True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-06-04
stIistdlang.
LIVING CORPsES.
BY CRUsoE.


readers case in point.
Some few weeks back Mr.. Sadleir, who
really was well named, for he has proven a
very sad liar, Chats intended for first
rate pun,) committed suicide. He was a
strange man-we met him once, but that
need not have terribly corrupted him, and
liked him as much as one man can another
In one interview. He was full of intor-
nation, and, we believe, full of honest in
tention, till he became member of the
House of Commons, and as evil communi-
cations corrupt good manners, he went the
way of all fesh-there was "too much
speculation in his eyes," which, as the
wise old adage says, soon grew bigger than
his abdomen. for all we know from perso-
nal experience, that when the desire Of the
eyes exceeds the conscience, which resides
In the digestion, the world of truth is at
an end, SO far as that man is concerned.
We therefore honor our old friend, DR.. NJ.
who never puts on his specs except when
he has only one mutton chop for dinner,
and his glasses make it so large that he is
satisfied.
Well, poor Sadeir, being an lrishman,
could not brook the horror of facing his
dupes-he could not laugh at his victims,
as some do here besides, he lived in En-
gland, where only the princes of the blood
can expcrimentalize in wines, and where
no lenient Governors will pardon a crimi-
nal because he has got powerful friends.
He therefore did what virtuous man
should do under such rcumsLances-died! !!
Well, all England is in lerment, be-
cause it is reported that he is not dead
that he got bogus corpse-that he dress
ed his spurious Jocob's body in genuine
original " FIVE dollar suit" and is now
somewhere in New York sporting the mil
lionaire. Well knowing that were we to
give an opinion it would put en- end to all
doubt, we of course decline doing SO.
This equvocal defunct has reminded us
of one that must be familiar to all, since
be walks about and takes his toddies as
usual. This living corpse is gentleman,
who, having effected life-insurance for
handsome sum in Paris, naturally wished
for death. We don't know whether it was
ESNuI or.the premium that k lied him, but
one of them did, and, what was better still,
made the Insurance Company think so.
lie was missing-friends testified to de-
spending state Of mind-a month after
wards body was found floating somewhere
in the German Ocean, or the Baltic Sea,
or it might be the Seine, perhaps, since
neither the German Ocean nor the Baltic
Sea exactly run through Paris. The fair
widow saw the corpse-tell into Mysteries
-swore it was her husband, and got the
money. Unable to endure the scene of her
past happiness she came to New York,
where, odd enough, she found her dead
spouse, large as life, and deadly lively"
This is no joke, as the Insurance Company
found out.
We have still stranger case of living
corpse. A facetious Councilman, of war;
like Dotorety, is our informant, and will be
happy to put the penny whistle Life AS
.urance Company on the track of the dead
man if they will nominate him at the next
Philadelphia Convention for Presidential
candidate.
Let us suppose his name is Smith-not
a very violent effort, by the way, for the
vivid imagination Of the present reader,
Well, Smith was tired of his wife-most
men are-still he wished to do the thing
like gentleman and a New Yorker. He
therefore insured his Ii for round sum,
say twenty thousand dollars-all right
premium paid. Well, just before the next
annual payment became due, our friend
Smith, although his name wasn't Smith,
went to confidential friend, who consult
cd confidential physician, who finally
consulted q confidential undertaken; of
course he did net say anything to his wife
about it, for it required secresy.
These consultations between frien6,
physician and undertaken were followed
with their usual consequences. Smith
died-Smith was buried Our friend the
Councilman was present at that amusing
ceremony, and was 80 dismal that he near
ly threw damp upon the funeral.
The only genuine mourner on the occa-
sion, however, despite the Councilman and
widows tears, was the Insurance Company,
who paid the widow the twenty thousand
dollars, less the premium, which the direc-
tors deducted, as they swore Smith died on
purpose to swindle them.
Some three years afterwards, our friend,
the Councilman, was travelling out west.
He came to a fourishing city-let US sup
pose Madison--hs went to the best hotel
there. What makes our esteemed Council
man drop his carpet-bag and stare like a
"daggered porker," or stuck pig! Why,
what would have made our readers hair
stand on end There sat Smith-the dead
Smith--the Smith who insured his life,
who died, who was buried, whose widow
received the insurance. Yes, there sal