The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-12-04
4 Curious Life and Double Funeral.

From the New orleans Picayune, November 9Th.
Tho announcement Of the death, in this
city, on Wednesday last, Of John Henry
M~artinstein, recalls to mind an incident
connected with his life which many re-
spectacle citizens can vouch for. Martini
stein was q most peculiar and eccentric old
gentleman, and his little hardware store
became in the course of years, q perfect
old curiosity shop. filed with odds and
ends, stuck in shelves without regard to or
der; but few of the bundles graced with
strings and none Of them marked, for 80
wonderf | was the old mans memory that
he never forgot the amount paid for an arti-
clio, or made an error rs 10 the price. His
head was his dny-book, journal and ledger.
and the astonishing retcntiveness of his
memory was only equaled by his want of
order. If his bump of memory was large,
his bump Of order must have been dimin-
utive.
Bundles were thrown around loosely,
and my one else would have been abso-
lutely Mt sea in his store. while he, no mat
ter how much time had elapsed since he
had seen or used an article, could find IL
Mt once, and recall instantly every circum-
stance connected with its purchase. He
camo to New Orleans more than half q
century ago, and has always lived n quiet,
sober life, attending closely and strictly to
his business, and realizing, in consequence,
n handsome fortune.
Long years ago, during n terrible inan-
cial crisis which swept over the country,
running many n man who had counted
himself safe from all possible contingon-
cies,' this singular person conceived the
idea that he was bankrupt, and insisted
npon n surrender of his property TO his
creditors. They protested against snch n
measure, but ho would listen to no nrgu-
ment, and the result was that his stock
nlono bong sold was found 10 realize i'm.
mcnsely more than enough to cover nl his
indebtedness.
Some time after this, Mr. MnrtiLstoin
was taken quite sick and vent OIL into a
trance which 30 nearly resembled death
that his demise was announced. and all the
preparations made for the burial.
On the appointed day the coffin contain,
ing the body was placed in n handsome
hearse. which, followed by n long train o
mournors, was proceeding toward .hc ZEN,
etery, when the horses suddenly tool
fright. and ran away, the coffin being
thrown violently to the ground, and burst
open. The surprise and fright of the spec
tltors may be imagined when from the
coffin was seen to arise Mr.. AiartinstciT
himself, still instinct with life, and present
ing in his burial robes n sight from which
many ran hoadlong away. Hevery quietly
walked home, protested against being pu
away in so summary n manner, aud de
clared his intention to live for many a long
day. This promise ho kept r~eligiously, n
his heightened hold upon life sufficient!
proves.
Not the least curious incident connoctot
with tho attempted burial of Mr., Martin
stein, was tho fact that the undertake
who had been engaged had no idea o
being cheated of what he mncied was hi
Just dues, and upon being refused paymon
for his partially performed service, brough
suit for the amount and actually obtainet
judgment in his favor in the lower court
Mr.. Martinstoin, however, took an appeal
and the judgment was royersed-the couT
ruling that as he had not performed tn
service for which he had contracted, h
was not entitled to pay for the same
There were those who followed the remain
OF the old gentleman to, the grpve o
Thursday, who were also in the cOtcl
when n fortunate accident restored him I
his family and friends.