The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-01-18
TRUNK THAT
HELD DEATH
STORY OF ROBBERY AND
MURDER.
OFFICERS CHASTITY FIND
New York Jewelry Peddler Falls
Victim to Tenement
House Thieves.

New York, Jan. 16-The body OF a
man, with his throat cut from ear to
ear and showing other marks OF vlo-
lence, was found in a trunk on a pile
of skids at the bulkhead Of Pier IL,
East river, just before moor today. 1t
was identified two hours later by a
woman, as the body Of Michael Weiss
berger, or W%eissborg, an Eastside He
brew, who was employed by IL jewelry
firm to sell jewelry on the installment
plan. The nalne of the woman who
identified the body and the address at
which the victim of the murder had
resided, Captain Titus, head of the de-
tective bureau, refused to disclose.
Captain Titus decided that the
motive for the crime was robbery and
intimated that at least two men were
concerned in the murder.
I The crime was discovered by Police
man Reilly of the steamboat squad,
whose attention was called to the
trunk by some longshoremen working
on the pier. The trunk had been ~
ing on the skids for four or five hours
before the police were notified. 1t lay
within SO feet of the real end of the
old slip stationhouse, and in a busy
thoroughfare. The trunk was n that
had evidently been much used. 1t was
painted dark green and was tied
lengthwise across with a piece OF Ordi-
nary clothesline. There were marks
of bloody fingers on the clothesline
and a spatter of blood on the front of
the trunk.
A crowd collected about PatrOlman
Reilly when he cut the clothesline and
opened the trunk. Lying Oh its side,
and with knees doubled up, was the
body of a man, the upper part COM
pletely drenched in blood. Examina-
ton Of the body showed in addition to
a terrible cash in the throat, a num-
Der of bruises on the abdomen, fore
head, chin, nose and lips, and three OF
the victims front teeth had been
knocked out.
The body had been partially IN
dressed before being placed in the
trunk. The overcoat, coat and vest
had been removed, and were laid in a
heap on the feet of the corpse. The
hat and shoes were missing. Under
meath the heap of clothing was found
a cheap oilcloth table cover, such as
is used to cover the kitchen tables OF
dining tables of the. jewellers in tene'
ments.
After the body was identified Cap
tain Titus said: Everything Of value
was taken from the victim. I believe
the crime was committed in a house
probably a tenement, and that tn
murderers know Weissberger carried
jewelry about him. I have Learned
that neither the table cover nor trunl
was the victims property. I have ais
ascertaiped that lie left the plac
where he was employed at 8 o'cloc]
yesterday morning and was seen aliv
at noon. He had 5000 worth Of jew
elry with him at the time, watches
small diamonds and other articles
which he carried IN bags. He ma
also have had some money. He wa
a married man and had a large fam
lily. The woman who identified tn
body was one of the victims custom
ers."
Later-Captain Titus said late tt
night that the murdered mans corret
name was Meyer Weisbard. He state
further that he tracked Weisbard
movements ur to 3 O'Clock Tuesda
afternoon. He said he expected to |
able to locate the murderer, but woul
not talk about the case further t.
night.
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