Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-12
FOUND ON THE ROADSIDE
Murder by One Skilled in Surgery
Suspected.
NO CLUE TO VICTIMS IDENTITY
Beer Bottle and Newspaper May Aid
in Solution of Mystery-Saw
and Knife Used.

TIVERTON. r. L.. October PA wom-
| ans legs severed from the body were
found in lonely. outlying part of liver
ton yesterday afternoon
The police are convinced that the wom-
an was murdered not more than twelve
| or fifteen hours before the discovery was
made, and the dismembered parts of her
body brought here, possibly from New
| Bedford, Mass.
While driving along the Bulgarmarsh
road, country highway, George Potter,
a special police officer Of Tfverton and a
substitute letter carrier, found an extern
sion suit case by the side of the road.
In 1t We're two thighs and one leg In three
fragments
The cover of the case was off. The
| limbs were exposed to the view of any
passerby.
Near the case were fragments of the
New Bedford Sunday Standard of last
Sundays date. Beside it, too, was an
empty beer bottle.
Saw and Knife Used.
DR.. John Stimson, medical examiner,
said the legs had been severed at the
thigh joints and again just below the
knees. A saw had been used as we'll as
a knife. DR.. Stmson thought that the
amputator had some knowledge Of anat-
omy.
He said that the limbs were probably
those of woman between thirty and
fifty years old. She was plump. The
foot Is small and on 1t is a circle OF cal
loused flesh, as if she walked a good deal
or was accustomed to standing.
Restoring the body from the measure
ment and weight of the fragments DR..
Stimson thinks she was about five feet
throo incbes tall 0he WAS alive at IL
o'clock Sunday night
The case in which the fragments were
found is nearly new. 1t bears no mark
to identify it. 1t had not been exposed
to the weather, as it was perfectly dry
and its exterior very clean.
The fact that Potter discovered the
case open suggests that 1t had been toss
ed from moving vehicle to the side OF
the road.
The finding of the New Bedford Stand
ard SO close to the scene would indicate
that the remains must have been left
there late Sunday in plain view of the
road.
There were no wrappings of any kind
about the limbs. The interior of the
bag was stained as if the parts had been
| tossed into it almost directly after they
| were severed.
Beer Bottle Possible Clue.
The empty beer bottle. if it has any
bearing on the case, Is thought to
| strengthen the theory that the person who
| threw away the suit case came from
| New Bedford rather than from the New
| port end of the road. There is a road
| house on the Rhode Island side of the
| line where beer may be purchased. but
the kind which this bottle contained is
not sold there.
People living in the two farmhouses
| nearest to the scene recall that they
| heard much loud talking and swearing in
that direction just before o'clock Sum
| day night They supposed the noise was
| made by a drunken pleasure party and
| made no investigation.
| A woman who lives in another house
| along the road remembered seeing two
men and a woman carrying heavy bun
| die pass, but she was not certain whether
| it was Sunday night or Saturday night.
Search for Missing Miss johnson.
NEW BEDFORD. Mass. October H.
| The police have no clue to the woman.
parts Of whose body were found in liver
! ton yesterday, and who is supposed to
have come from this city.
About a week ago relatives of Miss
Elizabeth G. Johnson; librarian of the
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
came to this city searching for her, az
| she had been mysteriously missing. She
was thirty-four years old and was last
| seen August II by Mrs. +. G.. Shearas of
No. 1874 West Clinton street, Boston, with
| whom she boarded.
| At that time Miss Johnson was seen in
| the hall of the boarding house carrying a
suit case which seemed to be empty. She
| appeared to be in a happy frame of mind.
| About a week before the relatives came
! to this city looking for the missing wom-
an her sister received a post card marked
| Station A. Boston, which said Miss john
| son was resting and did not care to be
! disturbed. There was nothing to indicate
| where she was at that time.