Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-03-10
lctually in the first instance lead to the
,learinp nm of a disannearance Thus the

examination OF skeleton found deeply lm-
bedded in the sand of the seacoast at GER
tain Scotch watering place, showed that the
person, when living, must have walked with
a very peculiar and characteristic gait, in
consequence of some deposits of rheumatic
kind which affected the lower part of the
spine and pelyis. The mention of this fact
induced a search through some old records
of the town, and resulted in the discovery
that a case of mysterious disappearances
had been duly noted the subject being
person whose mode of walking had made
him an object of attention, and whose fate,
but for the observ ent eye OF the anatomist,
might have remained wholly unknown.
One of the most famous cases in which
medical science has aided the efforts of the
law in determining the identity OF human
remains, was that known as the Waterloo
bridge murder. This case excited much in
terest and curiosity at the time (lS51) /;
and the chain of circumstances which led to
the discovery that murder had been COM
mltted, shrouded the matter still more i'm
penetrably in mystery. A carpet-bag which
had been dropped over Waterloo Bridge.
London, with the obvious intentions of dispos-
ing etectually and silently of its contents
in.the Thames. landed instead, on one of the
buttresses of the bridge, a few yards above
the current. When examined, the bag was
found to contain portions of human body,
the pieces, consisting of bones with flesh at
tached, numbering twenty-three IN all. 1t
formed an important object of inquiry to
ascertain whether the identity of the re-
mains could be determined, with a view to
connect them, firstly with any known case
.tf 4 a. -
due examination might in the second in
stance lead to the discovery Of a crime, by
aHording some clue as to the probable ma
tionality, rank in life, profession or trade,
general circumstances, and mode Of death of
the victim
Pieced dexterously together by medical
experts, the portions contained in the bag
were found to be those of one and the same
body but the head, large portion Of the
spine, the hands and feet, and some parts of
the chest, were wanting,-these missing
parts being exactly those by means of which
the human subject Is usually and most read
ily identified. But notwithstanding these
serious gaps in the continuity Of its structures,
the mutilsted frame was discerned to be
that of a tull-grown man, whose height must
have been at least five feet nine inches To
thi, first conclusion the experts were led by
careful measurements Of the existing parts
Of the skeleton, together with relative
measurements in place Of those parts which
were wanting. The body was further found
to present no peculiarities, the result either
Of natural malf0rmation or diseased action,
whereby any clue to its more particular
identity, as in our preceding example, could
be obtained but II presented evidence 10
show that the remains were those of a man
OF very dark complexion, the hair covering
the body being Of 4 black color. The ex-
animation detected the presence Of a stab or
puuctured wound in the left side of the
chest, between the third and fourth ribs
and what, perhaps, formed the most import
ant result Of the inquiry, consisted in the
fact that the experts were able to pronounce
from the character of the wound, that
1t had been inflicted, in all probability, dur
ing the life of the individual. The sur
rounding highly suspicious circumstances
of the occurrence undoubtedly favored this
latter Supp0sition whilst the clumsy and un-
scientific manner in which the remains were
mutilated-the bones being sGlCH through
near the joints, instead OF being disarticu-
lated at the joints by the simple division Of
the igaments-showed that no theory Of the
remains having formed the subject Of ana
t0mical research could for moment be en-
tertained. The probable date Of death was
also in some degree fixed the examiners be-
ing led, from the appearance Of the remalls,
u state with certainty that they had been
dead for at least three weeks before the date
OF the examination; which was conducted
on 2lst October, 1857.
Thus the medical evidence calculated
number Of facts, which taken together af-
fordel auseful commentary and test Of the
value Of other and purely circumstantial
evidence. The articles Of dress which were
inclosed il 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 detec-
ton Of the murderer, or Of the motives
which prompted The crime. The remains
were thought to be those OF 4 Swedish sailor
whose disappearance might cause little or no
stir even amongst his associates whilst the
mere fact Of his disappearance in a foreign
land would also initiate against the chances
Of his identity being established. 4 sup
position which received much credence at
the time Of the occurrence was that which
presumed that the deceased, as a foreigner,
had in all probability fallen a victim to the
assault Of some secret society, of which
he may have proved to have been an IN
worthy or traitOrous member.
1t IS by no means an uncommon occur
rance to lind the remains Of tne lower animals
grayely brought under the notice of the legal
authorities, IN mistake for those Of man
and the skill OF the zoologist and micros-
copist may sometimes be called in to aid
in the unravelling of some complicated cases;
whilst, as exhibited in the Waterloo Bridge
case, even the question Of race or nation
only to be authoritatiyely determined by the
| ethnologist or natural ist-may involve con
| siderations of the utmost import in account
| Ing for or explaining some cases OF identity
and disappearance.
! The subject before US is not without It's
| ludicrous aspect. in respect OF the mistakes
| which are sometimes committed, and OF the
/ excitement created by the supposed discov-
/ ery of human remains under highly suspl-
/ ci0us circumstances, when in reality the
/ remains are those of animals, sometimes OF
very inferior structure and grade to man.
/ \ short time ago, case of what was at first
/ believed to be atrocious murder, and IN
which the body was believed to have been
disposed of by burning, was quietly settled
! by the medical examination proving that
certain incinerated skull-bones were those
Of Slep's head ; whilst in another case,
which occurred in London in 1888, the usual
amount Of wild speculation was excited by
the discovery Of what was supposed to be
human hand in a,cty dust-bin. The excite
ment attending the discovery, however, was
timeousy quieted by the assurance from re
liable authority, that the supposed hand was
in reality the paddle or fore limb of turtle,
which doubtless had perished in a manner
perfectly consistent with the demands of
justice and good taste.