Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-09-28
In the Winthrop, Mass,
Dress Suit Mystery.
Tracing OWNERSHIP Of Case and
Other Articles Found.
Nothing Definite Known, but Police are
Very Much Encouraged.

Boston, Sept. 21.-After nearly a
week of the most untiring and diligent
investigation by the police departments
of this city and of Winthrop, the iden-
tity of the unknown woman, whose dis
membcred body was found in a dress
suit case in the waters of Winthrop
bay, remains unknown, and no positive
clue, to the perpetrator of the revolving
crime has been discovered.
Considerable progress, however, has
been made and the police feel assured
that the number or articles have bear
ing on the crime and will soon lead to
the apprehension of the murderer.
Even if arrests should be made the
police say, they must be able to posi-
lively identify the dead woman before
the case could be prosecuted fully. To
this end they are bending their COM
bined efforts.
In the belief that the head, arms and
legs of the victims may have been
cast into Winthrop cove at the same
time and near the same place as the
dress suit case containing the torso,
divers are now searching all the sub
marine territory of the bay. AS yet
their efforts have not been rewarded.
Lest the missing members had been
tacles, the head of the sanitary depart
ment has given instructions that every
dump be scrutiniZed. While the police
do not look for results from this avenue
they do not intend to neglect any pos
sible channel.
The police attach the greatest inn
pOrtance TO the discovery that two
Dire suit cases We're purchased. last
week, IN a South End pawnbrOkers
shop. The dress suit case in the pos
session of the State police has been
identified by Joseph Rerkman, the
pawnbroler, as one that stranger
purchased. The authorities are of the
opinion that the missing members of
the woman's body We're placed in the
other dress suit case and disposed of in
the same manner. Some. however,
doubt that an ordinary dress suit case
could hold the head and limbs.
Mr.. Berkman has given the police
fairly good description of the purchas-
er of the dress suit case but the prob
ability is that the man has gone from
the city and has eluded the police.
The facts of the purchase of the dress
suit cases i'll the South End, and the
wrapping paper which was about the
bundle of clothes found in the VIM
throp bay. coming from No. , Dalton
street. have directed attention again to
the Back Bay district and to the posi-
bill,y of the deed having been com
mittcd there. This is somewhat
strengthened by the allegation that the
man brought the larger dress suit case
to be repaired by IL harness maker
near the store of Mrs. Burnham, at
Dalton street.
The two blonde hairs promise to play
a significant part in the investigation
Three finds nave been made by the po-
lice or Iy citizens and i'll each case Il
blonde hair has been found. In the
suit case with the woman's torso there
was a blonde hair and on the man
macintosh and the bed quilt both
taken from the water today, were
blonde hairs.
The report Of the medical examiner
contained the assertion that the woman
vas n blonde. Tho three hairs Will be
submitted to microscopic examination
TO determine the likeness as to color
and texture.
Additional evidence has come to light
which tends further to direct police at
tcntion to the Rack Bay district IN the
vicinity Of Dalton street. 1t ppears
that. Sept Is. five days previous TO the
finding Of the dress suit case a police
man. who patrols a part Of the BACK
Ray district. saw a man and woman
ulight from a street car at the corner
of Huntington avenue and West New
ton street
The officer recognized the man as a
doctor who for some time has beer
suspected by the police as a practitioner
Of criminal operations. He formerly
had an office in the West End and lat
or moved to the South End. The wo-
man had the appearance OF a nurse
and carried a bundle, suggesting hei
profession.
The officer followed them and saw
them enter a house on Dalton or Dun
dec street. The police are Withholding
the name Of the doctor and the exact
location of the house. which, however.
IL under surveillance. 1t is understood
the doctor has disappeared.