Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-07-26
ANDRTA GAZETTE AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISER

\ ROMANCE ~ REAL LIFE "A vc:y re-
markablc case of mistaken identity has Just
been revealed in Brooklyn
On the morning of the Sd of july the body
of man, about thirty years Of age, was louud
in the water at the foot Of Fandykc street:
Brook IN. The hand oil the decels, Il was firm.
II secured by rope to >a'cheI, and tile <atcEcl
was found TO contain seven large ta-lrons. Ii
was also discovered that the deceased had
bullet-hole in his head, and box Of percussion
caps and nineteen pistol cartridges III the hip
pocket of his pants. Some believed that the
man had committed suicide. while others were
of the opinion that he had met with foul play.
Ii he had been murdered, it was argued, he
would have been robbed; but it was found, 90
searching bis clothing, that lie had S2l in his
possession Strange as it may appear, there
was nothing about the body except his clothing
which would lead to his identity. Coroner
Jones, being notified, caused tie body to be
moved to the Brooklyn morgue, where 1t was
reviewed by a large number OF persons who
had missing friends whose appearance cores
pended with that OF the deceased.
Four days after the body had been taken to
the morguc, lady residing in Grand street,
f. D., whose son-in law had been missing Tor
two or three weeks, called at the moIguc and
positively recognized the deceased as that OF,
the missing man Charles DiehI!' DIchl, she
said, had married her daughter contrary to her
wishes, and they had net lived very happy to-
gether He went off, she said IN Il lit OF anger,
and had in all possibility committed suicide
His wife, knowing his disposition better than
her mother did, said, ''No; if that is the body
of Charley he was murdered. He never com
United suicide, for it was not like him.
The uncle of Diehl also visited the mnrguc,
as well as others who knew him, and they all
were firmly convinced that the unfortunate
young man had come to sad end Ills tami
Iy were thrown 10 great gIief, aud set to work
at once to make preparations for his funeral.
Diehl had been employed as agent tpr The At
lantic Life Insurance Company, iii New York,
and being pretty well known in the vicinity In
which he resided. the tuneral WAS largely at
tended. The body was pun in the family plot,
aud Mrs. Di"hl mourned the loss OF a husband
to whom, with all his faults. she was deeply at
tached and drcs>cI in tbs hahilmcuts Of
widow. Time wore on, and nothing occurred
until yesterday to lead her 10 suspect for a mo
mcnt tina; she was net Il widow
Yesterday. to her uubouulcd astonishment,
she received a letter FROM her husbaud who
was, when he mailed The letter. AT Key West.
He wrote that he regretted leaving her So alb
rup'Iy; regretted his hasty temper; said he was
well, and hoped that nothing had occurred
since his departure from the city that might
cause her any uneasiursS further than that she
might feel concerning her errug husband.
1t required considerable effort On the part OF
Mrs Diehl to read the letter, for, as may be
Imagined, she almost faintcd. She would have
been more surprised had her husband,
whom she supposed dead aud buried in the
family plot walked in and held out bis arms
to her, but the letter was nearly as great. She
had buried some one for her husband perhaps
somebody clse's husbaud aud who could il be?
Who the man is who was buried by Mrs Di"hl
is mystery which will probably never be
solved, for now the remains have passed be
youd recognition