The Van Buren press., 1859-07-27

DEAD BopY roDxD.-Ou city was thrown
into momcntary excitement ON Saturday
last by an announcement that the body Of a
human being had been found in the woods
about half mile north of this place. The
condition Of the corpse and Surrounding
circumstances pointed strongly to the belief
that the unfortunate man had been murder
Ell. This belief was entertained for some
time. and was not fully dissipated until all
the testimony was heard before the Coro-
ner. The substance of the testimony was,
that man by the name of John Finley had
been seen. and had been employed to labor
by some citizens in the bottom, below this
city; that he manifested strong symptoms
OF insanity ; that he left the house of Mr..
Coleman on last Saturday week, apparent
~ deranged. complaining of being unwell
that on Tuesday night some persons iv-
ing in the Deweese House, in C Collinsville,
heard groaning in the direction in which
the body was afterwards found little at
tention was paid to this noise. as those who
heard 1t supposed it was made by some
drunken man-.that, on Friday evening. just
before sunset. a gentleman passing the
house above named, remarked that he smelt
some noisome stencil /: he was told Of the
groaning that had been heard on the pre-
vious Tuesday; it was them resolved that
they should sd in search of the course of
the stenchbat they proceeded to the
woods, and pn discovered the body of a
man-that he was lying on his back with
ont any clothing except his shirt-that YER
min had accumulated on his throat, while
his body was apparently free from putre-
faction : this lei to the belief that there had
been foul play. and that perhaps his throat
had been cut * that his money was found in
a small purse lying at the root of tree !;
together with his papers. consisting. as it
appeared. of notes, due-bills, accounts, re-
ceipts, etc., all torn into small pieces that
his hat was lying close to his body, his
coat some distance frsm him in one direc-
tion, his pantaloons in another, and a shirt
in another; +; that among his papers, SO torn,
was found some bank notes, in good order.
All these facts left the case certainly invol-
we'd in great mystery. The fact of putrefac-
tion having gone on SO rapidly at the throat
was most suspicious circumstance This,
however. was fully explained by the testi-
mony of Henry Coleman, who deposed
that the man Finley (he identified the body
by means of clothing which he had given
Finley had rising on the left side of his
throat !; that he was not right in the head
that is, was insane and not an incorporate
man.
After all the testimony was heard, the
jury retired for while, and returned YER
diet OF death from some cause o the Jury
From the papers found it was ascertain
ell that Finley was from Ohio, and had been
engaged in a lawsuit there. in the Court of
Errors, againstene Smith Thomas as shown
by his attorney reccsrs e---faes He seemed
TO nave been Aard-working yzvfhg mnu,
and one who conducted his business in
correct, straight forward manner. He had
with him some forty dollars in specie and
charlottesville notes were generally 5s on
Illinois and Ohio banks also there were
some ones and threes. The specie was sill
yer coin.