The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-02
BURKING IN BUFFALO.
Discovery OF Four Barrels Of Bodies AT
an Express Omce-NO Clue to the MUIR
Annnrn

Discovery Of Four Barrels Of Bodies at
an Express Omce-NO Clue to the MUIR
derers.
From the Bu1dLo Commercial Advertiser, FEB. %.
Developments of most horrible and disgust
ing nature occurred in this city yesterday after
noon and last evening, the particulars of which,
as we gather them from officers and others, are
as follows;-
During Tuesday night four -four barrels, the
contents Of which were unknown, we're lett on
the sidewalk in front of the American Express
Office, West Seneca street. Each had label
bearing the address:-"J. Smith d Co., Ann
Arbor, Mich, - via Grand Trunk Railroad These
barrels, on Wednesday afternoon, we're sent by
the Express Company to the Grand Trunk freight
house, to be forwarded according to the marks.
We learn that freight is frequently received for
the Grand Trunk road, as this was, without see
ing the parties. After the barrels we're delivered
in the freight house, and while being rolled
about the head of one of them came out, dis
closing the body of an old man. An empoye in
the ireig hit house Immediately went to the office of
the superintendent OF Police, and gave lniorma-
ton OF the fact, when Detectives Cusack and
Watts were despatched to investigate the mat
ter. On examining the other three barrels,
their contents were found to be of the same
ghastly nature. In one was the body OF
woman, apparently about forty years of age,
together with that of recently born female
infant. The woman had light-browh hair, in
clning TO grey about the temples. The incisor
or front teeth of the upper jaw were all gone
save one. She is suppot ed to have died in
giving birth to the child. In another barrel
was the body of O woman of small stature,
about fifty or tifty-fve years of age very much
emaclated; the hair cropped short and turn
ing grey; supposed to have died of consump-
tion. The third barrel inclOsed the body of
man seemingly from sixty-fve to seventy
years of age, about five feet six inches in
height, and weighing, when alive, from
l30 to l35 pounds. His hair and beard
we're grey. In the fourth was the body
OF man 40 to 45 years OF age, five feet nine or
ten inches IN height; dark hair chin whlskers of
the same color, inclined to grey; short NOUS
tache, also inclined to grey; prominent cheek
bones; supposed to weigh about l55 pounds.
These bodies were all nude, and bore the ap-
pearance of never having been buried or even
prepared for burial. Under the superinten-
denCe of Detectives Cusack and Watts they were
removed to Kraft's dead-house in the evening,
where they were cleansed from the flour and
dirt and decently laid out. The bodies had
been packed IN the barrels like swine, and the
interstices in some instances filled with corn
husks and grass. There were no signs of decay
apparent in any Of the bodies, nor any offensive
odor from any of them. and it was thought that
all of them had died within few days.
From circumstances connected with the
affair, it appears evident these bodies were
packed III Buffalo, and suspicious are openly
expressed. Hundreds of people visited the
dead-bouse during this forenoon, but none of
the bodies have yet been positively identified.
gentleman who lives on Buffalo Plains said
that one OF the bodies was that of a man whom
he had seen about the poor-house. Much ex-
citement prevails.
Coroner Richards having been notified. took
charge of the bodies, and summoned jury to
investigate the affair. The inquest commenced
about IL o'clock in the old Court House. But two
witnesses were examined, viz. C. W. Dygert
and j. A. Pomeroy, who testified in relation to
the finding of the barrels in front of the express
Office, and their removal to and reception at the
freight house. Their testimony was not impor-
tant. The inquest adjourned till O'Clock this
afternoon, when other witnesses had been sum-
moned to ettend. The affair will be thoroughly
investigated, and some curious developments are
anticipated,