The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-16
ALBANY BOY, GONE THREE
WEEKS, is FOUND DEAD
Billy Clark. Aged 8, Believed
to BE Victim Of an In
sane Man.
RED FROM FILM SHOW

ALBANY, April 15.--Discovery OF the
BODY Of Billy Clark, the cight-year- old
Albany boy who mystcriously disap-
pcarcd three weeks ago, in a swamp
about six miles west OF Albany to-day
has spurred the police to greater
activity in their attempt 10 solve the
mystery cloakinS his disappearance and
murder. Every available officer on the
local force is engaged in running down
clues that may have even "a remote bear
ing on the manner OF his death or the
identity OF his murderer.
II am Of the opinion that the boy was
the victim OF an insane person." said
Coroner warren Hastings after the dis
co,ery OF the body
The police share this opinion and con-
sequently have undertaken a thorough
search Of the section where the body
vas found. Curious enough the spot
wnere II lay is near a section peopleu
by squatters, known as the Pine Bush
gang. Among them, the police say, there
are many persons OF feeble mind. Every
one of these sQuatters will be examined
before the search for the murderer is
cision by the police is predicated upon
the belief that among the squatters Is
some one who can throw light upon the
crime.
Found In Remote spot.
NO stone will be left unturned TO run
down and And the person who committed
this awful deed" said Chief James Hyatt
OF the local force.
District Attorney Harold Alexander
and Chief Hyatt went to the spot where
tine body was found Immediately after
its discovery IN order to pick up any
clues that might exist before the body
was removed
Hasty examination Of the remains dis
closed what was af,erward verified by
an autopsy. The boys person had been
mutilated. The neck was broken and
there were marks on the face to indi-
cate that he had been beaten before
death.
The spot where the corpse lay is re-
mote from any of the cabins occupied
by the Pine Bush gang The nearest
place OF residence is 500 yards away. a
building occupied by the keeper Of the
six mile water works The place Is
heavily ovsrgrown with brush, near the
line OF the first railroad operated in this
State years ago. The swampy depres-
sion in which the body had been hidden
was made by excavations to build up
the embankment upon which lay the
railroad track.
The condition Of the body indicated
that after the boy had been attacked
his head was smashed against a tree.
breaking his neck. In ati respects the
murder is a parallel OF the Anna May
Shannon case which shocked this section
about fifteen years ago and for which
one Davis was electrocuted AT Danne-
mora.
The search for Billy Clark began with
renewed vigor early to-day. following the
discovery of his outer clothing near the
six mile water works yesterday after
noon. A botanist employed by the
State Agricultural Department found the
clothing and brought Il to police head
quarters. where IT was identified by the
boys aunt. Mrs. John J. Shea. with
whom he lived.
searchers Are Doubled.
|. Chief Hyatt doubled the corps OF
searchers. Detective John Balm. who
has been engaged on the case since the
boy disappeared three weeks ago. began
a systematic combing OF the woods in
the vicinity.
He instructed his men to fire two shots
II they discovered the boy. Within hf-
teen minutes after the officers separated
Policeman Thomas Smith noticed what
looked like blue shirt in the under
brush. Closer inspection disclosed the
boys body lying on its side. Two shots
brought the searchers to the scene.
The boy was lying partly on his side