The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-21
BOUND and BLINDFOLDED.
Mysterious Circumstances Surrounding the
Death Of a South American.
FOUND DROWNED OFF THE BATTERY
Officials Divided Between Theories OF
Murder and Suicide.
A TEST FOR OUR DETECTIVES

CHASTITY discovery was made yesterday morning
when an incoming tide washed on the rocks OF the
Whitehall basin, at the Battery, the body of 4
drowned man. The condition of the body CON
clusively demonstrated that the case was not an
ordinary of accidental drowning. and il remains
an open question whether the committed
suicide or was foully murdered. Beyond the ute
but suggestive testimony to be found in the
manacled hands and bandaged eyes OF the corpse
there no other facts upon which to base
the theory Of murder. But these suspicious facts
are regarded by criminal experts rational proof
that the authorities have mysterious homicide
case on their hands to unravel. The body Of de-
ceased was first sighted about ten minutes to eight
A. NJ Yesterday At that time John Derwin. deck
hand on board the schooner Lawson. had his atten-
ton drawn to the body OF man in the water lie
was attending TO his ordinary duties on board the
schooner time and he was hailed by party on
board passing craft, who sang out. LOOK there;
that's the body Of man on the rocks.
Derwin being thus appraised satisfied him
SELF that the information correct, and
a, once notified Policeman Dern,ott Ryder.
Of the First precinct. of the nature Of the case.
That official lost no time in conveying the to
the station house. and this caused Sergeant Linden
and Detective Hagan to hasten to the Battery wall.
water. The startling discovery then made that
the hands were tied securely at the wrists, behind
the back, by stout hempen cord, with
ordinary double knot. The cord about
fourteen inches long and about three inches
of the ends remained dangling from the
knot. The hands were placed back to back with the
palms outward. and rested the small Of the back.
The left hand was wrenched and twisted as II .
struggle had place to hold the member in posi-
ton while the tying taking place. or perhaps.
In the water a desperate effort was made by the
drowning to free his hands from the fastenings
which secured them. When the cord was removed
. Deep purple indenture circled both wrists where
the cord had beep fastened.
THE EYES BLINDFoLDED.
The eyes were blindfolded with white muslin
pocket handkerchief. which was knotted at the back
Of the head. That it was carefully adjusted may be
learned from the fact that the action of the waves
did not disturb it in the least and it required o
vigorous effort to unloosen the parts which had
been tied. The police officials removed these fasten
ings before the arrival of Captain Cafrey, who
the ground a short time after the body had been
taken from the water. The cord and hand
kerchief were. however. carefully laid aside.
and subsequently removed to the Morgue
when they were taken charge of by Coroner Fiana-
gan. Captain Caffrey teegraphed to the Commis
sioners Of Charities and Correction for q dead wagon
and at the same time notified the Coroners office.
There was, however. considerable delay berore the
body was deposited at the Morgue. Daniel Russell,
the driver of the dead wagon. had a number OF
places to call at on the route and it was midday by
the time the dead wagon with its CHASTITY burden
drove up to Police Headquarters. 1t was quartz
to when the driver reached his destination. In
advised OF the case. had called at the
Morgue about noon, expecting to find the
ss Of
remains to ascertain, ii possible, how death was
duced. until late in the afternoon When Dr. Miller
was finally afforded an opportunity of viewing he
remains he found slight Commissions on the face, par
tcularly the right cheek. where small perfora-
tons remained which looked like scars made by
buckshot or coarse powder. These marks, however
he conjectured, could have been made by the face
coming IN violent contact with the planking which
Battery wall at the southery extremity. These
planks are kept together by number of
small sharp spikes, ana he thought it possible
that the peculiar nature of the wounds the face
of deceased might have been caused in this manner
Beyond these abrasions, the origin Of which 1t
impossible to determine, there were no scars or in
5ures to be found the body. and it is certain that
death was caused by asphyxia from drowning. Nor
there anything found in the clothing which
could establish the identity Of deceased. Judging
from his cast of features he appeared to be native
of South America. He was about thirty years Of
age and weighed l55 pounds. His height appeared
to be five feet seven inches He had a small
dark brown mustache, scanty beard Of few
weeks growth. a prominent nose, large head and
good. strong facesgeneraly
NO LIGHT.
That he man of more than ordinary inteli-
gence and responsibility there could be installing
His clothing consisted Of two white cotton over
Shirts with ivory studs and wrist buttons of the
same material; two pairs of white muslin drawers,
gray and brown mixed cashmere pantaloons, mixed
cloth Oxford ties, low cut; light muslin necktie
few matches were found in his pockets. Upon the
buttons of his coat and pantaloos was stamped the
name of an. NJ. Rick, Dcmerara,' which Is probably
the trade mark Of the manufacturer.
The most careful investigation in the vicinity OF
where the body found failed to throw any
thereabouts state that after midnight the place il
amos and even If trae ety had taken place
there very slim chances that any not
actually concerned in 1t would be likely to
know anything about 1t. That part Of the shore
wall forms curve, stretching from the barge
Office on the south to point short distance above
the whitehall basin on the north. Adjoining tho
Whitehall basin, to the south, q portion of
the Battery shore wall is in course OF
construction, aud the schooner Lawson has
charging granite blocks. which used in the con-
struction of the wall. The body discovered
close to the mouth OF the Whitehall basin, north
ward ten yards. perhaps stiff northwest gale was
blowing at the time, and this, together with the
rent and change of the tide caused the body to be
washed on the rocks, where it wedged until
moved in the manner described. Waterman
the employ OF the Department OF Docks whose
or residence nobody seemed to know. had been ON
duty at this part OF the Battery wall. but he
was relieved at seven o'clock in the morning. Cap
tain cairey. however is of opinion that the absent
Waterman could not possibly throw any light on the
mystery. The body was well preserved and could
not have been IN the water more than eight or
abusiness man or clerk. That no was not seatar-
ing man or from the country could be determined at
glance. He looked ms II he had been accustomed
TO city lifc aud had been employed at some Ipht
ssdentary occupation.
COULD TIE nIMsELr.
Captain Caffrcy also afhrms that in his desire TO
aacertain A man could bind his hands in the m an
in which deceased was secured he iCaptain
CanrcyI experimental on himself aud dem onstrated
that ID was possible for him to do 80. "rhe only
difference fancy. said Captain Caiirey "was that /
could ito mysef IN uch more hrmly anu artistically
drowned Inn
don't mean 10 argue from this though that de-
ceased had bound and bindfolded himself
suicide. While there Is nothing Impossible or
irrational in this theory. still It is not by
any means conclusive. There seems TO be so much
unnecessary generalization about all this blindfold
Ing aud binding on the part OF man who wants to
commit suicide by drowning, when one headlone
piung. would have effected the same purpose. that
u IL Impossible TO accept the theory AS either cor
rect conclusive. ON the other hand, at first sight
u looks more rational 60 suppose that he had been