The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-08-28
A MYSTERY.
The skeleton OF a Man Found in q
Deep Ravine.
Was il a Murder or a Suicide.
Result OF a CorOner's Inquest.

Thuraday morning information was
broueht to Coroner Williams that the ske'e-
ton of a man had been discovered in deep
rsyiue. three miles wet OF the city, In Inc
vicinity of Mark PARROTS farm. He lm-
mediately summoned a jury and proceeded
to the place where the bones were iound'
and held an inquest over the remains. AZ
70 how the man came 10 his death nothihg
oould he learned. but the following facts in
regard to the first discovery of the skeleton
were developed. 1t seems that on Saturday
last q farm hand in the empty OF Mr.
G;rd went into the dense thicket OF .
ravine bordering on the farm to,cut an axe
helve, and while making his
way through the thick underbrush, run
across human bones lying in the brook bed.
He 1t once informed Mr.. Grid, who &C
companiei him back to the spot, and fur
ther search resulted in the finding of the en-
tire skeleton, the homes of which were scat
tered for several rods along the streams
course. The skull had been washed further
than any Of the other parts, and was per-
fecfiy naked of flesh. Shreds OF
rotten clothing, which proved to be
the remains of shirt and coat
were found attached to the upper limbs. The
bones were all perfect and no trace OF vio-
lence could he found on them. The ravine
where the remains were found is deep and
almost completely closed in by rough rugged
banks thickly overgrown with brush.
But enc clue to the identity of the unfer-
tunate being who came to his death IN this
secluded place is known, and that Is very
blight. Mr.. Colrsey testified that about
thirteen months ago he had 8 man IN his
employ by the name Of Early, who was sup
posed 70 be insane One day he sent him
into the field to dig potatoes, and since that
time he has not been seen OF heard from.
His hoe and basket were foand in the field
where he had laid them down, and at the
time it was supposed that he had simply lett
for parts unknown without giving any warn
ing to his employer. Early, at the time OF
disappearance, was in his shirt
sleeves, having left his coat
at the house, The remnants of the shirt
found in the vicinity Of the skeleton, do not
answer the description in color or make, to
the garment which Early is known TO have
had on. The remains of a coat we're also
found, which goes to prove that the bones
we're not those of Early. for his coat ia still
in the possession Of his employer. The
whole affair is shrouded in mystery. Proba-
bly, some poor wretch was foully murdered
and his body thrown into the dark ravine.
or else sudden sickness overlook him, and
out Of the reach of assistance he died a
lonely, lingering death. No indications of
suicide we're found.
RESULT OF THE INQUEST.
The following named persons were sworn
and examined AS witnesses: George Jones,
of lawful age, being duly sworn according to
law, depoees and says: son Saturday, the
10th, was going through the woods looking
for q stick to make an axe handle, came
into the branch and saw q few bones and
some clothing, and turned away. l told
Mr.. Grid what had found, and the next
day Sunday morning he went with me and
ue found more bones scattered along the
run az If they had been carried by water.
The clothing was that of a man, and was
very much decayed. There was no flesh
upon the bones. ! have no knowledge as to
whose remains they were, and know nothing
f,vfhcr sho,,t the cage
lanes Gird, of lawful age, being duly
sworn, on his oath says: On Sunday, the
18th, went with the last named witness,
Mr.. Jones, as he has stated, and the the tes-
timony given by him is true in every partic-
ular. The remains We found were on land
adjoining the premises OF james Coursey,
in High Prairie township.
James Coursey, l assisted in the search
for the remains of the deceased, the bones
were much ecattered-the skull had been car
ried, as it appeared, by water, TO quite dis
lance from the other bones. The Rename
of q shirt found with the bones, look TO me
az il it might have belonged TO a man by
the name of Early, who lived with me
about thirteen months ago, who then disap-
peared suddenly and has not been heard Of
by me since that time, but as he left his coat
and gloves at my house there being the re-
mains of a coat found with the bones l can
not say it was him.
STATE OF KANSAS,
Leavenworth County.
An inquest holden in High Prairie
township, in said county. upon the land adj
jsceat to the premises of james Carney, upon
the dead body of person unknown, there
lying dead, BY the jurors whose names are
hereunto subscribed.
The said jurors, upon their oaths, do say
that the remains pIesented to their view have
no marks of identification, and that from the
testimony of the witnesses the cause OF death
isto them unknown.
MARCUS J. PARROT,
PHIL. CLAYTON,
JAS. SNoDDY,
AUGUST KATZuNG,
ROBERT c. SAssEE,
JACK DOWNING.