Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-02
THE CUMBERLAND MYSTERY
Arrests in Connection With Grant Zufall's
Death.
Means Taken by the Criminals to Hide
Their Crime-MarI< of
Bloody Hand.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
CUMBERLAND, Md. March /, 1895.
This city is somewhat excited tonight be-
cause Of two arrests. made this afternoon,
in connection with the mysterious death Of
Grant Zufan. the young man who was
found with his head protruding through
the ice In the canal at a point near the
glass works in the southern part Of the
city. The arrests were of John T. waste,
who was the keeper of low-grade saloon
and resort on North Mechanic street, and
young man named Dory Gordon, who was
a freQuenter Of the place.
On the 2ed day Of December last Grant
Zufall fireman on the Pittsburg division
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, left his
home in Meyersdale, Pa, and for nearly
two months his whereabouts could not be
ascertained by his friends. His father, Sir.
Wri. H. Zufall, after a few days of wait
ing, began to make inquiries in and around
Meyersdale and the nearby towns. After a
week he became alarmed and notified Chief
Of Police Pitzer Of this city of the mys-
FERROUS disappearance and continued abb
sence of his son. and requested him to use
his best endeavors to try, II possible, to
find out If his son had been seen in this
city.
Chief Pitzer detailed one of his most
skilled and trusted men to work up the
case, who threw aside his uniform and for
over week searched diligently for infor-
The Body Found.
On Saturday afternoon, February 1G,
shortly after dinner, gentleman was
walking on the railroad track going east,
and when passing a point where the track
runs along a cliff overlooking the canal,
he noticed a hole in the ice on the canal
hat, bobbing up and down in the water.
Some other men came along in a few mo-
mentS, and together they decided to go
down on the ice and investigate the mat
that 1T was the head Of man. They lifted
the body from the hole and laid it upon the
ice. and word was sent TO the authorities,
and Chief Pitzer and several of the force
were on hand and formally took charge of
it. While the body was still lying on
the ice, it was identified as the body Of
young Zufall by Mr.. W. A Ingman, who
knew him well.
The coroner's jury had the body removed
to an undertaker's rooms. The testimony
at the inquest given by Drs. Duke and
Cardes was to the effect that Zufall did
not come to his death by drowning, but
that the post-mortem disclosed the fact
that there was large bruise on his head,
and that his neck was dislocated.
Rumors of Foul Plny..
Mr.. Zufall, ST., was at once notified, and
Immediately came on and took his sons
remains home to Meyersdale for interment.
But a few days had elapsed until the town
was full of rumors that Grant Zufall had
been murdered at the Forest Hotel, kept
by John waste.
Mr. Zufali returned to this city and at
once commenced a thorough investigation,
which has resulted in the arrest of Gordon
and waste, and a current rumor is abroad
that warrants have been issued for several
in Yaste's place on the night that young
Zufall, 1t Is claimed. came to his death.
Involved In u Drunken Quarrel.
There seems to be but little doubt now
that Grant Zufall went to Yaste's place
with some persons who frequent the place,
and after some hours of gambling and
drinking they became involved in
drunken quarrel, the result of which was
that Zufall was pushed or kicked down
stairs and his neck broken. 1t is under
stood that those who had hand In the
brawl hurriedly fed, leaving waste alone
with the corpse, and that waste, not know
ing what else to do for the time being. re-
moved the body to the cellar below, where
it was kept for several days. whence
1t was removed very late one night, and a
hole cut in the ice and the body placed
therein, doubtless supposing that by the
time the ice would thaw from the canal
and navigation be opened all traces of the
body would be removed.
Bloody Hand.
Since the arrest OF tneSe TWO men II mas
come out that the very night that Zufall
was killed salesman by the name of
McKane, who represented MacGulnn &
Co. Of Pittsburg. was in the place and in
the fight, and had his chin badly cut and
was taken to the Office of DR.. c. II. Brace
who Sewed it UP for him. 1t is also stated
upon good authority that several men,
bers OF the police force saw considerable
quantity of blood on the floor in a small
room in the place. and that now the full
sized print Of the bloody hand of a man
can be seen upon the wall Of the room.
waste made an assignment few days
ago, and his place has been closed for a
week or more. He was moving out his
household effects when arrested by the
sharif HE u,ifo 10 fbororob,,,