San Saba County news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1874-19??, 1893-03-08
GRIP OF A STRANGLER.

GRIP OF a STRANGLER.
Three years after the sepoy rebel
lion had been put down in India, and
with the country under such military
and legal discipline as it had never
known before. l was at Hyderabad, a
large town 800 miles east of Bombay,
in the province of Del1kan 1t was
there that a band Of professional
thugs, numbering thirty-two mon,
was captured and executed lin 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 known
about Hyderabad for several months.
In fact these two classes OF murder
ers were supposed to have become
extinct.
One morning a ryOt, or farmer, was
found dead on the public square, and
it was speedily discovered that he had
been choked to death. The imprints
proved it to be the work of a strang-
Ter. The thug used cord, while the
stranger used his fingers. About
twenty days after the first case a wo-
man was found dead within three
blocks of the public square, and she
also had been a victim to the strang-
Ter. 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 case,
nothing could be proved. and all had
to be released. Ten days later tho
stranger counted his third victim,
and this time it was a European,
Only at rare intervals before the mu-
tiny had a European fallen a victim
to the professionals of any class. 1t
seemed to be an understood thing
with all not to NEEDLE with them in
any manner.
The police and the military now
quite lost their heads. During the
following week there were about zoo
arrests, some of them being made
200 miles away. Nothing like detec-
tive work was attempted, and as a
consequence every suspect had to be
discharged for want of any evidence
against him. The authorities seemed
to go 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 every few
weeks every person who had been ar
rested was set at liberty. Being new
to the country, and having taken
great interest in the work Of exter-
minating the professionals, - I asked
for information on every hand One
day, in conversation with a Major
Burke on the subject, he explained:
''In my time have inspected the
hands of at least a score of strangers.
Their strength lies mostly in wrist
and fingers. Before graduating as
professionals they practice on dunn
mics and resort to certain gymnastics
to strengthen the parts l have named.
This man now among Us is certainly
a professional. If arrested you will
find his thumb flattened on the ball.
II were detective l should 90
about looking at thumbs. In most |
instances the victim leaves scratches |
or cuts on the hands of the assassin. /
which would further help me linden
tify him in case OF suspicion
From that time on I instinctively |
glanced at the hands of every native !
with whom 1 came in contact, but !
without the slightest hope OF making
any discovery Of value. Five weeks |
after the murder of the clerk the /
was heard from again. This
time his victim was a sergeant Of |
infantry, and he met his death on the /
between the town and the
lamp. 1t was about 9 o'clock in the
evening when he started for camp.
and it was known that he was con
under the influence of
liquor.
On the third day after the SER
yeant's death l had a bit of chain
york to do on q piece of land two
niles east of town, and my helper
vas a native who had served in the
for year He was a
man, very slender, and
lis weight was not above 12O pounds.
1e had drifted into the town at the
lose Of the war. and 1t was told of
lin that he came from the North and
lad been faithful to the English dur
ng the struggle. When not acting
IS helper in the field he had the
are Of some horses belonging to the
The only name that he was known
" was Peter. When | sent him word
hat l wanted him he returned a re-
ily that he was i'll, but half an hour
ater he put in an appearance and ex-
lained that he was feeling better
Ye had reached the field and had
airly begun work when my attention
-as attracted to his hands The
acks Of both were scratched and lac
rated, though the wounds were half
called.
ut was the monkey at the stable
-ho did it, Sahib, he explained. as
e held up his hands for inspection;
1 was teasing him and he got re-
ence. I viii sell him if ] can find a
uyer."
knew ne had a monkey at the sta
le, and his explanation was perfect
7 satisfactory. The matter was for
often in a moment. and it would
ever have occurred to me again but
II what followed. It was a scorch- =
lg hot day, and after an hours
ork we sought the shade to rest.
s was lighting my pipe fo.
noke Peter observed that he vas l
cry thirsty. and would visit a spring
e knew of about a quarter Of a mile
way.
The field.on which we were work
z had once been cleared, but was
ow pretty well grown over with
lshes and small trees. He disap-
cared at my back, and | gave him c
o further thought for many minutes
had out my book and was making
,me field notes when all Of a sudden
struck me that Peter had a pecu a
ar look as he explained how he had '
scaivcd the wounds ON his hands