The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-01-01
ANOTHER MURDER MYSTERY,
BODY OF WOMAN FOUND NEAR
n HARRISON. N. J..

Newark, N. j., Dec. ga murder,
combining the elements of mystery
and deliberate cruelty. was committed
on the Hackensack meadows in the
town Of Harrison early today and the
nude body Of the victim, comely
woman Of perhaps 80 years. nearly
submerged in the icy waters of a lit
tie pond. Only the feet projected
when chance passers by broke the ice
in which the exposed portions were
encrusted and dragged the body
ashore this afternoon.
The dead woman was finely featur-
ed; her hair and nails gave evidence
Of a recent and scrupulous toilet. and
such Of her clothing as was subse-
quently found suggested in texture
and style an owner Of refinement. The
pond in which the body was thrown is
made by the overflow from the Pas
siac river and is directly across the
TtNeT iTOIn tnlS city. II
The body has not been identified to-
night, and 1t was pretty we'll estab-
lished that 1t was not that of u resi-
dent OF this city or Harrison. 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 furnish
ed tonight by Peter Coogan, q watch
man employed by the Marine Engine
company. who recognized the body
as that of q woman whom he had
seen crossing the meadow in compa-
ny with man early today. Later he
cav the man atone. He then car
ried q bundle In his arms. The man
was short and stout.
Cries Heard by Girls.
Two girls returning to their home
In Harrison long after midnight this
morning heard a woman's cries ring
Ing over the marshland. They seemed
10 come from the direction OF the pond
and sounded like Spare mel" and
"Help!" Nearer home the girls were
approached by well dressed stranger.
'whp accosted them and followed them
until they met a policeman. when he
TUNED and fed. The girls had a geod
view 0f the man under Nm efectffc
nsl,t on6 vhtlo ,,x x,,os mai, ,~a r..x
ly dressed his hands showed either
that he was accustomed to manual
labor or had recently been engaged in
work that soiled his fingers.
Life had been extinct, the coroner
said, about - hours when the body
was found.
Scratches on the leg and trunk and
pieco. Of cinder forced into the flesh
showed that the tody had been
dragged along a cihder path which
skirts the pond. Along the path the
police picked up white silk waist,
slashed up the back. skirt and a
pair, Of silk garters. Following the
path the police came upon the yacht
Idle Hour, which was tied up at a
point on the Passaic about 500 feet
from where the body was found. On
the yacht the police say that they
found a sealskin mum and fur neck
piece.
The occupants Of the yacht were AL
bert Thompson. II years old. Of Eliza
beth, a boatman, and Frederick Kirk
man, 3S years old. Both were en-
ployed on the boat. Thompson said
that he found the fur pieces near
the cinder path this morning. The
police found the boat dishes enough
for three dinners. The men, how.v.
err. said that they had no visitor on
the Idle Hour. The police said tonight
that they had practically nothing
against the prisoners, but would de-
tain them until further inquiry could
be made.