The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-12
THE RIVERS MYSTERIES.
Is THIS ANOTHER MURDER COME TO LIGHr?-
THE FATE OF AN UNKNOWN VICTIM

IS THIS ANOTHER MURDER COME TO LIGHr?-
THE FATE OF AN UNKNOWN VICTIM.
Last Monday afternoon the body Of m unknown
found floating the North River, tho foot Of
Eighteenth street. The body was removed to tho
Morgue by the officers or tho Sixteenth precinct and
the Coroner duly notified. Two dredging machines
had been work by for days and had prob
ably iooscncd tho mud Al the bottom Of tho river
causing tho body to rise
Dr. Marsh deputy for Coroner Eickon mado an ex-
animation OF the remains at the Morguc yesterday
morning The body had been in tho water two
months and was very much dccomposed. The DOCTORS
suspicious aroused by finding that the right Of
the deceased nsary torn IRON The head. No made
an autopsy ofthc corpse ami found wound Ave inches
long the right side Of the head, with two frac
lures OF tho skull involving tho right temple
bone one depressed fracture, the other assure
tending half way tho middle jossa OF tho skull
There considerable amount OF blood under The
scalp From the condition OF the internal organs the
Doctor Judged lnat the deceased had been drinking
man The Doctor, on careful examination Of tho
wound IN the head, came 10 tho conclusion that u
cou.d have been caused by tho paddle wheel OF
any steamer, but that u must have been
THE RESULT ov VERY HEAVY BLOW.
The wound itself would have cauycd death.
HERALD reporter, on learning these iacts 1t onco
Twentieth street to learn further particulars The ser
geant there treated the matter lightly advancing the
theory tnut the mnu uad Decn STUCK ny ons oi Tue
dreg ne machines already rocrrcd 10 But this theory
Is unsustaiuable because the wound was already Gov
cred with gangrcnc, and cyidcnty over two months
old.
From tho station house tho reporter proceeded 10
tie loot OF Eighteenth street, whcrc tnc body
found The Manhattan Gas Company use the PIERS
hcre. Tho reporter found that none Of the employees
oi the company had bccn missing during the period
when tho deceased was murdered. As soon as tho
subject was mentioned among the hands on the dock
crowd gathered around, all evidently angry that tho
had been investigated and eager 10 give
formation.
John Kelly. bright looking youth about twenty
years 81 age told the reporter that about nfteen MIN.
utcs past the preceding evening he discovered
object floating In the water about niecu yards IRON
the buIkhead between Seventeenth and Eighteenth
streets TakIns row boat which tied 20 the pier
he rowcd out. and hnding the body OF drowned man
tied rope 10 u and towcd " 70 the pier The boy IN
formed unlccr Ice, who took charge o: The body.
Kelly guessed that the man sailor from the APP
pearaIc OF his dress All were agreed that the
the mans heat old one, and Il appeared AZ
they said, 'Just the same II l,c Cos a with
sxc' Ia the dccc ascd's pockets found pipe,
comb and kLc. There seemed TO be no
means Tor idcnufying him. He about
n.ty years old i've iess eight inches high had
black hair. smooth lace. and black fr0ck coat
black trousers. eray-nixcd vest and blue iannci
blouse. thorough investigation into the will DO
made by Coroner EckhoG the inquest, the day Tor
which has not yet been appointed