The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-06-03 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE DEAD.  A case of singular interest has occurred at Alta in Collfornia, In which the process of Dr. Richardscn for restoring the features of a deed body that has undergone putrefaction, described in the Lancet two years ago, was applied with the most satisfactory remits:—  It appears that on Tuesday evening, the 14th of March of the present year, a dead body was discovered buried a little way underground. The earth over the body was only six inches deep at the head and 20 inches at the feet of the corpse; and, as the ground had been bisturbed by dogs or by boys passing over it. portions of the dress of the dead were exposed. A person named irGlone first made the discovery, and communicated it to the police, who shortly afterwards disinterred and conveyed to the dead house a dead man, who, from the marks of injury inflicted on him' had evidently been murdered. The skull WIN crushed, and the rope by which he had been dragged; to the grave was left round the body. At this time the process of decomposition was so far advanced that recognition of identification Was impossible. In the difficulty that arose, Dr. Henry suggested to the coroner that he should use the method of restoration which had been previously carried out by Dr. Richardson. The suggestion was assented to. The body was placed in water in a water-tight shell; 20 pounds of common salt, and one pound of hydrochloric acid were added to the water, and the immersion was sustained three hours. The body was then removed; the face was washed with simple water, and afterwards with chlorine water; and finally a current of chlorine gas was passed freely over she face. The restoration of the features was thus rendered so perfect that the body was positively identified as that of Charles T. Hal, a man 27 years of age, and a native of the State of New York. _  The report, taken from the Alta California. says, that as soon as the body had been obanged in appear. sacs by the chymicals it was recognised by a young gentleman connected with the press, who was cognizant of the fact that several weeks before the deceaased had arrived at Alta in company with n female whose acquaintance he had made in New York, and who WIN then residing in the town. The girl was coon found, and deposed that she had not seen Hill for some time, but that she knew he had been residing at what was called the Mansion-house.  Inquiries at the Mansion house (evidently an inn or boarding-house (led to the statement by the Ism Ilady that Hill had left on the 24th of February, and had never returned; but that on the 24th a young man came for the trunks of Hill, saying he had been deputed by their owner to remove thorn the landlady, however, refesed to let them go. Farthee research proved that thie man was a person called Bcd-ne, a man of very bad character, and who had already been tried for burglary. He was at once arrested; his lodgings were examined, and come keys and an imitation diamond pin, with other articles beloncing to the murdered man Hill, were di.closed. Pressed on all sides by the evidence against him, and brought face to face with the murdered man, Byrne confessed that he had been out for a drive with Hill on the 20±, and accounted for his own possession of the property in a manner that only tended to implicate himself the more seriously. He was forthwith committed for trial on the charge of murder. Whether or not the true murderer has been detected (remarks the Lancet), the eme is one which shows in a remarkable manner the important aid which science may render to justice by this procedure, for it is clear that without it the man who w-.. murdered would never have been known, and that all inquiry would have been stopped at the outset. Oar readers will remember that Dr. Richardson, in hie original description of his prooess in these c dumus, stated that his plan admitted of much improvement; it may be so, but in the case related the process was nevertheless so effective that the object for which it was performed was realised.