The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-24
THE MAN ON THE WALL.

DISCOVERY or A IoDY on THE SEA WALL OF
THE HUDSON RIVER RAILRoAD-wAs 1T Ac-
C1DENT SUICIDE OF MURDER?
The temperance advocates Gnd their strongest nrgu-
ment in tho fact that the OF liquor makes for
the time being helpless, and whlo in that helpless
condition crimes arc committed and frequently fc Is
,ost Whether intempe rance tho cause Of tho
death oil the unknown man Of this story is not au
thoavely decided but tho circumstances OF the case
oro such MS to lead 10 that belief The simple story
told by the police is as follows-
About throe O'Clock yesterday morning Ofhcer Ham,
mond OF the Thirty -lrst precinct police while walk
ing up the Hudson River Railroad when about at the
foot of 10Sth street, sticking out OF the sea wall
which separates the railroad causeway from the waters
of the river a pair Of boots 1t was dark
and no could moro; but on going closer
no found the body Of man hanging over the wall,
with the head downward toward the water. Tho fcot
wcrc caught on the stones OF the WALL and II with
some difficulty that the officer loosened the body and
ra,scd It up upon which he disco vercd that tho
was dead. Calling for assistance Officer McElgun
came and together they boro the body the station
winch is in lCOth street, near Ninth avenue
now DID he DIE?
At nrst II was thought TO be simple OF what Is
go of, en- termed Ia police reports ".ouud dead" but
on making "a closer examination OF the body severe
bruises were found on the back and cut across tho
root Of tho nose from which the blood had flowed
freely Tho place where the body was found is dark
and lonesome one distant from any residence. A
theory was advanced by tho police that the
man was simply drunk, and, while WANDER
ing along on the railroad track, was struck
by passing train and hurled against the
sea wall with such Kill him and FIX his legs
70 firmly in tho stones TO prevent him from falling
into the water; but little reflection, together with an
examination the body, would show thu; theory To DO
uutcnnblc There were no bruises the body,
ccpt those the upper part OF the back and the cut
on tho TACO, aud ZONES were broken. II passing
train ha struck aim with sufficient Iorcc to KIN him
and huri The body INTO the wall thcro would cor
tainy have been several bones broken. -, go
The next theory suggested was mat OF suc'de, prt
there Is even evidence TO support that Than The
other External violence OF some KIND Was undoubt-
cdy tho the death, but whether that violence
was traceabc to intentional or unintcntionnl means is
the unexplained mystery. Tue cot across the lace
seemed 10 have been severe enough to cause uncon-
ness and invcrtd position IN which the body
found might early have produced death
DESCRIPTION OF THE DECEASED.
There have many icrsous la'eIy reported 10
the notice as nIssing aud often have unrccognizcd
bodies found by them. upon which were MARKS OF
violence that the orce on the 9nt r,rc for
the slightest ccw that will lead to The explanation VI
these mysteries THIS case possesses a' these eIe-
meus OF mystery also the possibilities OF u muir
ger There Is certainty more reason believe that
this mans death caused by fellow man than by
either accident suicide. The nrst thDg ~ Tue IN
yestgaon is OF course Identification OF the body
| Alter being taken 10 the station IL was thoroughly
searched aud there were found IN ne pockets lew
KEYS. pawn ticket bearing the name OF "Woli,"
showing TINT black coat pants ana vest and sheet
had rcrn pawucd TO Thonss Green. OF No III owcry,
for 81 -, anu dated February ~ Thcrc were also
found two bottles one empty and the other containing
u small quantity OF whiskcy
The man anywhere between forty and iity years
| of age ind had the appearance OF rcspccabiy. lie
was about tive 1cot SIX inches tall, had sandy CON-
pjcxion and side whiskcrs. The top oil hs head was
hnd hut the back and side covered with IRON
gray HAIR. The body warmly clad III dark striped
pants dark blue (amost biack) sack coat and vest,
cnrEl "a Xh
uudersbirls the one hickory aud the other rcd annc
The shoes were OF cloth ard the hat soft black lot
| QUE. There was also u brown cardigan Jacket under
| the coat This description may serve TO lead TO ms
identification by OF bis trends AS ne did not look
| ike Il tramp, but was evidently man who hnd
friends After having been thoroughly examined the
body was taken to tho Ninety ninth street Reception
Hospital where IL awaited tho arrival Ut the Coroner,
who ordered II taken the Morgue whore thorough
Investigation OF the circumstances OF tho death viii
DO made, anu II Is hoped that II may be settled ~
which oil tho three causes this life was lost