New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-29

B4YONET WOUND ON HIN.
Police Haze Little or No C1erc-
Corpse Floating in Greek.

BY the finding yesterday morning IN tho West
chester Creek OF the body OF James T. Hamnst--
a private IN the 18th Company OF the sOth Coast
Aruiery' stationed at Fort Schuyler the police oc
the WestchesJe- station have "A murder mystery
that Il not easy TO solve. Death was caused by a
stan wound fourteen inches deep and an inch and
three-quarters wide evidently made by bayc-
net The weapon entered the body at the seventh
rib or the right side and penetrated the upper lobe
os the liver the right Iuug and the right ventrcl~
OF the heart Two ribs each side we're f-act-
ured and there was bru!se the left hip The
artillery officers say Haaanett is the son OF a
wealthy planter living in near Nashville Tenn
Corporal Richard " Spencer who was drinking
with Hammett on Nonday night, when Hammett
last seen alive, detained for several hours
yesterday oy Coroner 0tioruar, ouc
rested
The body was found about dve hundred feet
north Of ne J-niorport Bridge oy Captain p. T.
Penny OF the tugboat Harlem River. floating facs
downward TIE hrst report that the had
been drowned.
Just before Coroner O'GOrman arrived Captain
scott % the Sth Artillery passed the stable wh-rs
the body was he identified II as that OF Ham
NETT
Captain Scott told che police that Hammett was
on guard duty on Sunday When relieved at guard
mount. about $50 a m Monday. he received a
furlougk until reveii!s Tuesday morning. usual
custom. Hamrnett went 10 his company quarters
and slept until evening He left the fort with Cor
poral Spencer and Spencer returned alone When
on Tuesday morning he was reported missing
Coroner O'J4orTnan went with Acting Captain
Tappin and Detective Lynch to visit a number OF
Ra1nes law hotels IN West Chester village. which
soldiers frequent II Main-sJ-. near Wesrchesrsr-
ave they visited the hotel OF William Krunstek-
Kr,,r1siek thought he remembered the soldier Hs
identified hirn As one who had been drinking IN
his place with a corporal late On Monday night
According TO the police krunstek said the cwo
soldiers went 10 the parlor. where they SAT- AZ =
FINN a
maid in the hotel. and a civilian. whose name rs
did not know The corporal left the place first.
and shortly attervard Hamrnett followed Ham
nett wanted 70 sleep IN chair until morning ous
Krunlsiek wished 10 close. and forced him to 90
away Shortly before z o'clock two soldiers woks
Kr1Irnsiek and told him they had found a soldiers
campaign hat in the street. and wanted 20 leave II
Kruusiek told them 20 take 1t 10 the fort
According 20 Detective Lynch. Spencer declared
that on Monday night the civilian they were drink
ing with had a bunch OF money and said hs
would pay for the drinks They drank considerable
beer Emma Chase and Hammett went FOR a
wax: ana IAN gai7 and me Chase woman wanted me
civilian 20 buy wine for her. He refused Spencer
down the door was locked and everybody had gore
He had 70 Climb through a WINDOW 70 get ou- ne
The police say Mrs. chase denied going 70 room
Nth HsrnTett and soon afrerward she went 20
bed. she says Hamnett left the hotel tast as she
parIor krumsiek. too. denied that Spencer went
70 with Mrs chase. He said hs would
have known OF IL
There is Italian colony near the hotel. and ths
/ police say II is possible that HammeCr got into
| tight with some one there and was stabbed and
thrown into the river.
| Coroner's Physician Curtin performed an autopsy
/ and declared the had been murdered. Thers
was a theory that Eammstr might have been
| stabbed by a sentry while going through the lines
at the fort. but Coroner OfCiCrman said the body
was found too far from the fort 70 admit OF thar
possibility
Last night Coroner O'Gornan allowed Spencer to
20.
Charles Peterson an enlploye OF the National
4, Refining Company. whose factory Is in WeSrches-
terave-. the creek told the police thar early
/ on Tuesday morning he three men standing
by the bank OF the creek. One jumped in. Another
| yelled:
Save hiult Save him.
Peterson the swimming for the opposite
bank He soon reached IL, and. climbing out OF the
water. sat down
George Fe-rar. engineer at the National Re-
/ fning COr1pany's factory. says he saw aanlnstl
standing the fountain at WestchesJer-ave and
Main-st The soldier was than soaking wet