The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-25
Tndetected Grimes,

The London telegraph relates the following
curious details of a strange murder case, which,
il says, must be now added to the long list OF
undetected crimes. Tue crime in question is
known in England, where 1t happened, as the
StrchleY MURDER, at appears" says the Tee
graph, that for some years past peddlcr, who,
If we may Judge from his name was of German
origin, had trampPd the district round about
Birmingham. Bernhard Zusman was travelling
agent for a jcweler in that town, aud used to
hawk watches, chains, and rings from house to
house. He started on his rounds on the llth Of
last November, with some five hundred pounds
worth OF jewelry IN his pack. On the
morning of the 18th he left the Crown Inn
at TroWbrdge, stating that he meant to return
there at night. He did not appear. No tiimgs
were received from him either there or at Br-
miugham; and after "a few days his employer
came to the conclusion that the man had alb
seconded, aud, we believe, offered a re ward for
his apprehension, On the 29th gentleman
who was out shooting in StIchey, village not
far from Trowbridge, discovered the body of a
dead man lying in ditch under hedge, and
covered over with grass and earth. Tue body,
on examination, was recognized as that of Lus-
man; his pockets were empty; his pack, rihe6 of
its contents, was picked up in another ditch
near by; and on pOS5.H0Hcf1 examination 1t
was shown beyond a doubt that the poor fellow
had been shot through the back OF the head. In
fact, every indication seemed TO show that the
murderer had come behind him, had shot him
before he could offer any resistance, and had
concealed the body close to a stile that the
peddler had probably been in the act Of cross.
ing when he was struck down. So far all was
clear; and the suspicious of the police were
Immediately directed to the prisoner, who has
Just been acquitted after a i've days trial. TniS
man Harris had not. as we inter from the
evidence a very good reputation in his
ne9hbOrhood. He had inherited, some years
before, considerable sum of money, aud was
supposed to have pretty nearly spent it. He
was acquainted with HuSman, and some few
days before the murder had bought a watch of
him valued at E28. paying a deposit Of ten
shllings and agreeing to pay two pounds a
month. This watch ne had pawned the day
after its purchase Tor a sum of eight pounds-a
transaction which would seem to imply that he
was very short OF money. On the morning OF
his disappearance Husman called upon Harris
to discuss some business matter, whether
lating to the watch or not Is unknown, and then
set off walking with him in the direction of
Stirchley. Indeed the prisoner was the last
person who was absolutely proved to have been
seen the peddlcr'5 company; aud after the
inquest he let fall certain expressions which
were taken 10 imply that he knew more about
the crime than was known TO the world at
large:
"The police as usual, were convinced that
they had found a clue. Harris was kept under
surveillance, and after being allowed to reside
at home for six months, he was given into Gus
tody on a charge of Willu murder. No direct
evidence of any kind, however, could be pro-
duced to connect him with the commission of
the crime, and his acquttal leaves the matter
more III the dark than ever, there now remain
ING no clue whereby TO trace the real author Of
the deed