The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-27
Nude Body of a Young Woman
Found in a Pond.
Her Clothes Were Scattered
About the Vicinity.
HAD BEEN STRANGLED
Only Her Feet Protruded Above
the Ice.
Two Men Are Held Pending an
Investigation.

Newark, N. j.. Dec. GA murder,
combining the elements of mystery and
deliberate cruelty that take it out or
the ordinary has been committed on
the Hackensack Meadows in the town OF
Harrison and the nude body of the vic
tim, a comedy woman of perhaps 81
years, nearly submerged in the icy
waters of little pond. Only the feet
projected when chance paSSersDy
broken ice in which the exposed por-
lions were incrusted and dragged the
body ashore
The dead woman was finely featur-
ed; her hair and nails gave evidence
of recent and scrupulous toilet, ana
such of her clothing as was subse-
QuentIy found suggested in texture ana
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 from
across the river from this city. .
The body had not been identined
today and it was PRETTY well eStao-
lished that it was not that of resi-
dent of this city or Harrison. Its de-
scription does not correspond with that
of any woman reported to the police as
missing Two men who occupied a
yacht moored near where the body was
found are detained by the police, but
the most important clue obtained was
furnished by Peter Coogan, a watch
man employed by the Marine Engine
company, who recognized the body as
that of a woman whom he had seen
crossing the meadows in company with
q man. Later he saw the man alone
He then carried a bundle in his arms.
The man was short and stout.
1 Coogan, whose duties kept him In
the neighborhood of the murder told
the police: while outdoors at o'clock
this morning 1 saw this woman In
company with a man cross the mead
Il nf IA
They passed so near me that am
able to recognize the woman's features.
Some time later, perhaps an hour the
man returned and again passed me,
this time going in the direction from
which the two came when 1 first saw
them. This time the man was alone.
In his arms he carried bundle which
he had not had before. In build he was
short and thickset-"
Cooeen could not give a better de-
scription of the man. Two girls return
ing to their home in Harrison long at
ter midnight heard a woman'S cries
floating over the marshiano. Iney
the pond and to the startled girls
sounded like Spare me-" and Help.
Nearer home the girls were approach
costed and followed them until police
man was met with when he turned ana
fed.
The girls had good view of the
man under an electric light ana WINE
he was we'll and neatly dressed his
hands showed either that he was ac-
customed to manual labor or had re-
Gently been engaged in work that soil
ed his fingers.
said. about IL hours, when the BODY
was found. A mark on the neck indi-
Gated that strangulation was the man
ner of death. Scratches on the leg ana
trunk ana pieces of cinder forced into
the flesh showed that the body had
been dragged along a cinder path which |
skirts the pond. Along the path the |
police picked up a white SILK Walst
siashed up the back. a skirt and pair |
of silk garters. Following the path the |
notice came upon the yacht 1dlehour, |
which was tied UP at point on the |
Passaic about 800 feet from where the
lice say that they found a sealskin mum |
and q fur neck piece
The occupants of the yacht were AL |
bert Thompson, Il years old. OF Ehz-
abeth. q boatman, and Frederick Kirk |
man. SS wears old. Both were employed |
oTr the boat Thompson said that he |
found the fur pieces near the cinder |
path this morning. The police found |
on the boat dishes enough for three
diners. There were three plates, three |
saucers and 80 on. The men, however, |
said that they had no visitors on the |
Idiehour. Both were arrested as sus-
picious characters. The police said |
That they had practically nothing |
against the prisoners, but would de- |
tain them until further inquiry could |
be made
Thompson bears a good reputation. |
ne went to Elizabeth after coming to |
this country from England and was |
employed as a moIder until three weeks |
aro when he came to this city. 1t was |
understood at the time he contemplated |
purchasing a boat. An autopsy will be |
performed as soon as 1t can be ar |
ranged.