The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-01-02
WHO WAS SHE?!
The Body Of Unknown Woman
Found in a Pond
NEAR CITY OF NEWARK

A Night Watchman Recognizes Feaa
lures as Those Of a Woman Ho
Saw Going With a Man in Direc-
tion Of Pond Early Christmas Day.
Clothing Found Suggests Owner OF
Refinement.
A murder combining the elements
of mystery and deliberate cruelty
was committed on the Hackensaw
Meadows, in the town of Harrison,
N. j., early Thursday, and the nude
body of the victim, comely woman
Of perhaps 80 years of age was found
nearly submerged in the icy waters
Of a little pond. Only the feet pro-
jected when chance passers-by broke
the icy in which exposed portions
were encrusted and dragged the
body ashore Thursday afternoon.
The dead woman was finely fea-
tured; her hair and nails gave evil
dence of a recent scrupulous toilet
and such of her clothing that was
subsequently found suggested In tex
ture and style an owner Of refine
ment. The pond in which the body
was thrown is made by the overflow
from the Passaic River and is direct
II across the river from Newark.
The body has not been identified
but it was pretty we'll established
that is was not that Of a resident Of
Newark or Harrison. Two men, who
occupied a yacht near where the body
was found, are detained by the po-
| lice, but the most important clue
was furnished by Peter Coogan, a.
watchman employed by the Marine
Engine Company, who recognized
the body as that of woman he had
seen crossing the meadows in COM
pany with a man early that day.
Later he saw the man alone. He
then carried a bundle in his arms
The man was short and stout. Coo
gan, whose duties keep him in the
neighborhood. Of the murder, told
the police:
"While outdoors at two o'clock
saw this woman in company with q
man crossing the meadows, going in
the direction il the pond.
They passed so near me that
am able to recognize the woman's
features. Some time later, perhaps,
the man returned and again passed
me, this time in the direction from
which the two had come when
first saw them. This time the man
was alone. In his arms he carried
a bundle which he had not had be-
fore. In build he was short and
thick set.
Two girls returning to their home
in Harrison long after midnight
heard a woman's cries floating over
the marsh land. They seemed 10
come from the direction Of the Don6
and sounded like spare me- ana
"help." Nearer the girls were ap-
preached by well dressed stranger
who accosted and followed them un"
til they met policeman, when ne
turned and fled.
The girls had good view OF the
man under an electric light and while
he was well and neatly dressed his
hands showed either that he was ac-
customed to manual labor or had re-
Gently been engaged in work that
soiled his fingers.
Life had been extinct, the coro-
ner said, about twelve hours Wneh
the body was found. A mark on the
neck indicated that strangulatlon
was the manner of death. Scratches
on the legs and trunk, and pieces OF
cinder forced into the flesh sno"eu
that the body had been draSseo
along q cinder path, which skirts the
pond.
Along the path the police picked
IN a white silk waist, skirt anu
nair of silk garters. Following tne
nath the police came upon the yacht
idle Hour" which was tied up at
. noint on the Passaic about 3Oo feet
from where the body was found. on
the Yacht the police say that thes
found seal skin and fur neck piece.
The occupants of the yacht were
Albert Thompson, Al years DID, OF
Elizabeth, a boatman, and freuerlcA
Kirkman, SO years old. Both were
employed on the boat Thompson
said that he found fur pieces near
the cinder path.
The police found on the poat
dishes enough for three dinners. inc
men. however, said that they nao ho
visitor on the Idle Hour. The ponce
said they had practically nothing
against the prisoners, but Woulo de-
tain them until further inquiry couio
he made. An autopsy Will be per-
formed as soon as it can be ar