Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1871-01-13
rFrom the Cincinnati Chronicle Of satur-
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THE FATE OF CHARLES IEGHAM.
A MYSTERY CLEARED UP.

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THE FATE OF CHARLES IEGHAM.
A MYSTERY CLEARED UP.
DELAWARE. O.. January 8.
A recent discovery near this city clears
UP beyond doubt the mystery which has
long enveloped the fate of Charles
Ingham, who suddenly and unaccounta-
bly, disappeared about twenty years ago.
The facts IN the case are as follows
In I84o and so the gold fever spread
throughout the Union, exciting an in
tense desire among all classes to proceed
at once to the Pacific coast in search of
gold. Charles Ingham was one among
the number, but to secure an outfit suf
icient to cross the Plains required
money, and Charles was as poor as the
proverbial turkey of Job. But as the
greatest obstacles are sometimes con-
quered by determined resolution, so
Charley succeeded in inducing a friend
to furnish the required outfit on the con-
dition that he should be an equal sharer
in the profits of the golden enterprise
On the 4th day of May, 1850, young
Ingham, in company with number OF
others, commenced the journey across
the Plains for the Pacific coast. After
encountering numerous hardships and
countless perils, both from Indian at
tacks and disease, the company reached
the mines, and at once commenced vlg-
orous operation. But hard labor, short
rations and almost constant exposure
prostrated our adventurer on a bed OF
sickness, or, rather, a buffalo robe OF
sickness, for comfortable beds were un-
known there at that time. For a long
time life and death seemed hung IN
equal balance but he finally recovered,
and, as soon as he was able, went down
to San Francisco, with the determination
of returning to the States. Meeting with
a friend, ne was induced to remain, and,
in partnership with his friend, embarked
in some kind of speculation, which
proved to be of very remuneratlve ma
ture. Having acquired some means and
regained his former strength and hopes,
he again turned his face toward the
mines, bought out a claim and went to
work Fortune smiled upon his efforts,
and in the course of a few months he
had accumulated the snug little sum OF
about six thousand dollars, all in ''dust.
He now concluded to remain no longer,
but return home. So in the summer Of
1852 he sailed from San Francisco for
New York, where he safely arrived, and
started at once, in the company of a
friend, for this place. They travelled
together as far as Columbus, there sep
arating, Ingham taking the northern
train, and Robinson, his companion, re-
naming in the city.
Here viii briefly state that the depot
was three miles from town-for the
"curve" was not then constructed.
About midway between the station
and town lived two brothers named
| Williams, whose regulations for honesty
and integrity were none of the best.
They had no apparent means of sup
port, and rumor vaguely whispered thai
they were not too good to do almost
anything to gain a livelihood. Many
and mysterious were the reports in cir
culation about the Williams cabin, but
nothing of a definite nature was proved
against them.
They were frequent visitors at the
station, and now and then sums o.
money had unaccountably disappeared
from sundry pockets. Suspicion rested
heavily upon these gentlemen of the
forest, but they never were implicated.
| At midnight, on the second day o.
September, "Old Fred, the night watch.
man at the station, was awaiting the
IlI2:3o train, when one of the Williamses
made his appearance, pretending to be
looking for friend whom he expected
on the train from ST. Louis The train
came about I o'clock. Ingham alight
ed, being the only passenger, and re
ceived a warm reception by "Old Fred,
who urged him to remain at the station
until morning. He declined, and start
ed for town on foot and alone, although
the darkness was intense, the sky cloudy
and threatening rain. The friend o.
Williams did not come, and he left II
the company of Ingham for his cabin il
the woods.
When the bus came over in the
morning Fred asked the driver if he had
seen Ingham he answered no
1t soon became apparent that the un-
fortunate man never reached the town
A vigilant search was Immediately in,
stituted, but no trace of the missing mar
could be discovered. Suspicion fell up
on the Williamses they were arrested
examined and acquitted, as nothing
could be proved against them. Time
passed qP aRd the missing Raanwas al
most forgotten.
But now comes the sequel, illustrating
the old adage that murder will out.
The mystery which has hung like q
black veil around the fate of this man is
discovered. Yesterday morning two
lads, James Thompson and John Hos.
lins, were hunting in the vicinity of the
old Williams cabin, which was vacated
by them soon after the disappearance oi
Ingham, and who have not been heard
from since. Into hole beneath the de-
cayed floor of this cabin the boys tracked
a rabbit, and with the aid of an axe and
mattock they removed the earth and
rubbish. Presently something hard and
white threatened to debar further pro-
gress in their labors, when young
Thompson thrust in his hand to remove
the obstruction. which proved, greatly
to their surprise and CONSERVATION, to be
human skull They continued their
excavations, and succeeded in exhuming
the main parts of human skeleton, to-
gether with rusty brass plate, on which,
after some rubbing and securing, the
name of ''Charles Ingham, San Francis
co, 1882" could be distinctly traced.
From this it is plain that he was way
laid and robbed at the Williams cabin,
and the remains successfully concealed
beneath the floor, where they have been
hidden until now.
NEMo.