The New York herald., 1876-08-21
A CHASTITY DISCOVERY.
MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR IN wEsTCHEsTER COUNTY
THE HRADLEss CORPSE OF STRANGER

THE HxADLEss CORPSE OF a STRANGER
FOUND AT sCARsDALg.
While laborer In the employ of gentleman living at
Scarsdae, Westchester county, engaged cutting
brush in field the Harlem Railroad station at
that place Friday afternoon he stumbled ON the
headless corpse OF lying under a tree and close
to stone fence within three tour rods Of the ral
road track. Instantly quitting his task the workman
lost time in Imparting the O, his ghastly dis
cOvery to the nearest rcsiden. negnbo who repaired
at with their informant to the place Indicated
The remains, which were those OF a man apparently
about twenty five years Of lay stretched at full
length on the back, the icet being crossed. AS lhe
work OF decomposition had almost exhaust ed
itself, leaving not particle Of flesh muscular
hesion Of the former between the s1ou ders
It was ut once evident that the boIy had .an
vest ana pantaoons, black coat. CATERS aud
SHIRT the bosom oil The latter containing three coruI
studs. Beside the trunk iay brown straw hat Alter
contemplating the horr bic spectacle the spectators
stItuied search for the head which was Il short
time found al distance OF about nvc yards from the
body, and The opposite side OF the fence that
on which the latter lay THIS fence, IL IS proper To
state about iour feet and half high the stcnc
tion which reaches nearly breast high, beng topped
of with rails having nierstices OF not han lew
inches wide. Accordingly, The theories advanced
the probably manner in which the bead SIX uIl las
there neither flesh nor thereon) separated
from the trunk ana conveyed across the ience,
numerous vain and aDan oning the attempt solve
the mystery the assembled rusicS without disturbing
either the head CT trunk, lett the spot alter had
agreed upon that Coroner Purdy should be VI once
notified oil the affair
Arriving IN the ncishborhood on Saturday, the Cor
opcr having secured sufficient number of jurors pro-
ceeded with them to the secluded spot where tue
tiatea remains lay On examining the clothing Of
deceased nothing was discovered that could lead
Identification the only articles found beng copy o.
the New York Ledger OF July 8, aud small uniabeed
which was said to have contained d preparation
emtting an odor similar TO that OF laudanum. An IN
spection OF the skull revealed tho circumstance thai
original owner had possessed remarkably hne set
natural teeth, WINE as ivory, and from this alone
the age OF the deceased was dcduced In the absence
any ties lmony which might throw light the man
ting forth that death had been by
to them unknown was rendered by the Jury That The
body had .an the place where discovered Tor
many weeks there is little doubt, as III. railroad
tioH agent, George Clmauu informed the writer yes
terday afternoon that some time since the
complained TO him OF horrible stencil encountered By
from the depot As a dsad COW had been left
days unburiei In the LcigLbo hood Ultimately
uded TO De the OF the offensive odor
sequenty no search WAS made ior any other uecayng
Substance The p ace ~ which the remains iound
visilec Oy large number OF persons SATURDAY.
while throughout yesterday groups OF ookn ns
observed .otcrng IN and around :he crave
where tue framework OF what had been O fellow
beng was discovered under such horrible circum.
stances
Various surmses INDUCED the taking OF OF
the unknown. many lolding 70 the theory that
been iuhGmgnly murdered Apar; from the mystery
surrounding he head .his belief strengthened the
minds OF many by The tc,a absence o. effects
body. The nnding OF the head away the body and
on the opposite SIDE OF the fence. nconsst
with any theory other than that OF lou. play,
there are few, any, wild animals IN this section Of
the country that would attack corpse. IL IA known
tha, .ogs viii uol. " they had done so IL
would have been utterly impossible tor either one OF
the described. The remains we're oured by ,ls
town authorities