DETECTIVE SUSPICIOUS OF WELL-DRESSED MAN CARRYING A GUNNY SACK AT UNION STATION
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 13, 1926, The Evening Star reports that yesterday, at Union Station, Detective W. E. Owens noticed a well-dressed man carrying a 'gunny' sack* which aroused his suspicion.
The detective approached the man at the ticket counter and inquired...
"What the devil have you got in that sack? Without hesitation, the man answered, "A monkey!"
When the sack was opened up, sure enough, there was a black monkey inside. The only problem was that it was dead!
It turned out that John McQuaid, the well-dressed man not the monkey, was from John Hopkins University and having been to the zoo was returning to the university to deliver the "cold and lifeless" monkey to Dr. Adolph Schulz**.
*gunny sack is an inexpensive, durable bag traditionally woven from natural fibers like jute, hemp or sisal.
**Adolph Hans Shultz (1891-1976) was born in Stuttgart, Germany & joined John Hopkins University as a Professor of Physical Anthropology in 1925.
SOURCE
"Dead Monkey In 'Gunny' Sack Lures Police Seeking Liquor," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., February 13, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
