Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-14
STILL A MYSTERY.
No Clue in the Bridgeport,
Conn.,, Murder.
Remaining Portion Of Body Found, Also
Horribly Mutilated.
Police Are VERY Reiicent But Developments
Police Are Very Reiicent But Development
Are Hourly Expected.

yesterday afternoon, near the Sea View
Avenue bridge, OF the trunkless head
OF murdered woman was further COM
plicated. today, by the finding OF the
missing trunk in almost the same spot
which marked the gruesome find of
yesterday.
There is every reasons to believe that
the trunk was placed in the water
some time between u o'clock and 4,
this morning. Two policemen and hum
dreds OF people could not find the
trunk, yesterday afternoon, but at $40
this morning. it was found by the first
person who went near the bridge.
Up to this time the remains have not
been identified. They appear to be
5 feet. 2 inches tall. weighing about lis
pounds, with dark hair and dark grey
ish blue eyes.
The face is rather thin and the gen.
eral expression appears rather pinched.
The body seems to be that of a person
who had not had sufficient nourish-
ment and who lived in rather destitute
circumstances The features are gen.
orally good, the eyebrows being par
ticularly noticeable for their beautiful
penciiling. The teeth set rather full in
the mouth and the lower part CT them
are filled with gold.
In the opinion of the doctors, the dis
memberment of the body is considered
to be the work of an expert. 1t is also
thought from the superficial examina-
ton which has been made that it is a
case of malpractice which resulted IA
tally and which led the operator to en-
deavor to get rid of the body without
the aid of an undertaken.
The body has been cut open and GER
tain portions of the contents of the
abdominal cavity are missing. The
heart and lungs are there
The head was severed from the neck,
and the trunk is cut in two just below
the ribs, the thighs are cut off just be-
just above tile knee. All the cuts are
clean and free from rough marks,
showing that very sharp knife was
used. There is no hungling of any kind
about the job. 1t is without a. doubt
the work of man with complete
knowledge of surgery.
One part Of the trunk was wrapped
up in a rubber cloth and in addition
was enclosed in a piece of a carriage
cover. The other part of the trunk
was wrapped up in a cotton cloth and
around that more of the rubber cloth.
String and cord were used to tie up
the bundles and attach stones. The
string is the common hemp quality
which is used often in hardware stores.
The cord is of good quality and is
somewhat similar to what was once
used for pictures before the days of
wire hangings.
There is also piece of corset string
which it is thought, was taken from
the wOman's corset. The corset string
is the only article of woman's wearing
apparel found with the remains.
Part of a mans under garment was
found with the head. 1t is the left
leg of pair of cotton drawers CT rather
good quality, but somewhat worn. The
garment had been torn right in half as
though called into use in a hurry.
Perhaps the most suspicious circum-
stance connected with the case is the
fact that piece of cotton cloth was
found stuffed in the mouth. The cloth
looks as though it was torn off the cor
ner of a sheet. There were some dis
colOrations upon it, but their nature
could not be determined.
When the remains were found, yes
terday afternoon, many were inclined
to the belief that the crime had been
committed in some other city and the
remains brought here for burial But
the police are now generally satisfied
that the affair occurred here. 1t is
possible, they say, that the woman did
not belong here. She may have come
from some other city to receive treat
ment and lost her life in her effort to
hide an offence which she feared So
ciety would never forgive.
If such is the case the crime will
probably be hard one to unfavel. If
on the other hand the remains are
those of a womanbelonging in this city,
or in some of the towns nearby, then
her identity may be established and
with it may come some clew to help
the police find the right party in their
effort to run down the criminal.
At 5.15 this morning, when Neil B.
Larson, a young newsdealer, who runs
store at IT'S East Main street, started
to cross the bridge from the south side
on his way home. He was delivering
his morning papers and his eye was at
tracted towards an object on the flats,
about % feet from the bridge. Mr..
Larson did not stop then, but decided
to continue delivering his papers.
1t was little after 6 O'Clock, when
he returned. He got off his wheel and
took good look and what he saw sat-
listed him that more of the missing re-.
mains were before him. Just as he
arrived at this conclusion, Henry Red
dy of 43 Holly street, came upon the
bridge and spoke to Mr.. Larson.
A boat was secured and the young
men rowed over to the bundle. Sure
enough 1t was part of the missing
trunk, wrapped up in the rubber cloth
and carriage cover and weighted with
stone. In looking around again the
young men were astonished to find
another bundle. This second bundle
was found right beneath the bridge,
Just as though some person had stood
near the rail and dropped it off. The
first bundle lay as though it had been
thrown off with some force.
After the bundles had been taken
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