Shocked
Mrs. Morris had requested the constable to keep the matter secret, as Mr. Morris had left home for short times before and always returned.
She was greatly shocked when informed by the Chief of Police this morning of the finding of her husband’s body, and became almost hysterical. Noland Morris, nephew of the man whose body was found, was at once notified and left for Santa Ana, where the inquest will be held at the undertaking parlors of Jones and Tuttle this afternoon at 1:30.
Announcement of the finding of Morris’ body was received by Chief of Police Lyter this morning by long distance telephone from J.A. Porter, city marshal of Newport Beach. According to the Newport Beach officer, the body was found three miles off the coast of Newport this morning at 6:30 by three fisherman. Identification was effected by means of papers found in the pockets of the dead man.
The body was taken from Newport Beach to Santa Ana. The city official of Newport Beach, who telephoned Chief of Police Lyter seemed to believe that it was possibly a case of suicide, but later word from Santa Ana was to the effect that death might have occurred before the body was thrown into water, judging from the condition of the body.
Motive Unknown
No Motive for Morris committing suicide was advanced this morning by relatives. He was believed to be in fairly good health and in fair financial standing. On the morning that he left, Mrs. Morris said he complained of a headache, but she said he had dressed hurriedly and had not acted as if ill.
Noland Morris, his nephew, said this morning that he could assign no reason for his uncle committing suicide. “He is the last man in the world, I would have thought of doing such a thing,” he said.
Morris was a contractor and carpenter here and was not known to have any enemies, who would have motive for killing him.
“You do not think that it is anything that I have done that has caused him to do it?” Mrs. Morris asked Chief of Police this morning as she wept. She said there had been no domestic trouble. Mrs. Morris is well known socially here, holding important offices with various local organizations. She is the chairman of the civic and social division of the Women’s Department of the Christian church and child welfare chairman of the Pomona Ebell club. Just last week she was elected a director of the Pomona Welfare League for the coming year.
Mr. and Mrs. Morris have been residing here for a number of years. They had lived here for some time previous to 1914, when they went East. About three years ago, they returned to Pomona and have for some time past been residing on Boston Place.
Beside a widow, Mr. Morris is survived by two sons, Robert and Howard. Robert is 15 and attends Garey Junior High school. Howard is a few years younger and is a student at San Antonio school. Mr. Morris was a native of Ohio. He was about 46 years of age.
Addition particulars were received by Chief of Police Lyter shortly before noon from Santa Ana police. The Santa Ana department said that Morris had been identified by papers and cards found in his pockets. He had quite a number of papers in his pockets but no money. His watch was also missing, although the watch chain was found fastened to his clothing.
No marks were found on the body the Santa Ana police stated, and it is their belief that Morris committed suicide. Santa Ana officers requested that relative of the deceased attend the inquest at Santa Ana this afternoon.
It was learned today that Morris had at one time been away from home for almost two years. But as far as was known here, he and his wife had resumed living together on former terms upon his return. She, however, has always been known here a Mrs. Orpha Morris.
The Pomona Progress Bulletin, Pomona, California. Tuesday, 6 March 1923
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1877 - 1923 (45 years)
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