Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-08-07
Death of "a Mysterious Stranger.

Death of a Mysterious stranger.
The Salem Republican gives the fol-
lowing, with q request for publication in
the different papers:
On Saturday, July 9th, 1862, little
north of Patmos, Goshen township, Ma
hoping county, Ohio, there was noticed,
by several of the citizens, a man who
seemed to be wandering about the fields
and woods without apparently any def
mite object in view. Al one time he was
discovered near the road, sitting under q
tree, intently reading, never once looking
up to notice the passers by. His strange
and unaccountable conduct attracted the
attention Of several who saw him, and
they attempted to converse with him, but
he would either not say anything, or
make evasive replies to questions asked
him. SO that every effort to find out any
| thing about him-his name-his business
where he came from or where he was
going, proved unavailing. He was in
vited to go home with several of the
citizens, and get something to eat, and
remain for time at their houses, but
always refused to do SO. He therefore,
from choice, slept in the woods that
night, and the next morning was observed
stroling about as the day previous, still
refusing TO give any account of himself
whatever. At last, on Monday, some
one said IN his hearing, that he undoubt-
edly was insane, and should be taken care
of, which remark Immediately attracted
his attention, and seemed to considerably
excite him, when, without delay, he got up
and left them. The next time he was seen
was, perhaps, few hours later, on the
main road, divested Of hat, coat, vest and
boots, running at most furious rate,
looking neither back, nor to the right or
left, but kept straight on, regardless of
persons or circumstances, for tne distance
of mile or more, when he fell in his
tracks completely exhausted, and over
come with heat. He was taken into
neighboring house ard every possible at
tention given him, but in defiance of all,
he died in very short time afterwards,
without giving any clue, whatever, as to
his identity.
He was a man about thirty years of
age, of medium size, dark brown hair,
and wore whiskers on his chin. He had
a high forehead, marked on one side by
an old looking, but severe scar, made ap
parently by downward stroke of some
instrument or weapon. He was quite an
intelligent, deep thinking and peaceable
looking man, and had in his possession
several late daily papers which he had
been reading. He wore brown coat,
also a summer coat, light vest, dark
pants and silk hat. Had in his pocket
an English, silver watch, and sixty-three
dollars and twenty ght cents in money,
fifty dollars of it being Treasury notes.
AS there was no paper or mark to be
found on or about his clothes, giving his
name or residence, the Coroner had a
number Of his photographs taken by
which he might be recognized by friends
or acquaintances. He was decently in
tered in the Methodist burying ground
at Goshen Coroner's Verdict-"Death,
resulting from insanity, cause of latter
unknown"
Any letter of inquiry addressed to
Landon Maston, Esq, Boswell P. o.,
Mahoning county, Ohio, will be prompt
ly answered.
A few circumstances connected with
the affair have induced some to suppose
his name to be Smith, and his residence
somewhere in Michigan. but nothing
sufficiently definite to form positive
conclusion.