The sun., 1896-08-14
ROUHDsMdN KILLED RI HEAT.
The FindinG OF His Horse Gives Rise to y
Suspicion OF Murder.

The FindinE OF His Horse Gives Rise to
Suspicion OF Murder.
A horse used by the mounted police squad.
wearing 4 saddle and bride. was brought to the
Kingsbrdge station Wednesday afternoon by
Harry Van Zandt. who was dismissed from the
police force ten days ago. Van Zandt told Capt.
Donohue that the horse had been turned over
to him on Rlverdale avenue by q fireman who
asked him to bring 1t TO the station house. as It
had lost its rider. Capt. Donohue immedi-
ately recognized the horse as the mount of
Roundsman Michael E. Heating OF his COM
mAud. Keating should have reported to the
station house at o'clock. four hours before his
horse arrived there. Capt. Donohue sur
prised at his absence. and. when the horse
arrived without it's rider. Capt. Donohue sur
missed that something had happened to tho
roundsman. Van Zandt who dismissed
from the force on Keating's complaint. was
questioned closely by Capt Donohue. The e1-
policeman said the fireman who turned the
horse over to him said that he had taken it from
an Italian, who claimed to have found the ami
NAL wandering about tho streets.
After hearing Van Zandts story, Capt Dono-
hue sent his men out TO see II any trace could
be found OF the missing roundsman. The search
was kept up until late at night, but no trace of
Heating could be found. The police began to
think he was murdered, and began TO watch the
movements OF Van Zandt and another police
man whom Heating had caused to be dismissed
from the force, The other man was ex-Police-
man John Morrison. Both men were very Bit
ter toward Keating because OF the loss Of their
jobs. and 1t was alleged that both had made
threats against his safety. While the ex-police-
men were kept under surveillance neither of
them was arrested. there was no evidence
that they had harmed Keating.
Yesterday morning keating's body was found
in the Delafleld woods. near Riverdale avenue
While Sergeant John Hatton of the Kingsbridge
station was riding along the avenue. an Italian
who had been looking for mushrooms, ran out
of the woods and yelled at the policeman He
gnded him to where the dead roundsman lay
Heating lay face downward. with his right
ARM oy sd ana hs ftcs arm bent ndr
swollen and blood was smeared about his
head; A wound ID on sis E he head looked as II
club His hel met within a few feet OF the
body. II was battered and broken. The ground
body was taken to the KinRsbrdge station in a
farm wagon. II was again examined there. and
the blouse was found to be torn ON the shoulder
Nothing had been taken from the body Keat-
inG's gold watch and chain and the money he
Acting Inspector McCulagh was notified of
the finding OF Keating's body. He sent back in
structions to Capt. Donohue, and two OF the
special duty men were sent mysterious
errands. They did not return until the time
Coroners Physician Donln appeared to hold an
Hs found ths. KeatinE had died of the effects
OF the heat. The wound on his head had not
fractured his skull, was at first supposed
When the result OF the autopsy was made
known Investigations were abandoned the
police being satisfied that Heating had not met
with foul play.
Before the autopsy was held, Capt Donohue
sent q report to Chief Conlin relative to Keat-
ing's death. Capt Donohue told OF the suspl-
cious circumstances surrounding the finding OF
the body but said that he wasn't certain that
Heating had been murdered. Heating was 81
years old and married. He lived at 624 Third
avenue. He had been on the force sixteen years
nine OF which he was a roundsman. He had a
good record until recently. when Capt. Donohue
preferred charges against him for being asleep
when he should have been on duty. The charges
now pending. His body was taken in charge
last night by his brother, a waiter at the Grand
Union Hotel