The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-16 00:00:00

(Front the Lancet.)

By a concurrence of circumstances that; might well cause
the most careless to pause and think, there has, apparently,
just been brought to light the evidence of an atrocious
murder. A carpet-bag, containing portions of the remains
of a human being, was carried on to the north end of
Waterloo-bride, at half-past 11 o'clock last Friday night,
to be got rid of by letting tha bag and its contents quietly
down into the water by means of a cord. This bridge and
this hour were undoubtedly selected because a person car-
rying a heavy beg could then cross without suspicion,
since a train started from the terminus of the South-
Western Railway at a quarter to 12 o'clock. The bag was
to be let down into the water, lest the splash occasioned by
its beiugthrown over the parapet should be heard by watch-
men listening to the sounds which too often give notice that
" one more unfortunate, weary of breath," has sought re-
fuge in a watery grave. From one of the recesses of the
bridge the bag was carefully lowered until the strain was no
longer felt, and then the cord by which it had been guided
was also allowed to fall. But this very excess of caution
defeated the Iniquitous object. From one small portion
only of the parapet of the recess could the weight have
boon so let down that it would aright on a shelving abut-
ment of the bridge, a short distance above the level of the
water. This one spot was that from which tho bag, was
lowe,ed ; and the care with which the revolting burden
was lot down enabled it to rest on this shelving abutment,
from which it would certainly have slid if allowed to fall
rapidly or with a jerk.
The bag contained a portion of the bones of a man about
5 feet 8 inches in height. The parts deficient were those
by which identification could be established with greatest
certainty, namely, the hands, feet, and head. In the bag
were live lower dorsal vertebrae, separated by the divi-
sion of the cartilages with a knife, and by cutting the
processes with a saw. Considerable force had been
employed, as a portion of the spinal cord bad been
dragged out of the canal of the upper dorsal vertebrae.
The pelvic bones, larger than those of the male usually
are, had been separated with laborious care. Attached
to the pubis on one side was found a small portion
of the corpus cavernosum, thus placing the sex beyond
dispute. The left elbow and right knee ha 1 been bent at
right angles when the body stiffened, and this was the
condition in which it was found ; the division of the
fetnora having been effected by sawing through their shafts
below the trechantere and also above the condyles. One
upper extremity. had been removed by sawing through the
neck of the scapula. Tho sternum had boon split by a
vertical section. On all the bones remained fragthents of
muscle, which bad been evidently roughly hacked away.
The knife used was a blunt one, but the saw sharp.
We particularly mention these appearances, as they
serve to refute a foolish rumour which was spread on the
first discovery of the remains, that they bat been depo-
sited by some medical students for a "hoax." Such an
absurd saspiciou could only have originated in the densest
ignorance. Students have no greater opportunities of
obtaining poseession of remains in the condition in which
these were found than any other members of society, and
we can ouly express our extreme disgust at the morbid
obtuseness of the slanderer who dared to impute such a
barbarous outrage by intelligent and educated men.
Thera was skin adherent to four parts of the remains
on the back of each wrist, on the tubercle of the right
tibia, and over the left side of thesternum aboutits middle.
Iu this latter situation there also remained a portion of
the origin of the pectoralis, perforated by a stab, which was
apparently inflicted during life, and penetrated between
the third • and fourth ribs. Now, the clothes had also
been threst into the carpet-bag, and in the left aide of the
shirt front were marks of seven or eight stabs made by a
thin clean blade, one of the holes precisely correspon ling
with the above-mentioned incision. Hat this small re-
maining fragment of flesh been removed, there would have
been lost the most presumptive evidence of murder. Had
the' fragments not been by some moans preserved, decom-
position would have rendered It impossible docile that this
stab was inflicted previous to death. The clothes are-per-
forated by many stabs, and have evidently been roughly
cut and torn from the stiffened body.
The pares of the body deficient, including the viscera
and muscles, form a mass so difficult to appropriate that
the detection of the murderers may occur even whilst these
observations are passing thiough the press. That mole
than one person was concerned seems probable. And there
were found entangled among the remains long, fine, brown
hairs, which lead to the suspicion that a woman, with her
hair dishevelled, was present when the body was hewn to
pieces.
We cannot enter into further details en this subject at
the present time for obvious reasons; but the points al-
ready indicated aro of such professional interest that we
need not apologize for commenting on them. It only re-
mains that we should direct attention to the minute_ caw
and the great professional skill and intelligence with which
the remains have been examined by the police surgeon, Mr.
R. B. Poynter, of Brydges-street.

(LETTER FROM MR. RICHARD BUDD PAYNTER, SURGEON
TO THE F DIVISION OF THE METIITPOLITAN POLICE
FORCE.)
(To the Editor of tne Lancet)
Sir,—As I find there is still an opinion held by a few
medical gentlemen, as well as by some of the public, that
the bones recently found at Waterloo-bridge are not those
of a murdered man, but the remains of a dissection, I
think it may ba well to send you a short account of what I
have observed hitherto in the matter, especially as I am
the only medic:ill practitioner that has yet reported on the
case. I therefore propose, on the present occasion, to give
a short anatomical desc:iption of the case, and will pos-
sibly, at a future period, give a more detailed account.
On being shown the bones at the police-station, I pro-
ceeded to fit them together, and soon ascertained that they
all belonged to one person—au adult man of an average, or
perhaps above the general size. The head, the whole of
the viscera, all the cervical and seven of the dorsal vertebras,
were wanting, also the left clavicle, portions of the ribs,
acromion process of the right scapula, both bands, both
patallaa, lower third of the left fibula, and both feet and
tarsi. Of the bones present, five dorsal and two lumbar
were in ono piece, the ribs being sawn from the former.
The upper and lower portions of this piece of the backbone
was separated from its adjoining bones by cutting the in-
tervertebral substance with a knife, and the articular and
transverse processes with a saw. The lower lumbers were
cut in half through their bodies and attached to the
pelvic. Thera were five portions of the thorax, three of
them belonging to the right side, and forming, when put
together, yen ribs nearly complete; the two other por-
tions were from the left side, one of which consisted of
probably the second, third, and fourth ribs, with part of
the sternum. Between the third and fourth ribs, near the
sternum, was a cleanly-cut stab, having its long axis up-
wards and downwards, and exactly coireeponding with the
tanee
external
e n *aul
direction and position of the cuts in the coat and under-
' inches,
tAwroaus inndfiltthriastewd
intoou the
d,fortigasudests
both
to the blood
thorax as well as beneath the pleura. The next rib
below, probably two or throe, were missing, the other piece
of the left side above-mentioned being most likely parts of
the seventh, eighth, and ninth. Thus the ribs itnmediat 1)
beneath the parts where the greater number of stabs in th,
clothes appear are missing. But the characters of the cut
above-mentioned aro quite conclusive as to the woutui
being inflicted during life. The thorax had not been
opened in the invariable (as I believe) manner of anatomist
cutting
nh
te
middlethe
eestai
vertically.eartilg e 81.17' hbeutritghhetacte,arvniucti
sawn—Div.,
by
w do
was left hanging.to the upper rib, and had a square incl
ohfaddiliorkstsiktsinaocruoimt.ionThgtialleyh eddi
8,
aarnt;
bye rightth esawse,aapnedlawwasasrot
culated from the humerus. The right radius and uln
were in one 1 i .ce, but separated by rough disarticulatim
from the humetus and band. The left scapula was ads,
separate, but sawn from the humerus, to which the neck
remained attached. At the elbow-joint the heads of the
loft radius and ulna, partly • sawn and partly broken of
by great force, were also attached to the humerus. Th
remaining portions of radius and ulna were together, anu

(anAiluliteheetebares&lzd portions
go,f
ceanutscalebso,unterivnes,aarrl eourisceisl,,
"haggled"- manner, and had not,been dissected. • The
of the parts was reddish-brown externally, redder if cut
into. No decompcsition had taken pace, exceptidg in
the left ecetabalum, where there wera blue discolorations,
end a very strong smell of putrefaction. , No portions of
sk in were present but these named. From the condition
.of the tendons, arteries, cuticle, &c., I should not wonder
if the parts bad been boiled.
It is evident that when cadaverous rigidity set in, the
right thigh and leg were strongly drawn upwards and out-
wards, the latter partly flexed on the former. The left
hnmeruS must have been abducted from the side, and the
forearm half flexed and pronated at tie ease time.
Some ~ark hairs were adherent to the remains, and also
a few long ones of a lighter colour: Some saline gritty
particles were found on the muscles, Sc; 'Clieze will, pre-
p d-dy, be analysed:
-I think I have said enough in this hurried note to show
that a foul murder has been committal. I have nut time
to add more, or speak of the clothes, and my chietubjeet
id writing this at all is to endeavour to free my medical
brethren from the horrible imputation that they dispose of -
their subjects, used for study, in such a manner as this.—
I arnsir, your obedient servant,
Brydges-streot, Coventgerden, Oct. 15.
lticEtARD BFDD PAINLER.

I.I4YD'S SIIIPPINU.—Criiis Day.)

-y

LONDON, Oct. IG.-Wind this day at noon, E.;
.dull,
Lazy woather. •
FALMOUTH, Oct. 15.—Wind N.W.—Arrived—iugnsta,
from tio Jaueiro. -
Orr PLYMOUTH, Oct. 15.—Arrived—Sawall, from
Callao.
SHIELDS, Oct. 15.--Wind S.S.W. —Arrived—Thomas
Fulden, from Quebec.
11.AnTutrQ01., Oct. 15.—Wind
Andre*. for Baezioki Ayr.o.
YAnamorir, Oct. 14. - Sailed—Arab. for Gibraltn.r.
QuEENsrowN, OcZ;.-15.—Wind S.—Arrived—Manturti.
from Callao.

OFF QUEENSTOWN,* Oat. 14.—Arrived—Manners Sut-
ton, from Richibucto.
PLYMOUTH, Oct. 15.--Wind E.S.E.—Arrived--Conn-
tMS of Glasgow, from London for Australia. Sailed—. Swift.
.Swift-
sure, for Melbourne.
CARDIFF, Oct. 15.—Wind E.N.E.—Sailed—Charlea
Davenport, for Caldeira. •
COWES, Oct. 15.—Wind E.N.E.—Arrived—Amelia
Marie., from Sa,marang.
PORTSMOUTH,-Oct. 15.—Wind, E.N.E.—Arrived— Ids,
from Peon.

LOCAL SHARE MARKET&

MANCHESTER, OCT. 15.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market was rather higher to-
day at the close, with a large• business doing. Eastern
Counties, 10A--- Shefaelds, 371—Dovers 18 11-16—East
Anglian, 4;?,--2Londons, 96f---Ditto, Eighths, 1 d.—Great
Western of Canada, 19 cum div --Midland, 81—Leeds,
1,24 Preston and Wyre, Sixths, 0.18.4. Caldonians,
:BEast Lancashire, 89,1—Grand Trunks, 10 —Blackburn,
7A—Leeds, New, 6 a.