The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-02
ANOTHER TRUNK MYSTERY.
The Body of Dead Man Found Packed in
Trunk At Pittsburg-It Was Checked
From Chicago.

PITrsBURG, May This evening about 6
o'clock Bsggagemaster jenkins, ct the Unicn
depot, upon bursting open trunk which
gave out suspicious odor, wss horrifed to
find therein the body of a man securely
bound and in an advanced stage of decom-
position. The face wss badly discolored aud
bloated, and the stencil was so great that it
kept at safe distance the large crowd which
quickly gathered. The trunk was a common
wooden one, and evidently had not been
used before II arrived here from Chicago,
on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago
railway. at 600 q. N. on the morning ex-
press, and was checked ALL, bat no person
called to claim it. The bsggagemaster
noticed peculiar smell when il was un-
loaded from the train this morning, but no
attention wss paid 10 it until this evening,
when the stencil became unbearable. After
8 consultation the railroad officials decided to
open it, and the result was the ghastly
discovery. The body, in order TO get it into
the trunk. had been bent almost double
around the neck. arms and legs was hemp
cord about one-eighth of an inch in thick
ness, which bad been drawn so tight that it
had cut deep into the flesh. There was no
mark of violence, and SO far as could be as
cer.ained from an outward examination,
the stomach was in a normal condition.
The body was that of q Iaboring man. proba-
bly, thirty years old, Of short heavy build,
with q smooth face. He was dressed in
pair of checked wooden pants, blue checked
shirt, and had on his feet pair OF new con.
gIees CATERS. There was nothing on his per-
son that would furnish any clue to his iden-
tity, except an International money order
in favor Of Fillippo Csruse for S25.04. The
order was drawn AZ Chicago en- February 24,
1SGG lpernndiQfplu affar TIM Hnifnc of O
remains, Coroner Dressler was summoned,
and the body was placed in his charge. A
telegram was sent TO the baggage agent at
Chicago, but he replied he had no means OF
finding out who had checked the trunk.
The Coroner is now holding an inquest. He
is of the opinion that the remains were in
the trunk at least tbiIty-six hours.
At the Coroner's inquest Drs. Hamilton
and Shaw, who made post mortem exemi-
nation, testified that there were external
marks of violence on deceased. All his or
gsns were healthy, except the lungs which
were badly congested. This could result
from suffocstion or strsngulation. In &C.
cordance with this testimony q verdict was
rendered that deceased ca me to his death
from stranguiation st The hands OF persons
to the jury unknown. There appears no
doubt put that be Was an Italian.
No Developments CONCERNING the Trunk.
CHICAGO, May l.-Diligent inquiry here
has failed TO develop any facts concerning
the supposed shipment from Chicago of a
trunk, opened this evening at Pittsburg, aud
found to contain q corpse. Toe baggage
men at Fort Wayne, however, believe from
the description of the baggage and the mum.
Der of the check hat it was left here yes
terdsy morning by three Italians, who
brought it to the DEPOT N al express wagon.
No record Of the baggage is keyt whereby
this belief can be subiiantisted at present.