The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-25

His Head Crushed and the Trunk Badly
Mutilated-No Signs OF Blood Discov-
ered-Clothos Lying Near tho Body.
Brains Found in One of tho Pockets.
The Coroner's Inquest-A Verdict Rem
dered That the Man Was Murdered.
About six o'clock yesterday morning
VIM. Mcbride, the engineer of the
large steam street roller, while on his
way to his work, was Mortified by the
sight Of a dead man lying on the track
of the Washington and Maryland di-
vision Of tho Norfolk and Western Rail-
road Company, about geo yards north
of the overhead bridge that crosses. to
the round house. He did not remain to
examine the corpse, but hurried back
to his boarding house, at 1913 Shenan-
doah avenue, and reported his discov-
cry to Mr.. Pulse, boarder at the
same house. Mcbride requested Pulse
to notify the police of the find, which
was done. and the body was removed to
w. Sisters undertaking rooms on
Second street n. @.
An examination of tho corpse showed
been crushed to such an extent that it
would be impossible for his friends or
relatives to recognize him. His skull
was the thickest, Mr.. Sisler stated, that
had ever come under his notice. His
eye balls were still hanging to tho skin
on his face but not particle of brains
remained in his head. His right hand
was horribly crushed and his left Jared
little better. Tho right leg was cut
completely off above the knee and his
left just below that joint. Tho man
was evidently about forty years of age,
of heavy build and his clothes, which
were lying near him, showed him to be
workingman. a few gray hairs were
visible among the black locks.
When found on the railroad he was
naked, with the exception of striped
shirt which covered about one-half Of
his breast. His overalls, which had
answered the purpose of trousers, were
found about twenty-five feet north OF
where the body was discovered, which
was so black from having been dragged
| in tho coal cinders that are used as
ballast on the road as to lead one to
to think he was negro. His left foot
and ankle, which was completely
severed from his body was lying about
fifteen feet south of him and his right
| encaSed in a shoe as was the left foot.
A crowd collected about tho BODY
soon after it was discovered but
no one was able to find tho slightest
trace of blood along the tracks for 200
yards on other side of whore the body
was discovered. Nothing was found in
the clothing with the exception of ten
cents in silver and an empty envelope
addressed to "Elijah Cobb, Salem, Va"
On the loft hand corner of the envelope
was stamped, Advertised, May l7th
1892. SalemfVa." 4 he letter was from
Petersburg and was postmarked April
27, 1850 a. M. A twenty-five cent sill
yer piece was also found near whore the
body was lying.
A jury was summoned by Coroner
Gray, which consisted of the following
persons: e. IL. Lloyd, Il. f. CornifaX
(who acted as foreman) VIM. T.. Ran.
kin, Frank O'Brien, j. II. Morton and
j. w. Lake.
The body was viewed by tho coroner
and jury and the lower part of the jaw
was cut by the former to determine if a
hole that was thore was caused by bull
let. 1t was found that the jaw bone had
been broken, and that tho wound was
evidently caused by a bolt or other
sharp instrument piercing it. This ex-
ploded the theory of a bullet wound
having been the cause of tho mans
death. The jury then retired to where
the body was found.
fact the only witness who was sum-
moned, pointed out the exact place
whore the body laid.
A very close examination was made
by the jury and police officers, but no
blood could be found. A few hairs from
his head and small piece of skin were
the only evidence discovered that would
| go to prove that mans mutilated body
had been found there only few hours
| previous.
| The jury then returned to the under
taking rooms Of Mr.. Sisler, where, after
all the points in the case had been con-
sidered, verdict was rendered that
death was caused by parties or party
unknown and that the body was placed
on the railroad tracks to mislead the
authorities and hide their criminal &C
ton.
Another suspicious circumstance that
points plainly toward foul play is in the
fact that some of his brains were found
in one of the tail pockets of his cut.
away coat. The coat was not on his
! body when found, neither was either
the inside or outside of the coat soiled
in the least by the brains found in the
pocket, which was in the utmost recess
of that receptacle. There is also
another circumstance which points
strongly to the murder theory. Detec
tive Griffin and others who handled the
body did not get one drop of blood on
their hands or clothing.
OThe coroner and others are of the
opinion that the man could have been
dead several days and we'll preserved