The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-04-14
CLEARING UP A MYSTERY.
A MISSING CITIZEN FOUND DEAD ON
HIS OWN PREMISES.

-Four Months Dead in n Closet Possibly y
Frozen to Drath-The Astonishing Pres
ervntlon Of n Corpse-The Flesh wither-
fnR on the Bones.
On the LIST Of December last George o. Colt,
who lived at Seventy fifth street and Second avenue,
went from his home In the morning 10 go TO his
business, and was not afterward seen by his family.
His wifo became alarmed when he failed TO return
at night usual, and gave notice to the police, and
also to his friends Every EFFORT made to obtain
some clew to mis- whereabouts, but the only fact
that could be learned that the evening OF the
4h OF December, he rode up town on Third avenue
car, and was seen by the conductor, who knew him
personally, to get OF at seveny-ith street, and pro.
ceed toward lis home, the entrance OF which IL
about ten yards from the avenue. Nothing more
was heard OF him until Tuesday, when his body was
found In water-closet, In the yard OF the house.
The story is almost incredible, yet II IL strictly true
Several families reside In the house. among others,
John Diegan and his family. A son of his, johnny,
Z years old, told his mother about six weeks AGO,
that a man was lying on the floor Of one Of the
closets His mother took no not ce OF this and the
boy mentioned the same thing again three or four
times. Still no notice was taken. as Mrs. Dlegan
was ignorant OF the fact that Colt wns missing and
probably the matter would have been left for an
indefinite time longer, had not th o boy mentioned
She called in Mr.. Messenger, the landl ord, who
lives next door. and he had tue door broken oren
body was found which has since been identified as
Colts.
The body was lying doubled up on the floor, with
hat on the knees, and bore no evidence whatever
Of any violence. The face and hands were black
but strange to say the corpse emitted unpleasant
smoh which accounts In a great for Its not
formed the police, and Oricers Clarke aud Croker
were sent to the place. They had the body borne to
the Morgue, where u was searched, and the papers
In the coat pocket led to Its Identification.
Mrs. Colt moved from Seyenty-f -ffth street about
ten Gays nfter her husband disappeared and went TO
live In 1hirty-hth street. Colt bad been very IN
some weeks prior 10 his disappearance having been
thrown OF q IRE wagon when on duty with his com.
pany, Insurance Paroi No. 3 lie was also suffer.
Ing from rupture. and had frequently complained II
hypotheses rs to the of death, either that he
sat down and was too weak TO rise and was frozen
TO DEATH that he died suddenly OF heart disease
The latter seems SHE more probable, as he would
have teen able to call for assistance still IL must
be remembered that the ith OF December was an ex.
ceedingy cold day which would give some grounds
for tie other suppOsition.
An inquest was held by Deruty Coroner Beach.
and an open verdict was returned. The physicians
state their opinion that the kable preservation
o. the hody Is explained by the fact that everything
likely to Decay had passed rom Tim. The skin on
the lace and hands Is lard and brittle hard that
when the body was lifted, OF the hands happen
ing to come In contact with the door, the skin peeled
on. Although tne tace and hands were black, the
skin Of tho chest and oter parts Of the body not er
posed tC the air had It's ordinary Appearance but the
nesh seemed to have literally wthereC the bones
Colt was 81 years OF age. lie carried on business
as an engraver at Crosby street, his principal
ployment being engraving brass for hat tips and
the Ike. He was a prominent member OF the old
Fire Department, having served his time on Engine
NO. :. lie leaves vile and three children.