New-York tribune., 1921-11-23
Limbs I'm Torso
Killing Mystery
Found i'm Park
Picked Up by Yonkers
Man Near ,24Oth Street
iii Van Cortlandt Swamp: !:
Wrapped in Newspaper
Examined at the Morgue
Believed Discovery Will Aid
in identifying Victi m
of Long Island Staying

Walter Johnston wandered into the
swampy land at the southern extremity
of Van Cortlandt Park Yesterday after
noon. He stumbled against something,
checked himself from falling. picked IN
a parcel wrapped in a newspaper and
found that it contained two won,an's
legs, from foot to knee Last nirht DR..
hari 5. kennard, assistant medical ex-
amIner in the Bronx, and Captain Ar
thur Carey, Of the police homicide bu-
reau, were of the opinion that the legs
were those which have been sourat
since the discovery cf the torso of a
woman in Long Island City sewer ex-
cavation on October 22.
This morning the limbs, which are
covered with black Isle stockings, will
be removed to the City Morgue from
the morgue in Fordham Hospital and
both DR.. Charles Norris, Chief Medical
Examiner, and Captain Carey will at
tempt to ascertain definitely whether
they belong TO the unidentified torso.
Measurements will be made. nhoto-
graphs taken and the limbs viii he
compared with the rest of the body.
Captain Carey seemed certain that the
discovery did not disclose another mur-
Ger, but that 1t formed a link in the
string of circumstances which have
been puzzling the police for a month.
Paper Dated October 20, 1921
1t was little before 4 o'clock when
johnston, who lives at 1877 Stanley Ave
nue., Yonkers, made his CHASTITY find.
The swampy park land extends from
23Sth Street to 242d Street and is di-
rectiy east of Broadway, where trains
boom overhead on the subway structure
The legs were found at a point lust
east OF 24Oth Street, about twenty-five
feet from an embankment leading into
the swamp. Several years ago there
was considerable body of water in
the swamp, but it has since been filled
in with ashes.
johnson reported his discovery to
Patrolman Thomas II. Moore, of the
hlngsbrIdge police station, and the
legs were taken there and. thence To
the fordham Hospital morgue. They
were wrapped IN copy of "The
World" dated October 90, 1921, and
tied with a tan-colored string. The
newspaper was an early edition such
as is sent to out-of-town readers. When
found the newspaper was wet but still
readable, and from this fact the police
think the bundle had been in the
swamp only a few days 1t was pointed
out that it would have been an easv
matter to fling the parcel from pass
ing automobile or even from the open
window of subway train.
No Marks to Aid Identification
DR.. Kenlard had concluded his pre
liminary examination of the legs when
Captain Carey and several of his men
arrived at the Fordham HOSPITAL
morgue.
The legs, the medical examiner said
apparently belonged to a woman who
had weighed about 13O to 1876 pounds
To-day's examination will determine
this more definitely, he said. DR.. Ken
nard's preliminary examination did
not reveal any brthmark or unusual
conformation of the toes, which would
aid the police in Identification.
After Captain Carey's arrival, DR..
and then declared that the limbs
might possibly have been severed
more than two weeks ago He then
admitted the possibility of their hav-
ing been removed from the torso found
in Long Island City.
Il am quite sure that these legs be-
longed to the body found in Long
Island City on October %" Captain
Carey said. They were wrapped in q
newspaper dated October 90 and |
think this is strong bit of evidence.
The thighs, however, are still missing.
but it is usual for bodies to be cut up
into three and even more sections.
We will make comparisons tomorrow
at the city morgue"
Detectives under Captain McGrath
in the 7th District are searching the
swamp for other clews.