This is regarded by the police as a very important fact as bearing on the question of identification, seeing that the number of persons having the third finger of the left hand missing must be quite small.

After a thorough examination on the spot, the bones were carefully collected and conveyed to the mortuary, where they now lie awaiting further inquiries.
"The divisional surgeon, Dr.Brandon, in an interview with our representative, made the following statements: "'The bones found are those of the left arm of a middle-aged or elderly man about five feet eight inches in height.

All the bones of the arm are present, including the scapula, or shoulder-blade, and the clavicle, or collar-bone, but the three bones of the third finger are missing.' "'Is this a deformity or has the finger been cut off ?' our correspondent asked.
"'The finger has been amputated,' was the reply.

'If it had been absent from birth, the corresponding hand bone, or metacarpal, would have been wanting or deformed, whereas it is present and quite normal.' "'How long have the bones been in the water ?' was the next question.
"'More than a year, I should say.

They are quite clean; there is not a vestige of the soft structures left.' "'Have you any theory as to how the arm came to be deposited where it was found ?' "'I should rather not answer that question,' was the guarded response.
"'One more question,' our correspondent urged.