The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1893-03-03
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 1t had never
known before, ! was at Hyderabad, o
large town 500 miles east OF Bombay,
in the province OF Dekkan. 1t was
there that bond Of professional
thugs, numbering thirty-two men,
was captured and executed in 1860.
The vigorous search after and prompt
punishment of criminals was having o
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
Gro were supposed to have beGome
extinct.
Ono morning ryot, or farmer, was
found dead on the public square, and
1t was speedily discovered that he had
boon choked to death. The imprints
proved 1t to be the work Of strang-
Ter. Tho thug used cord, while the
stranger used his fingers. About
twenty days sftor the first ease 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 cholked
to death, but her neck was broken.
Tho 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 DO proved, and oil had
to be released. Ten days later the
stranger counted his third victim,
and this time II was n European,
Only at rare intervals before the mu-
tiny had European fallen 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 700
arrests, some OF them being made
200 miles away. Nothing like dctec-
tive work was attempted. and rs n
consequence every suspect had to bo
discharged for want OF any evidence
against him. The authorities seemed
to go on the idea that II sufficient
number OF people were arrested the
guilty party would somehow bctray
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 a
great interest in the work OF exter-
minating the professionals" ! asked
for information on every hand. One
day, in conversation with u Major
Burke on the subject, he explained:
"In my time | have inspected the
hands OF at least score OF stranglcrs.
Their strength lies mostly in wrist
and fingers. Before graduating us
professionals they practice on dunn
mics and resort to certain gymnastics
TO strengthen the parts have named.
This man now among us is certainly
a professional. II arrested you will
find his thumb ilattencd on the ball.
II ! wero detective ] should go
about looking mt thumbs. In most
instances tho victim leaves scratches
or cuts on the hands Of the assassin.
which would further help me inden-
tify him in case Of suspicion"
From that time on instinctively
glanced ut the hands Of every native
with whom ! came In contact. but
without the slightest hope Of making
any discovery OF value. Five weeks
after tho murder OF the clerk tho
stranger was heard from again. This
,imo his victim was sergeant OF
infantry, and he met his death on the
highway between the town and tho
camp. II was about o'clock In the
evening when he started for camp.
and IL was known that he was con-
siderably under the influence Of
liquor.
On the third day after tho SER
geant's death ! had bit OF chain
work to do on piece Of land two
miles east Of town, and my helper
was u native who had served In tho
department for year. He was a
middle-agcd man. very slender. and
his weight was not above 100 pounds.
lie had drifted into the town at the
close Of tho war, and II was told OF
him that he came from the North md
had been faithful to the English dur
ing the struggle. When not acting
as helper In the field he had the
care Of some horses belonging to the
department.
Tho only name that he was known
by was Peter. When sent him word
that wanted him he returned n ro-
ply that he was III, but half nm hour
later he put In an appearance and ex-
planned that he was feeling better.
Wo had reached tho field and had
fairly begun work whom my attention
was attracted 10 his hands. The
backs OF both were scratched and lac
Grated, though the wounds woro hall
healed.
ut was the monkey at the stable
who did II. Sahib." he explained. ns
he held up his hands for inspection
~ was teasing him and he got re.
ycngc. ! Will sell him II ] can Ind a
buyer"
knew he had u monkey ut the sta
BILE. and his explanation was perfect
iy satisfactory. Tho matter was for
gotten Ia n moment. md II would
p.v.r Inv, occurred In iue uuuiu but