The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-08

PTTsBURG, Pa, June I, 1872.
West Overton, here, is in a state of great ex-
element. A few days ago two men entered a store
at West Overflow and purchased n pint of whskey,
the younger OF the two, who was well dressed, pay
ing for the same. On the same evening ne was
found in state OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS dead
drunk, under the overshot of stable He was di-
vested of his coat, and heavily breathing like
drunken man; he looked exactly like person in
the stupor OF intoxicaton, and he was accordingly
left as such to sober up ut leisure during the night
In the morning, however, he was found in the same
condition, and shortly after the man died. On ex-
aiming the body no marks of violence were dis.
covered nor anything to excite suspicion of foul
play, but his coat was missing; his pockets were
turned inside out and not thing was left about
his person. 1t was recolected that the young man
had paid for the liquor purchased, and suspicion
was at once raised that he had been drugged by his
companion, then robbed. The symptoms led to an
inference of poisoning by opium In some form, or
by some other drug such as laudanum or sulphate
OF morphia
THE DEAD PERsoNIFIE5 THE LIVING.
The excitement concerning IL has been intense.
One man in the crowd gathered around identified
the dead man as Hiram Christ, and Immediately
several saw the features of Mr. Christ in the
stranger, while others, however saw no resem-
bance and as positively asserted to the contrary.
series Of contradictory dentincatons that has ever
been recorded. The father OF Hiram Christ was
sent for and as soon as he saw the corpse he de-
cared that it was his son.
MR.. CHRIST WASN'T CERTAIN.
Upon examining the body closely, however, the
father said he was not certain his son had scar
on the chin and a toe split, and the dead body had
neither. Mrs. Christ was sent for, and she, too,
identified the corpse as the body of her About
this time the father recollected that his son had
purchased pair OF boots, and that when he came
from the store he complained OF one being too tight,
and that on examining the boots one was found to
be number seven and the other number eight. In
an instant the boots of the dead man were exam
ined, when,
WONDER OF WONDERS,
one was found to be number seven and the other
number eight. The sisters sent for, who
said it was their brother and while the perpeXing
dispute was going on the body was putrefying and
1t was deemed proper to bury it, The father and
mother refused to attend the funeral, but the Sis
tiers followed mourning to the grave. With the
grave, however, the mysterious affair was not
closed; on the contrary, 1t stirred up everybody
to greater work III definite directions. Persons
were sent out
IN SEARCH OF HIRAM CHRIST,
following him up to his employer, who had recently
transferred him to McKeesp0rt. AT McKeeSpOrt,
however, Hiram was not to be found. The father
and mother now fancied that the buried man was
their son. In great grief and contrition they made
preparation to dig up the corpse from its quiet
resting PLACE at Menante church and remove II to
the yard where their ancestors and friends were
at rest.
HIRAM SHOWS UP
But to remove oil grief and sorrow from the hearts
OF his parents and sisters, but not to solve the mys
person8, put in an appearance. He had been tenn
porariy absent from McKeesport when sent for, but
learning soon after what mad happened at West
Overton he FASTENED home.
In the excitement caused by the contradictory
Identification the companion OF the dead man was
forgotten and allowed to escape from the country.
description wanted to sell coat but beyond this
nothing more has been ascertained.