The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-09
DROWNED OR MUKDEREDp

THE QUESTION NOT YET ANSWERED IN THE
CASE OF THOMAS II. wHITMAN-LooKING
FOR THE RISING OF THE BODY.
The sum of $500 has boon offered by the family OF
Thomas H. whitman, who myslerIously disappeared
from Bergen Point, N. j., the morning of Novem-
Der 2 Tor tho recovery of his body This is In addi-
tion to the S25 offered by Chief OF Police Whitney,
and the bostmen nd fishermen In the ncighboring
portion OF the bay kept sharp lookout yesterday for
oil the strange objects often rcsen bling human bodies
that kept coming t0-the surface Of the water Chief
Whitney still adhcres his opinion that It
OF accidental drowning and not Of murder. When
young Whitman walked to tho dock whore ne meant
to take boat and row himself across
TO Staten Isand-a thing he had been In the habit OF
dong--it was only hafpast Avo A M. and quito dark
yet How easy, then, says the Chief, for Whitman
have fallen of the dock But. upon this theory, Mr..
Whitney readily explain the fact that the bum
die which no carried with him and which turns TO
have contained his child's clothing and not
coat as was first supposed, was not found next morn
Ing He supposes the bundle might have been carried
away another direction by the strong nigh tide aow
ing at the time. Thero another hitch Ia TINS theory
H. ts supposed he stepped of the dock in the dark
ana drowned, how was 1t that has overcoat
found In the water, having been driven by tho lido
near the shore2 Why should Whitman have pulled
of his overcoat before getting into boat? And beng
large sized man, could he have Invested himself of
his overcoat IN the waterf
foul play in this Case for young Whitman had about
$500 on his person, gold watch and cnain, &c, and
having from staten Island the previous day
to have "a nights Spree" II was probable that in
little place like Bergen Point the fact OF his having
money on his person would generally be guessed, and
might therefore have put IL into the mind OF some
desperate character to lie ia walt for MIN next morning
But, MT Whitney objects, Whitman was big, strong,
agile young man, well capable OF taking care OF him
self and not likely to be attacked. Whether he was
armed or not Mr.. Whitney does not know, but pro-
sumes that he Mr., Whitney ana two other
friends had spent tho whole night with Tho
missing man playing billiards. cards, &C., and IN q
general johcaton, and then, according to Mr. Whit.
neys theory, Whitman lott the protecting presence OF
his convval friend and Chief OF Police OF Bayonne to
rush to an unforeseen death The morning being
wet, aud no plankng on tho dock, Mr. Whitney con-
siders II i'm possible that struggle should have taken
place that Friday morning without leaving any traces
whatsoever.
This Is the seventh day since Whitman strange dis
appearance and Mr. Whitney thinks that the body rs
now likely 70 float up TO the surface In day or Two.
Indeed he appears to be confident that the body will
be soon forthcoming, AZ corpses generally rise after
nine or ten days Meanwhile the excitement at Ber-
gen Point, Bayonne and other neighboring points
continues unabatod and much interest Is centred in
tho solution OF this strange mystery.