Police Solve Mystery

Of Ticking Suitcase

But Virtually Ruin Contents

By Soaking It in Oil

An attendant at the Pennsylvania Station parcel-checking room wasn’t taking any chances when he picked up a suitcase and heard a ticking noise inside it. He called police.

Bomb squad detectives took the suitcase to a nearby parking lot, soaked it in oil and opened it. They found an alarm clock, the hands indicating 5:28; three pairs of women’s shoes, a raincoat, a meat chopper, two flatirons, two brushes and woman’s undies.

The suitcase was returned to the checkroom, the contents a bit the worse for the oil.

(PM Daily, Monday, December 22, 1941)