The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-27
BARNEY" THE BOA7MAN.
His Strange Disappearance at Length
Accounted For.
A CRIME UNVEILED.
Gagged, Murdered and Sunk to the
Bottom Of the River.

mystery which, since the 10th OF March, has dis
turbed tho public mind in South Brooklyn disap-
pearsd yesterday IN the light of CHASTITY revelation
The crime which has been brought 20 light 10 Of
The basest complexion-murder Tor gain and attended
apparently with circumstances OF ruthless atrocty.
It's surroundings such might be naturally ex-
pected from the facilities afforded by the water front
OF great city, Il will be- perhaps, best to follow tho
from the disappearance OF tho victim until
the waters OF the Erie Basin gave up It's dead ycster
day.
Up the 10th OF March there lved, at No. 1871 Van
Brunt street, South Brooklyn, man named Bernard
Ferron. He nfty i've years Of age. Ave feet i've
inches in height, and mis- only personal pecuari,y
was defect, commonly known as halt, In his lett
leg. He followed the duplex occupation Of boatmon
and river 'specuIator" the latter pursuit Implying
that he boarded Ships bought old iron bolts and chains
the various kinds Of junk and odds and ends In
which ships abound. and when no had accumulated
sufficient store resod it 10 the Wholesale dealers In
such wares At moderate profit.
THE vIcrrx's CHARACTER.
Ferron's occupation necessarily brought him into
contact with the wors. casscs but personally he was
beyond rsproach. He had lived seventeen years IN
the ueighoorhood, and every ono had kindly greet
ing for .old BarneY. he Familiarity called. No
stain stood against his humble nahe He had thrift.
honesty and industry, and these brought comforta
bio homo in their train Through fair aud foul
weather he followed his humble avocation, and che
reaped tho harvest of his hands'' as honorabIy
rs men of higher estate aud ampler innu.
once. His vile was the only sharer Of his
unpretcntous fortunes the had NO childrenh
aud on several when fortune smiled and his
balance IN the savings bank warranted the extrav
ugance he treated her trip 70 Ireland, IRON which
country ne had come when quite young The curren!
OF their lives flowed smoothly enough, no Doubt until
tue morning OF the 18Th Of March, when Mrs. Ferron
went out at nalpast seven O'Clock 70 early church,
asking her husband TO take charge OF the house u her
absence. He replied that he was going out in his
boat but that he would make matters secure before
leaving. ana would place the key, according TO his
custom, undor the door mai
THE DISAPPEARANCE
Ferron went out Tess than hall an hour after his
vile had gone church, and tho presumption that
he went straight from his house TO the foot Of
Richards street where his boat was secured Al all
events ne seen IN hts boat ian ordinary working
one nineteen feet long and painted wnitel lew
minutes alter eight O'Clock and again at ten o'clock
This was the last time he was seen alive, and here
ended all trace OF him. Later on, about haifpast one
o'clock the boat found IN ner place tied 10 the
custom 10 secure H. K young man named Mcnaol
Smms says that about tbis time, wnile work
ing FerroDs boa. owu ~ Sa
they were SO tar away he would be unable
to identity them. They rcwed the boat, he says 70
thore ana went off in the direction OF Elizabeth street.
Speculation now went to work and formulated
theories 1t was known that Ferron carried with him
$40 or $780, Tor IT was necessary Tor him 70 have
ready money 10 pay for his Purchases and while TINS
Tact would iurnish m0tlve Tor foul play tho other
fact that u broad daylight against the pre-
sumption that murder had been committed. Then,
length IL Dame 20 be believed that Ferron nsd fallen
into water, and that his halt log, having incapac
tated MIN from Swimming, he was drowned.
A sICKENiN0 DISCOVERY.
1t appears, however, tnat there are crimes which
the earth viii hide or tho waters cover, and the
b EAFpn ~ m nj an
day morning the tide had ebbed low IN the Erie Basin,
ana the damp mist hung over The water II was
man, who lives at No. Us tandyke street, rowed
across the nasin from tho breakwateE He had
u hall ieet deep, when he noticed something be-
meath the surface OF the water, when, by all ap.
p.aranoes was attached to 40 AN anchorage Very
the body Of man, and closer scrutiny
showed that rope run across his mouth portion
OF the lace appeared TO have been eaten away and the
tongue protruded IRON Inc mouth ana was greatly
swollen He al once connected the discovery with the
disappearance OF Ferron, aud, seeing that the body
was weighted that Il would DC impossi0e 10 remove
n, ashore anu sent report 70 the poiice.
Captain Reilly, OF the Eleventh precinct Brooklyn,
WHO had been engaged on the suce Ferrons dsap
pearance took the matter hand,
ss.ance and had ihe body raised With difouty to the
surface. IL Was then brought ashore anu laid
raft until Coroner Sims arrived aud authorized its
removal 70 AN undertaking establishment IN Hamilton
avenue.
FouLLy MuRpERED
An examination oil the body At once revealed the
head, whicn snapoless Of liv,d flesh, had
beaten Ia, thick rope had been stretched
the mouth ana tied firmly behind the head, ana
cured with stout rope around the body was
bag containing exactly lo0 pounds OF old iron. TINS
iron consisted oil heavy chain a3out six feet long,
with hooks the end winch had been evidently
used as oobstay oil ship. piece oil lighter chain,
large and small shackie,a timber dog. an iron ring
win small sister hooks large pin bolt Tor hold.
ing tho chain plates or u vessel anu several smaller
pieces OF IRON. Tho bag which contained this
riousiy assorted anchorage WAS Of canvas, aud had
borne brand which was almost eraced. Tho letters
sTto as II beginning the word "store" or "Itorss
were stiii traceable
TAX THEORY nuRDER
The theory most readily deducble IRON all the cir
cumstances 10 that Ferron went on board vessel ao
cordng TO hrs custom, 10 purchase junk that dis.
playing his money 10 mako the necessary pay ment
an attempt male ~ rob him tuat no resisted,
was i'm media,eIy gagged with rope, mad his head
with piece OF iron and that the body
then sunk, weighted possibly with the very JUNK
which he had bought Oh The identity Of The body
there be doubt, for although the iaco be-
yond recognition the clothes were readily Identified
his wife moro particularly Identifying spotted scarf
which he wore; also comb that no was accustomed
takers establishment presented CHASTITY spectacle
the head beng completely broken In and portion
tho skull having fallen away.
The Coroner having empaneled jury the body
was viewed and the Inquest adjourned al Thursday
evening, when IL will be Deld IN the Coroners Office,
City Hail. Brooklyn Meanwhile permit has been
granted Tor tho burial OF the body and the ntcrment
will probably take place on sunday, In Calvary Gene
terry.
The community at Red Hook Point, South Brook.
Ign, - greatly excited by this horrible murder,
every one hopes mat the ronce WIN De successful In
bringing the criminals TO justice. Captain Reilly and
his assistants busiy engaged the case,
Captain believes that he Is IN possession Of Glow
which viii lead 10 the arrest OF the murdsrerA
ATTEMPTED MURDER.