The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-05-27

"A SKELETON FINGER AND A DIAMOND
RING. G.-Thirteen years ago, man
named Jolly, who lived in DeKalb
County, was mysteriously made away
with after having left his home to visit
Nashville. He was tolerabIy we'll of,
had a beautiful young wife, whom he
bad married gear previous to his sud-
den and final disappearance, and whom
he had successfully won from power
full, pertinacious and rancorous rival.
At the time Of Jolly's departure from
home he confessed that he had strange
presentiment of impending evil, and he
passionately kissed his infant boy the
morning he was leaving, and even shed
tears. His wife was cncicnte with
second infant, which afterwards proved
to be girl--born an orphan, When
he was away about week, his wife
and friends became alarmed Nothing
had been heard from him--no one had
seen him on the journey After a
couple of days intolerable suspense,
search was instituted. No trace of any
sort could be found, except that the
marks of feet, as if those of struggling
men, were found on the banks of the
Cumberland, about two miles from a
landing, where il was expected jolly
waa to take a boat to come down the
river Several ,small saplings were
either torn up by the roots or broken,
thus giving evidence Of a fierce combat
Nothing that could in any way, throw
any light on the fate of jolly was ever
discovered. After remaining two
years on tho farm, and when her two
little children were in q condition to
run about, she became wearied Of
scene, the contemplation of which af-
forded her nothing but the most exqui-
site pain, She, by the advice of friends
and physicians, sold out and came to
Nashville. In about three years after
ward she married the clever but eccen-
trio DR.. Harper, who died down South
during the war. She has since remain
ed o widow, possessed of considerable
property and an interesting family Of
three girls and boy. The early, but
unsuccessful, suitor to her hand, having
never married, engaged in the South
ern cause, and was in the same regi-
ment in which DR., Harper was the
medical officer He got along in appa-
rent good terms with DR.. Harper but
was frequently heard to curse him Bit
terly in private, aud, in fact, the day
before his death, had a fierce alteration
with him, which was only prevented
ripening into a fatal collision by the in
tervention of superior officers For a
long time after the death Of Harper,
the manner oft was considered strange,
but the thought finally died out Of the
minds Of men, After the war, tho
fierce but baiiled suitor Of her young
days came TO Nashville and renewed
acquaintance with tho twice-widowed
Aame of his youth. Very recently he
was on the point OF succeeding in fact
some preliminary arrangements were
already made for wedding, when
derangement occurred in the water.pipe
which supplied the house of tho widow
Harper, Ia South Nashville, Plumb
eFs were set to work upon the Pipe but
could mako no Improvement on ii.
Finally the street was ripped up to as
certain the cause of tho water stoppage.
Il was found. Az the mouth Of the
pipe, where 1t was attached to the main
stTeet supply pipe, the skeleton Of a
hand was foundi the fingers were closed
up like knot, firmly jammed into the
tmall pipe, On being taken out a jack :
knife was found clutehed il the fingers,
covered with rust, Of course, but sulfi-
ciently sound and perfect in shape to
show that 1t had been once the property
Ofthe man to whom the widow was en-
gagged TO be married. Upon one Of the
fingers was found also a diamond
ring which her first husband wore
when he left their house, in
DeKalb County, Is years ago. When
these particulars became known tho in.
tended bridegroom hastily left town,
and the good lady became sick, Al
attempt was made to hush up these
facts, but they gradually leaked out
and came into our possession yesterday
The lady has not yet recovered. She
has frequent spells of delirium, and
fears are entertained by her physicians
that ber reason has been impaired BY
the shock Of the discovery, --NashpiB
Press.