The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-22
DEAD IN RIVER; NOT DROWNED
LOOKS AS IF MAN WITH DRIVERS
BADGE WAS MURDERED.
Practically No Clue 10 His Identity. and
Even the Cause OF Death Uncertain
Signs OF struggle on Bridge Near
station House, hildren's Odd Story.

Even the Cause OF Death Uncertain
signs OF struggle on Bridge Near
station House-Chldren's Odd story.
The body OF man was found Yesterday
in a shallow OF the Bronx River. near the
Bronx Park police station. There were
no marks of violence on the body, yet an
autopsy held last night showed that the
man had not been drowned and that the
most probable cause Of his death was
strangulation.
A footbrdge back OF the police station
showed marks of a struggle and the police
decided that the man had been choked on
the bridge, robbed and then thrown into the
river. He had about him badge Of the
Union Team Drivers Association-the only
clue to his identity
In the afternoon Charles H Odell Of The
Bronx saw the body lying face down in
part of the river about two feet deep. The
place was about 800 feet below the police
station, which is in the old Lorilard man
sion. Odell notified the police at once.
The reserves got rope about the body,
which was half buried in mud, and hauled
it ashore. 1t was thought at first that the
mans nose was broken. Later, this proved
to be only an old scar.
Capt. Deevy and Detectives Seebeck and
Stephens began searching up the river
Just back of the station, which stands on
bluff above the river, there is a footbridge
lighted by dim gas lamp 1t is seldom
used except by the police. Just before it
flows under this bridge the river falls in
noisy little cataract and then 1t runs very
swiftly through a ravine.
The railing OF the bridge was freshly
broken. Beside this break, the fallen
leaves on the bridge floor were broken and
crushed as though by struggle, The
posts which hold the railing at this point
were spintered at the edges as though a
man had braced his feet against them.
Apparently. everything had been cen, stolen
his pockets but an old Dewey medal and
a roll of tire tape. In his button hole was
the team drivers badge He wore blue
cheviot coat and waistcoat and gray striped
trousers all Of good quality and cut. His
underclothes. shoes and oravat were also
OF good quality. The hat was missing
The body was that OF man about 81 years
old, feet g inches tall and weig hing about
100 pounds. His complexion was sandy
and he had small sandy ,mustache. His
hands showed that he had been laboring
man.
Coroner O'Gorman went up to the Ford
ham n'orgue where the body had been
taken, early IN the evening. he slze0 the
case UP as murder and sent for his physi-
clan DR. Reigelman. to perform an autopsy
Immediately. Dr. Reigelman found that
the appearance OF the nose, which had
been taken by the police as meaning that
the man had met with violence. was caused
by an old scar, probably Of an operation.
But he had not been drowned. There
was not drop Of water in the lungs or
stomach.
He never drew a breath after he hit TIE
water" said DR.. Reigelman. THE con-
dition OF the lungs indicated death by
strangulation, though not positively. There
were no marks OF strangulation on the
throat. He had been dead at least twenty
four hours
This last fact spoiled a clue upon which
the detectives had been working. Thurs
day night some children coming home
late from nutting expedition saw a man
near the footbridge making ready to hang
himself.
He had tied rope around his neck and
was trying to get 1t over a branch. The
children yelled and the man ran. They
reported this to policeman, who made a
search, found nothing. and recorded it on
the station blotter. But Dr. Reigeman
said that the unknown must have been dead
when the incident occurred
The broken footbridge is in a dark and
lonely place. It il pretty well hidden from
the police station by trees. The trees also
hide the light Of the single gas lamp.