New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-10
THE BODY IN THE WOODS.

THE BODY IN THE WOODS.
Mrs Phoebe Ben. Of Bayville, L. l., and her
daucbfer we're gathering black berries on Sunday III
the Twelve Acres" woods, and came suddenly
mon the headless body OF a Mrs. Bell, VINO
,-os n little in advance of her daughter stumbled
npon it, The women were very much
FRIGHTENED. and ran away to tell what
tbev had found A laborer employed by
Tbom,s T. L Underwood farmer went to the spot.
He found the body lying on It5 back on the ground
near q cedar log; one heel was resting on the log
and one arm was thrown out The flesh had all
di-aDDsared from the hand. The head was found
several feet away from the body. The flesh had
fallen away from the skull, SO that identification
seemed impossible Al that was left were the hair
and the whi,krrs. which were gray Word was
sent 10 Coroner Bavls, OF Oyster Bay, VINO pr'S-
emily enpanelIed q jury. which viewed the body
An iuorest was appointed for o'clock yesterday
afternoon.
Yesterday morning the body was cent to Oyster
Bay for intermeut in the pot devoted TO panpers 10
tho cemetery. The man was about slx feet tall,
slightly bald, with iron gray whiskeIs. lie was
apparenrlv fifty or sixty years Of age.
The front teeth were good. but the back
teeth Of the upper jaw were all gone.
The body was respectfully dressed IN n dark coat
and yaistcoat and striped trousers. Oxford ties size
No =. white shirt and Undershlrt cotton drawers
| and black necktie. The trousers pockets and coat
/ uocke-s were turned inside OUT. pair OF German
SILVER spectacles was found near the head, aud an
! other pair IN his pocket. In his coat were some
/ uap.rs. Among them was a letter written On
rripred letrer-head brown with weather stains, and
! in rarts almost ilecibie, The letter is "a follows;
PROFESSOR J. :. BLACKS MUSICAL INSTITUTE
MARTINDALk BLOCK,
INDIANAPOLIS, April 10, $50.
70 Tno y to 10 r crrif r am well acquainted with The
beor,r sig George Geirg'. and take great pleasure IN
commenting him TO al %no w'h 10 study Sn9 i' s
/ Grlrge Is not only perfect genteman' out
most I,o.d inoFV SH1 1"ce Themselves under
ms milton may assured nat they viii acquire the
ouv recognized method or singing throughout the c-
80, void r. must not Boz expected that SIX Geifge =
voice can retain tHe freshness OF youh' bl' W"at ne
bas LOST III that is amply made up by experience ~
Hdpnt that bis success viii be equal to his ability
and f,ent is the wi-h or who is happy 70 be con
/ ,n.l freUd. j. :. BLACK
The unfortunate man had been dead about six
weeks. in the opinion Of the medical men who had
| ,vor,tned the BODY il was reported that he had
been seen lying by the log about six weeks ago by q
woman who was crossing the woods from John
scbercks place in Bayyiile, on her way
70 Old Neck; but she supDosing him
10 be drunken man, did not
90 near him. Other stories and rumors We're atoat
i, the village. One is TO the effect that about SIX
,,eaks ago a boat went ashore near Locust Valley,
containing three men. and returned with two only,
who rowed rapidly away. Other persons also as
serted that cries were heard from the direction OF
the spot where the body found but as the neigh
borhood is a favorlto resort for picnic parties IN
the summer months, 10 attention was paid to the
matter at the time. and the ALLEGED circumstance
only received value by the recent discovery. Inc
IMPRESSION among the villagers was that horrible
murder had been committed. aud the village go5-
SIMS made tine most of she opportunity No traces OF
violence " re found on the body
THE INQUEST
The inquest was duly held in the afternoon al
Flor,ing' Hotel about mile from the station, and
the srn,U dining-room was filled by the witnesses
and curious persons. Only four witnesses were eX
amincd. Amos Merritt, Of Bayyille. who was first
called testified that he saw the deceased man a
, Ravy1lle about two months ago, and knew o.
MIN ~ a music teacher looking for employment
Mrs Phoebe Bel, previously reterrfu 10, 1's' III
her danQhter when they came across the Dody
! The Coroner asked II she lelt any Pltces %
bar drrss upOn the bushes. 1t appears tina
tvo nieces Of calico found near the spot At th'
oncinsion of the examination he asked Mrs Bell t.
send him. If she could, sample Vi tne 4tesS Su'
wore AZ the time. This Mrs. bell PROMISED 20 40
Miss Mary Bell corrObOrated her mothers testl
uony She said that when she hrst caught 'ght OF
the body she thought 1t was an 0id morse
i Mary NeaDbe stated that she saw the D0dy nj tn'
spot where It was found, on June 26. Ii was theI
perfect apparently. and She supposing IL 10 oe
drunken man. kept ut ii safe distance. Alter some
fnrther testimony winch elected no new facts, TIM
inouest was adjourned until p. IN. Monday next
, to nerullt the attendance Of relative OF dea'
q nan named Giilles whose other name and address
D couId not be learned at this time. ..
! Ii was stated that some months ago III
o. relative went 10 Jamaica, tnqnlrng Tor hl
= father-,n-law A handkerchief was found IN Den
l TONS " Gods near that village i've or SIX week
4 AGO. which was identified a belonging TO Gerge
@1G obgut a fortnight after Mr.. GIlies was agar
at Jamaica where he consulted with Constable
Hamer about the missing man. A seaicl
was Organized 10 Scuur DcutOus WOODS
= but no further traces OF the man wer
fonnd although thorough search was made
C;eirge was subject 10 fits OF mental alteration a
5 timrs and il IL SAID that suCh occasions ne 40
. seUfed himself from home. lt was reported, but OF
what authority could not be learned, that at sue
p times his relatives geueraiy found MIN III IN
woods.
D THE DEATH or EX-GOTERNOR BIGLER.