The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-22
Left His Coat, Hat and Shoes on the Piazza
Where They Were fouud.
OCCUPANTS WERE NOT DISTURBED.
First They Knew Either Of The Burglary or the Kill
Ing Was When Servant Stumbled Over
Tho Manudsrs Dead BODY.

Quincy, Mass, Dec. 22.-The most
peculiar shooting affair which has ever
been brought to- the attention Of the
police of this city occurred early this
morning at the winter home of Hon.
John Shaw, at the corner of Elm and
Washington streets, when robber.
who had plundered the house. lost his
life. The whole affair is very mys-
terious, as the occupants of Mr.. Shaw's
house declare that they heard no shot
fired and did not know that their home
had been entered until the dead body
of the robber was found when the fam
lily arose this morning.
The discovery OF the body WAS made
by Mrs. George Pfaffman. a domestic.
She was the first in the house to arise.
and as she came down stairs, noticed
that a window in the front sitting room
was open. In crossing the room TO
close the window she stumbled over
something. which on examination
proved to be the dead body of n man.
The body was directly In front OF a bay
window, which was open. Mrs. Pfaff-
mans shrieks aroused the other oc-
cupants of the household and the pc
lice were at once notified.
officer Holleran responded TO the
summons and took charge OF the body
until the arrival of the medical ex-
aminer. The officer found that the bur-
glars coat. hat and shoes had been
left on the piazza. just outside the win
dow which Mrs. Pfaffman had found
open.
The body was dressed in a new brown
suit, I'm the pocket of which gold
watch, diamond pin and two pairs OF
eve glasses belonging 10 members OF
the Shaw family were found. Besides
these articles there We're also found a
iackknife thirteen 3S-calibre cartridges.
S2l.16 in money, a ticket from Waltham
TO Boston and a piece OF paper marked
. James Emerson, Green street, Jamaica
Plain"
The man was probably IS years OF
age, of short build. short brown hair
and sandy moustache. on the face
was about weeks growth of beard.
The body when found was lying on the
left side. and the man when shot had
been in his shirt sleeves, his coat hav-
ing been left outside. The bullet en-
tered three and one-half inches above
the right nipple and took an upward
course. 1t is thought internal hemorr-
hage was caused by the shot. as not the
slightest sign OF blood was found about
the clothing or body. and IL was not
until the medical examiner had made a
careful examination that IL became
known the man had been shot.
The police are greatly puzzled over
the affair. Mr.. shaw and all the mem
bers of his family stoutly declare that
they heard no shot fired, though one
member OF the family heard a noise as
If something falling heavily about ?
o'clock in the morning. Al first the
police were inclined to believe that the
shot was fired by some member of Mr..
Shaw's family. but since the latter have
denied any knowledge of the shooting.
they are working on the theory that
the robber was shot by a pal" who
was watching outside and who thought
he was firing at the owner of the house
Just as his companion came toward the
window. Neighbors living nearby and
night workmcn in the vicinity of the
house declare they heard "a pistol shot
about O'Clock this morning. 1t is fair
ly certain that the man was shot while
making ready To leave the house. as
his body, was found directly beneath
the window at which lie had entered.
The body was taken to Halls under
taking rooms to await Identification