The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-28
TIE ERIE BtsIN MISTER
Tho Police Perpiexed by the Murder OF
Bernnrd Ferron-A Clue.


The mystery Of the murder of the river
speculator Bernard Ferron or "Old Barney,
the hoatman.@ whose body was found ON Fri
day morning anchored to the bottom Of The
Erie basin with bng containing one hundred
pounds of scrap ship iron promises to continue
unexplained Capt Reilly is rapidly working
on every clue that presents itself hut finds HIM
self after each effort. in ms much pcrplexi,y
as before lie began work. John Cowhey.
the boatman who saw Ferron going through
the basin at 3 o'clock told Capt. Reilly ycstcr-
day that he saw the dead mans white boat at
the foot of Richards street at about II ., o'clock
In the morning. This story differed SO much
from that told by Michael Simms, the young
man who was at work OH the dry dock nt the
foot OF Richards street. that the Captain sent Tor
him. and induced him 10 rctell all thathe know.
Simms is about twenty years OF age and Is
keen -wittcd He said that on March 10 he was
at work on Cornells dry dock. on top Of ono of
the sections. At about twenty minutes past !
O'Clock he saw three men row up TO the foot OF
Richards street but he could not SEQ the bont
Hn heard the last splash oi the oars md saw the
first man climb w To the strlnEple" oi me
gave his hand to the third man. and pulled him
up. They seemed to be smart. active young men.
They were dressed in long spring ovcrcoats.
and two ~ them wore brown Derby hats. while
the third had on n black topped stif hrim hat.
The description Of the three men who are sup
posed to have been concerned in the murder
adds to the mystery Of the case. rs their clothing
ani appearance did not at all indicate that they
were seniaring men. The discrepancy in this
feature Of the cnse is explained ON the theory
that after the return Of the boat to the foot VI
Richards street II was taken by the three young
men. who were atterward seen 10 leave II. Tor n
row about the basin, as they found 1t tied hy n
| rope. and not chained and locked. as was usunl.
| Superintendent Campbclldoes not credit this de-
scripton. and still cngs 10 the theory that the
three men who returned with old Barney boat
| were sailors who were concerned IN his murder;
Mrs. Ferron Is almost insane with grief. and
| was yesterday under physicans care. The
neighbors in the tenement at 33l, van brun'
rsTS oSy say s Mas ferro nd SnH S W Snd w"
permit her to do any drudgery. She walked
the floor all the night of March lG. and early ~
next morning was down AZ the edooreNpccting his
return. She offered II reward for his discovery
| and published IL In a New York morning news
paper. In n few days she received letter writ
fen on mourning paper, in bold business
| hand Informing her that II she would consent
| 10 increase the reward she could gain import
| ant Information Of her husbands whcrcabout-
| BY calling on the Rev DR.. Ramhaut of jl4 Clin-
ton street police officer was sent to follow
her 70 see II there was any one there to hi9fk'
al once pronounced the letter forgery. W,
wrot" his name On the clean leaf Of the sheet
| To- show that his handwriting was different from
that IN the letter. On April %. Mrs Fcrron re-
ceived drop lctter containing the business
card Of Thomas foren the city undcrt,aker,; who
! has stores at 800 Court street 2T3 Van Brunl
street and rs Hamilton avenue. II wus printed
| on coarse brown pasiebonrd. ana endorsed oi
| the back Candies and liquors gratis an in
! tended reference to the custom OF waking Tho
| dead. The card was an cNnct imitation ol Mr.
| ForaIfs business card. He considered that
some other undertaken had had the card print
| ed as n practical joke.
Capt. Reilly last night reported that, he haj
| discovered an important clue from the lettering
on the bug which contained the iron tn,
| trade mark OF the house where the bag wa,
made and sold WAS found upon IT, ~ well ~ tn,
words " Lewiston, Maine. seamless. The po
lice deem 1t prudent 10 withhold iull partiu
lars of their discovery on this point. but they
regard II as the most important fact they hay,
thus far ascertained in connection with III,
murder