The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-27
NUDE WOMAN's S
BODY FOUND
IN A MEADOW

Newark, n. j., Dec GA murder COM
blning the elements of mystery and de-
hberate cruelty which take IL out of the
ordinary was committed on the Hacken-
sack Meadows in the town of Harrison
early yesterday. and the nude body of the
victim, comely woman OF perhaps 30
years. was nearly submerged i'm the icy
waters of a little pond. Only the feet
projected when chance passers-by broke
the ice in which the exposed portions
were incrusted and dragged the body
ashore yesterday afternoon.
The dead woman was finely featured; :;
her hair and nails gave evidence OF a. re-
cent scfupulous toilet and such OF her
clothes as were subsequently found sug
gested In texture and style an owner Of
refinement rather than one whose habits
might lead her to frequent the vicinity OF
the crime.
The pond in which the body was
thrown Is made by the overflow OF the
Passaic river and is directly across the
river from this city
The body's description does not corre-
spond with that of any woman reported
To the police as missing. Two men who
occupied yacht moored near where the
body was found, are detained by the po-
lice. but the most important clue obtain
ed was furnished by Peter Coogan, q
watchman employed by the Marine En-
gine company. who recognized the body
as that OF a. woman whom he had seen
crossing the meadows In company with "A
man. Later he saw the man alone. lie
man was short and stout.
Two girls returning To their home in
Harrison, long after midnight. heard a
woman's chies floating over the marsh
land. They seemed to come from the di-
rection OF the pond, and TO the startled
girls sounded like Spare me- and
'lielp! Nearer home the girls were APP
preached by a well-dressed stranger
who accosted and followed them until a
policeman was met when he turned and
fled. The girls had a good view OF the
man under an electric light. and either
that he was accustomed to manual labor
or had recently been engaged i'm work
that Soied his fingers.
Life had been extinct, the coroner said
about L. hours when the body was found
A mark OH the neck indicated that stran-
Scratches on the leg and trunk and
pieces OF cinder forced into the flesh
showed that tho body had been dragged
along cinder path which skirts the
pond. Along the path the police picked
up white silk waist. slaShed up the
back skirt and pair OF silk garters.
Following the path the police came upon
tho yacht, Idle Hour. which was tied up
at a point on the PaSsaic. about 800 feet
from where the woman's body was aban-
doned
on the yacht the police say they found
a sealskin nun and fur neck piece.
Tho occupants of the yacht were Albert
Thompson. III years old, OF Elizabeth. "A
boatman. and Frederick Kirkman n
years old. Roth were employed on the
boat Thompson said that he found tho
fur pieces near the cindcr path yesterday
morning. Tho police found on the boat
dishes enough for three dinners. There
were three plates. three Sauccrs. and so
on. These men. however. said they had
no visitor on the idle Hour" Both were
arrested as suspicious characters. The po-
lice Slid that they had practically nothing
against the prisoners but would detain
them until further inquiry could he
made.
Thompson N~sr- n good reputation. lie
went 20 Elizabeth after coming 10 this
country from England. and was employ
ed as a mouldcr until three weeks ago.
when he came Co this city. n was under
stood at the time he contemplated pur-
chasing n boat. An autopsy viii be per-
formed as soon as N can he arranged
For nearly 20 hours the body has lain
In the mcrgue and the features have