Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-23

sawn through near the joints instead of
being disarticulated 1T the joints by the
simple division OF the ligaments showed
that no theory Of the remains having
formed the subject Of anatomical research
could for moment be entertained. The
probable date of death was also In some
degree fixed; the examiners being led,
from the appearance Of the remains, TO
state with certainty that they had been
dead for at least three weeks before the
date Of the examination, which was con-
Quoted on 2lst October, 1857.
Thus the medical evidence elucidated a
number of facts which, taken together,
afforded useful commentary and test OF
the value Of other aud purely circumstsn-
tial evidence. The articles or dress which
we're enclosed in the bag along with the
remains were Of foreign make and were
cut and torn In numerous places. No
definite clue was ever obtained which
could lead to the detection Of the murder.
er or of the motives which prompted the
crime. The remains were thought To be
those Of Swedish sailor, whose disap.
pearance might cause little or no stir even
among his associates; while the mere fact
of his disappearance In foreign land
would also initiate against this chances
of his identity being established. A sup
position which receiver much credence al
the time OF the occurrence was that which
presumed that the deceased. as q for.
eigner, had in ell probability fallen vic,
tim to the assault Of some secret society
OF which be may have proved TO have
been an unworthy or raitorous member.
Il Is by no means an uncommon occur
renee TO find the remains OF the lower an
imals grayely brought under the notice
Of the legal authorities In mistake tol
those Of man; and the skill Of the zoolo
gist and microscopist may sometimes b.
called In to aid In the unraveling Of some
complicated cases; while, az exhibited
In the Waterloo Bridge case, even thu
question OF race or nafi0n---only To b,
aurhoritatiyely determined by the ethnol
ogist or naturalist--may involve consid
erations Of the utmost import In account
ing for or explaining some cases of iden
tity and disappearance.
The subject before US Is not without it
ludicrous aspect In respect OF the mistake
| which are sometimee committed and O
the excitement created by the supposed
discovery OF human remains under highly
suspicious circumstances, when in reality
| the remains are those Of animals, some
times OF very inferior structure and grad
to those of man. A short time ago,
case Of what was at first believed TO b.
atrocious murder, and In which the bod,
was believed to have been disposed of b,
| burning, was quietly settled by the medi
cal examination proving that certain
incinera.ed skull-bones were those Of
sleeps head; while in another case
which occurred In London in 1888, tn
usual amount Of wild speculation wa
excited by the discovery of what was sup
posed to be human hand In city dust
bin. The excitement attending the dis
coyery, however, was timcously quietet
| by the assurance from reliable authorit,
that the supposed hand was in reality tn
paddle or fore.limb Of turtle, whicl
doubtless had persisted In a manner per
fectly consistent with the demands of JUS
tice and good taste. ---Chambers' Jotlyr1l