Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-02-22


dental death under mysterious circumstances,
II pretty coucIusivrIy established by q state
IT. ent Of his experience made shortly before his
death ~ Inspector Leonard, late Of the New
York police force. The ci-cum stances of the
case related by m Were substantially these
In the summer Of lei the lif-less body OF
beautiful woman. with soma plain distinguish
ing marks and characteristics, was found in
one of the Jersey City docks. Subsequently II
was supposed % b- that of Ada Ricard who
had N ysteriously disappeared from New York
a short time before: aud it was identified ap.
parently beyond any question as such by both
her b band and her hair dresser. But before
the excitement died away Ada turned up in
Jroprld persona, having taken a fancy to visit
New Orleans. and, becoming tired OF that
place, had returned as suddenly as she went.
Then the remains were claimed as those OF her
daughter by Mrs. Callahan. of Boston. and
the identity was again clearly established, as
every body thought Yet, before the arrange
ments for their transfer TO Boston were COM
pleted, Mrs. q. learned that her daughter was
in Bellevue hospital, where she found her,
lick, to he sure. but nevertheless alive. So the
beautiful corpse and the manner and cause of
death, became a mystery once more. and
have remained so TO this day.
A case hardly less singular was the expert
ence of John Bucks0a, patient and peaceabla
sea captain, living near Providence, in 1851
For long time he had lived unhappily with
his vie, and one night a neighbOr passing
tteir house happened to hear high words te-
tween hem, and saw Buckson in a threatening
attitude with piece OF cord in his hand. The
next morning the house was closed, and re-
manned deserted for some days, but this circum
stance attracted little attention, as the husband
was accustomed 10 leave suddenly on coast wise
cruises in his schooner, and he wite frequently
absented herself at such times without notice
After considerable time, however, some chill
dren who were berrying in a forest near by
discovered, through the efforts OF a little dog
accompanying them, the corpse of a woman
buried and sprinkled with chloride of lime
On being exhumed the body was pronounc ed
10 be that of Mrs. Buckson IL was found 10
have marks OF a cord about the neck. sush as
might have been made with the cord seen q
her husbands hands the last nigh, they we're
known 10 be together, and which was after.
ward found on the floor of the cottage Every
one recognized her in the corpse, and som.
articles OF her clothing upon it; while CHLORIDE
OF lime was found In the cellar, evidently lately
disturbed
Of course suspicion fell upon Captain Buck
son, and he was a short time after arrested in
New York, whittier he had gone with his yas-
sell he protested his innocence, but was taken
home and imprisoned TO await his trial, every
body being convinced OF his guilt But before
his trial occurred his wife unexpectedly made
her appearance, alive and WELL having left
the house the same night as her husband. 10
visit her sister in Maine, whence she had coma
in ignorance OF the tragedy. The clothes and
lewelry were evidently those of Mrs Ruck
son. as they proved 10 be missing when she
examined the house after her return, and a
long time aIterward a female outfit of clothing
of coarse material was found in an unused
well IN the garden. Many articles of value
Were also gone. and the house was generally
dsarranged. Thr theory then set up was that
the house had been entered by a party OF bur-
glars, Of " HON the dead woman was one and
that alter she had arraye ed herself in the prop-
erty Of the absent mistress quarrel ensued.
IN which she was murdered by the other mem
bars OF The gang, and secreted where her body
was found; but who the murdered woman
was, OF who her murderers, was never disco,--
cred.
These cases serve to show MOI only the un.
certainty of Identification after death but the
GHreliability and worthless ness of circumstan.
tal evidence IN some cases, no matter how
completely the links may b. supplied, or how
strongly welded together and W hen we reflect
mat IL Is held ny eminent criminal lawyers that
unbroken circumstantial evidence is more CON-
elusive and satisfactory than positive ,estimo
nv. II would seem, IN the light of the above cir
cUmstances, that there can hardly b. such q
thing as al absolute certainty, 50 far as the
human senses are relied upon 10 establish IL
If the recent side by s de trip from New York
10 Liverpool of the lnman steamer CITY of
Paris and the Cunard steamer RUSSIA was not
intended as rial of speed, as the counsel of
Ar. Cunard aiiirms that II was not, il was az
least sufficiently like pre-arranged race in all
respects 20 afford 10 he passengers in the two
vessels all the excitement incident TO an occa-
sion of that kind. and to afford also as satisfac
tory an opportunity for the transfer OF money
wagered on the result az If the run had BEEN
made in strict accordance with tn rules govern.
Ing sporting circles. And If the circumstances
We're accidental, they Were very curious, As
the log of he "trip shows
The City OF Paris lett New York al IijP.M
ON the 10Th Ot February, and arrived at Liver
POOL az A. VI on the 10Th, thus making the run
III IN" remarkably short time Of days l. hours
and y minutes; while the Russia LETT fortv
h'e mn utes later, and arrived out an hour
and thirty minutes Iater,-consuminp only
forty five minutes more 10 make the trim than
her rIval. They were met by two steamers
cunning this WdN. Tue nrSt Time IL hours
" hen the City of Paris was three miles ahead
and the second time seventy-two hours out
when the Russia was four miles ahead; and
the presumption Is that The vessels were AT no
time out OF sight OF each other, and often within
hailIng distance.
A counsellor Lord says the trip was not a
race. We suppose we are bound to believe him.
but We insist that the circumstances of the case
are suspicious, and give color to the report
that, If no money was s:aked by the proprie-
tors, the contract for carrying the British mail
was to some extent depending ON the result.
And, IN this matter. as in marv another. we
suppose ga ro<e by ahy other name will smell
as sweet"
GoeD NEWS FOR AsPIRANTs-We are ad.
'lsed that the movement in favor of Mr. j. w.
Dwyer for the Third Authorship, to which
We referred a few days ago, was m de without
cor sulta'ion with him, and that he is not and
does not intend 10 be a candidate for the place.
As we are given to understand, he prefers his
present position.
Mr.. Enoch Totten also desires us to state tina,
ne Is not a candidate for the ". y Attorneyship
OF this District-considering the post of honor
20 De the private station I; and substantially the
same thine is sand by contemporary in behalf
OF Mr. A. q. Riddle, whose name was men.
toned in connection with the same ofBce