The sun., 1878-04-27
MURDER IN TIE ERIE BASIN.
THE vrCTIWs BODY UEIGHTED DOWN
WITH 4 mo or OLD IRON
The Terrible Explanation OF Bernnrd Ferron's
Mysterious Absence from uome-Uow
the Murder IL Revealed by an Iron Dog

iHt DOuy vi DtIllHlu EtTIOH u Wtll-huDWu
river speculator OF tho Twelfth Ward Of Brook
lyn. whore he was called "Old Barney. tho boat-
man. was found yesterday morning in the Eric
BASIN weighted down with hundred pounds
Of old ship iron. On Friday morning. March
| 1G. he went from his home at 33l Van Brunt
street, as usual. to go with his boats among the
vessels in the Erie BASIN and in the Gowanus
canal to buy Junk. His wife went out before
him to attend mass. and he was preparing to go
out when she last saw him. Fcrron kept his
working boat which was nineteen feet long
and painted white. locked to the pier ut the foot
OF Richards street. At 8 o'clock he was seen by
John Cowhey. also boatman. who was passing
through the BASIN starting out in his boat for
his days work. He was afterward seen by
Jas. Prostcr. n workman on Conne's dry dock
and MS Fcrron rowod past he called out cheer
full 81 Good morning." Proster called back
Good morning. Barney" and Fcrron glded
ahead. He was not again seen alive by any ono
who knew him. When Proster saw him. his
boat moved along lightly that ho did not
think he had bought any iron thus far in his
journey. At about = o'clock on the Same day
three men. who are so far unknown. brought
Fcrron's boat back to the foot OF Richards
street and moored il on the opposite side Of the
dock from where il was usually locked by its
owner. As Fcrron did not return in the even
lnE MS WHO went 10 tne 1901 OF ltcDAruS Street
TO sec IL his boat was there. and when she saw
it tied on the opposite side OF the dock she
knew that it had been put there by strange
hands for her husband never failed to moor il
in It's proper place, and lock il with a paddock
and chain.
As he did not come home that night she re-
ported 10 the police next day that he was miss
ing. She described him as being 55 years Of
age. five feet five inches in height. with no
beard. and dressed in n black cloth suit felt
hat. boots. and u red scarf. lie was lame in his
walked. ana his wife thought that in getting in
or out of his boat he must have accidentally
cnught his foot in the seat or row locks. and
| have fallen hcadlong into the river. lie was an
| cNper, climber. and II was his habit on coming
ons-id,c of vessel, especially a merchant.
painter t. seaman on dock. and TO draw him.
self up hand over hand. He was unable 70
! swim. He had fny dollars with him when he
! leit homo. Mrs. Ferron's thaury seemed to be
| the most Acceptable one; md ne police adopted
WIS informed that Fcrron had warm affection
| Tor his relatives IN ireland and II was sug-
~ WA, nv ap Suq rc 'r"ut rn,
! tain went to the South Brooklyn savings Bank.
| nj Court and Atlantic streets. where Fcrron had
| that he had drawn no money out President
Greene. the aged hnnk ofilcer. snid that he know
| Cd Barney we'll. and that he looked upon him
! a. honest ani tnri,iy. Ii" secmcd.tn take mn II
| interest in the old hontmHn's fate. Every o1l lrt
| 10 ma lfTrDn lnllNi. ana ms Witp con IltpI
| that he WINS lost but she did not dream that he
| hnd boon murdered Fcrron scarcely eyer
drank, ami on the day Of his disappearance he
AT about IN o'clock yesterday morning. as the
| tide wns beginning tn rise in the Erie basin, Will
man. man in p.ssing through Tho 2ssin SAW the bnck
| Of a mans head m the water. with the face
| river and the basin. he at onrc throw a line
about Il. and. making the other end fast to his
| boat - rt"d 10 pull away. expecting 10 tow thu
| nal D %
| water. hut 1t was held hy sonio 'on called weight
| The water at this ypint l. lrs' thnn i've iret
| thr body # he had as. Stance, lie waited a
! short time. ana then huiicd two splols
| VINO were ROWING 10 tho shore -
| get some ir"-a water. Ih'y united tho
| rope tht was, ntounu me body unh"r
| tue, arms. S"utHu ii' n'rly 70 .Spt niger n9li
| anu thru lUru IN" W 'isi, tihl nNl h'pt "
| down. II WIS canvas bag ilil'i with pieces ol
| snip IRON. tlei ut thr mouth Win stout cord.
| manila rou' TO which the rope that was about
the body was fast nod. leaving about TIVE feet ol
! rope IN the sln'k h.twocn th' ho iy AMI The an
| chor. In addition th'rr W. u mi rope ~ the
| man mouth. whi.h WIS ii"i ii-hily al m" back
| of his head. and when the h1iy WIS lifted out Of
| IN" water II was discovered thai the cnilr" top
| ol the man head Mas me-. lhe rope IN tho
mouth hiti evidently ZEN sd rs II gag before
| thm murder waS comm ii"i.
| When the body was drawn nron ra'i at tho
| in.t 81 h,"nArI, StrrF. Sprin-"r cM''nlmei
| My GOtl lhW Barney ferron. IL" ldrntl-
n"l MN 10y nl-,lolli iS anu nl7 ~, onh olhrrs
| from thr VI lniiv, WHO thronEed about thc holy
| lllhrl IN lh" lN'Nl'H ,lnn Ohe Wfh knew
| him 10y a patch on the knee oi his nIninl"uns,
| another by his lame loot. ANA when Mrs. Frrion
| arrived She mad thr id'niiii alton po-iiN"
| kni" found in his porkat which, with ten c'nts
! in silver. were th" only articles IN his pockets.
| Coroner Slmus. with u lury, viewed the body ut
| the foot of klchards street. and then permis-
| sion WAS given tuMIs lcrron 80 have II re-
| moved 10 Michael MrMHhon : und"lthk lng shop
| at Hamilton aNrnuc and Richards street.
The bag of iron WIS taken io the pol ice station
| in Van Bruut street. ami was iouni 70 weigh
| Just 100 pounds. An odd bronled sailor. who
| had turned police ON 'rr. WAS call ii 10y Clli.
| Reilly 10 explain toa SuN f"porrrwhai the dill
| icrrut pieces of iron were used for. Tint
| he said, kicking ABOUT six feet Of heavy chain.
with two hooks IN rns At the rnl + noh-
stay chain running from the stem 70 the bow
| spirit, with sister hnph- M thccni Ihgis a b. =
| shA 'klc. and ther = nsmnlcr one " thout y a..
| Trat culled hook with shnrp pint is % timber
| dos-onr of u lAlr. These lppiniing tp n NUM-
| Der oi small spikes with ring Tor H h"adl ar
| liiil" lmhrr dorr, tp mas" rHit or tp tow tfm-
| her. that's n ring win two SISTER hooks
| there's three shack le bolts. nud ShcaVe oui of
a pulley, ana thut big rod ia % bolt for a. chain
plHte.' lie 'k'd up Il heavy iron y n. iW niy
| inches long hnl m inch aud an eighth ia diam
| ct"r. and sa,i; Captain, that's Mhut they
| uggcd Old Barney WITH They gagged hlm.
| and reckon he ioug {, ana tn"N smashed hi.
| skull with this, ana then made amen 'r ont OF
| all this stun. and dropped him in the river