Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-08-23
aoss,uc fiie DEAD.
The Body OF an Insane Suicide Robbed
Of Valuables and sold for Disseouon.tn
PHILADELPHIA,


lffoin the ihlih. Ledger 81 fNuhy.
On the third of July the body of an
unknown man was found in the Schuyl-
kill, and removed to the Morguc. lie
was apparently sixty years old, was over
six feet In height, and was dressed in
dark gray clothing. The Schuylkill
harbor police discovered il, and upon the
Coroner being notified, WIN. McEwen,
then driver OF the Coroner's wagon, was
sent to obtain IT,, which he did, and il
WAS exposed at the MOrgue for idcntii
cation. On the following morning an
inquest was held upon II by Deputy
Coroner John q. Sees, and a verdict OF
found drowned was rendered. As no one
came TO claim the body, it was directed to
be taken to the city burial ground for in
terment, and II was suppo. cd, until
recently, that such disposition had
been made Of II. A receipt for the body
was returned by the driver Of the wagon
to the CorOner's Office, signed by Mr..
Tay Tor, Superintendent of the ground,
and return made of the burial by
Henry W. Edgar, the Coroncf's under
taker, to the Board Of Health.
In the box in which the dead man lay,
letter was found which the Cuioucr
preserved. 1t was dated at Washington,
Pa, and directed to Thomas Muncc, New
Orleans, and Informed him of the sale ol
large quantity Of wool on his behalf.
Il also enclosed a draft for about ON,
hundred dollars. Early in the month of
July, "A despatch was received at the City
Police Office, making inquiry for one
Thomas Munce of Washington county,
Pa, ard subsequently a letter came, in
which a pretty full description was given
of Thomas Munce, also Of gold watch
which he carried. AT this time the police
department had no knowledge that the
body Of IL man answering the description
Of the Washington county farmer had
been found Ia the Schuylkill, and were at
n loss what steps to pursue in respect to
the search.
Captain Helms entrusted the business 70
Officers Mears aud galloway, and he
caused a description of the watch to be
sent to the several city pawn offices.
From the Office of Mr.. Cohen he soOu re-
ceived Information that a watch had been
pawned at his place having the name
Thomas Mdnce engraved upon IL, but
curious as il seemed the movements Of
the watch were not according to the de-
scrlutiOn. As ii was worth $40 or there.
abOuts, and only five dollars had been
advanced upon it, II was surmised that
the person who pledged II would call to
redeem 1t, and a policeman IN citizens
dress Was stationed at the pawn Office,
with instructions TO arrest the person
when he did call. Ga the 18th instant
two men appeared at the place, and one
of them asked for the watch, whorcupun
he was taken into custody, as well as his
friend. They were conducted TO the
Eighth District Police Station, and there
the man who asked for the watch gave
the name of VIM. J. McEwen, the indi-
yldual who had been employed by Henry
W. Edgar to drive the Coroner's wagon
His story was that he had found the
watch in the wagon after he had taken
the body to the Morgue, aud that he had
left IL with u matchmaker to be cleaned.
and that he had taken ont the original
movements and replaced them with others.
II had been pawned In the naiae Of
Thomas Munce. Immediately following
the recovery Of the watch, Captain Helms
and Officers Mcars and Galloway set
about searching for the body, and upon
the statement of VIM. McEwcn, Il WAS
found in a college in South Ninth street,
in a good state Of preservation, having
| been prepared for dissection. When in
qulry was made at the Morguc in resp, ct
to Ii, Captain Helms was assured that L
had been buried. From person about
the College IL was ascertnned that the
body was taken there on the 18th OF july
and that one of the men connected wlti
the College sold them.
Two of the brothers of the deceased
came to the city yesterday and fully ideu.
/ titled the remains. From them it, Wus
learned that Thomas Muncc WAS ln.