Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-01-27
The StrangIer.

in the province of Dekkan. 1t was
there that a band Of professional
thugs, numbering thirty-two men
was ca ptured and executed in 1860
The vigorous search after and prompt
punishment of criminals was having
a due effect, and not case of poison
ing or strangling had been kno WI
about Hyderabad for several months
In fact these two classes of murderers
were supposed TO have become ex
tinct in that province. One morning
a ryot, or farmer, was found dead Oh
the public square, and it was speedily
discovered that he had been choked
to death. The imprints proved 1t tC
be the work of strangler. The thug
used a cord, while the strangler used
his fiEgers. His marks could not be
mistaken. He brought his thumbs
together on the Adams apple,
while the ends of the fingers got their
purchase just below the victims ears.
Sometimes the fingers clutched his
ears or hair. The mark was al
ways plain to be seen on the neck.
Now and then Il victim was attacked
from behind. In such cases the
strangers thumbs were brought to-
gether on the back of the neck, and
his fingers were locked together over
the apple"
Several suspects were arrested, but
nothing came of it. About twenty
days after the first case woman was
found dead within three blocks of
the public square, and she had also
fallen a victim to the stranger. Not
only had she been choked to death
but her neck was broken. The police
were again aroused, and bodies of
cavalry secured the country and
brought in dozens OF suspicious
characters, but as in the other ease
nothing could be proved, and all had
to be released. At the investigation
almost every suspect made the same
reply as follows:
No, sahib, l am ashamed to admit
that | am not guilty Of this crime.
We are no longer men, but slaves. l
no longer have courage, but am u
coward and dare not lift my hand.
Ten days later the stranger counted
his third victim, and this time 1t was
q European. Only at rare intervals
before the mutiny had European
fallen victim to the professionals Of
any class. 1t seemed to be an under
stood thing with all not TO NEEDLE
with them in any manner. The VIC
tim in this case was a clerk in the
civil service department attached to
the Tax Collectors office, | believe.
lie had been i'll for n week or two,
and was occupying a room IN Il
bungalow in the heart of the town
Ten or q dozen clerks kept bachelors
half together, and there were hali
a dozen native servants to take care
of the place. This clerk, whose name
was Adams, had a native man for a
nurse, but was almost conyalescent.
One night at 10 o'clock he sent his
nurse with a note to bungalow half
a mile distant. The nurse WAS absent
about three quarters OF an hour, and
upon his return he found Adams
dead. There was the mark on his
throat, and there was no question
about his having been the victim Of
q professional, and probably Of the
same hand who had strangled the
other two.
The police and the military now
quite lost their heads. During the
following week there were about 700
arrests. some of them being made 200
miles away. Nothing like detective
work was attempted, and as a con
sequence every suspect had TO be dis
charged for want Of any evidence
against him. The authorities seemed
TO 90 on the idea that if a sufficient
number OF people were arrested the
guilty party would somehow betray
himself. Strong efforts were made in
three or four cases TO convict on
shady testimony, but after a few
weeks every person who had been
arrested was set at liberty. Being
new to the country, and having taken
a great interest in the work OF eIter-
minatihg the professionals, " l asked
for information on every hand. One
day, ia conversing with a Major
Burke on the subject, he explained
"In my time l have inspected the
hands of at least score of strangers.
Their strength lies mostly in the
wrist and fingers. Before graduating
as professionals they practice on
dummies, and resort TO certain gym
nastics to strengthen the parts l have
named. This man now among US Is
certainly a professional If arrested
YOU will find his thumbs fattened on
the ball. II | were a detective L
should 20 about looking at thumbs
In most instances the victim leaves
scratches or cuts on the hands OF the
assassin, which would further help TO
identify him in case of suspicion"
From that time on | instinctively
glanced at the hands OF every native
with whom l came in contact, but
without the slightest hope Of making
any discovery OF value. Five weeks
after the murder OF the clerk the
stranger was heard from again
This time his victim was sergeant
of infantry, and he met his death ON
the highway between the town and