The Barrel MysteryFlynn, William J. (William James)
General
The Barrel Mystery
Flynn, William J. (William James)
Detective and mystery stories; Fiction
A closer inspection of the body revealed that at least two weapons
must have been used by the assassin or assassins. A narrow, two-edged
blade had evidently been used for inflicting the wound just below the
left ear. This stab was made by a powerful hand for it was at least
three inches deep. A wound above the Adam's apple penetrated sheer to
the spinal cord, and was doubtless done by the same weapon. Numerous
other and smaller wounds were of a like character. A slash extending
from ear to ear across the throat was probably done with a long, sharp
blade.
In searching the clothing of the dead man a little brass bound crucifix
was found. It was of foreign make with a Latin motto on the scroll work
above the figure of the Saviour, and a skull-and-cross-bones at the
base of the crucifix. This was found in a waistcoat, in which we also
located a silver watch-chain similar in make to those common to the
peasantry of Southern Italy. The crucifix was one that is not common
to any locality. There was an overcoat on the body, and in one of the
pockets two handkerchiefs were found, one of which was small in size
and faintly perfumed. The only identification mark on the clothing was
on the shoes, which were marked "Burt & Co., opposite Produce
Exchange." The shoes were worn, and there was a small patch on one of
them. The gunny sack about the throat was marked by the blood stains
only. Stencilled on the barrel were the initials "W & T" on the bottom;
on the sides "G 233." It was a regulation sugar barrel, and the bottom
was covered with about three inches of sawdust soaked with blood. Onion
peels and some stubs of cigars of the stogie make were scattered in the
sawdust, the kind of cigars that are sold in Italian stores and
bar-rooms. A charred note in the handwriting of a woman was found in
the barrel. Two written lines were in part legible: "Giorne che
venite--subito l'urgenza." Translated the words might read: "Day that
you come--suddenly the urgency."
Every device of detection known to the New York Detective Bureau was
brought into service. Inspector George W. McCloskey, head of the
bureau in person, aided by picked men, scoured every nook and corner
of New York in an effort to learn, first of all, the identity of the
victim. The whole uniformed force was also instructed to follow any
little lead of information which might indicate a connection with the
murder. No identification, however, developed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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