The Portland daily press., 1873-07-30

DICKENS EDWIN DRooD.-Springfeld papers
revive the story of the young man in Brattle-
boro', VT, who is 'finishing'' Dickens story.
The Mystery of Edeoin brood. The Union, in
fact, on Saturday, devoted nearly eight columns
to the matter, and asserts that the work is not
only nearly completed, but that new novel by
Dickens is to be forthcoming from the same
source, 'an amanuensis, medium, if you will
but an unprofessonal one, and person who
knew nothing whatever about spirttualism
until this strange experience befell him; who
has no theories to advance nor proselytes to
make, land who cares not fig, apparently,
whether spiritualism stand or fall" He is
described as a good looking man, a machinst,
not far from thirty years of age, native of
Boston, with no training whatever for literary
work. The Union writer proceeds to give a
long history of the way in which he came to
undertake the work, follows it up with extracts
from several chapters of the forthcoming vol
ume, and concludes with the following:
1 came to Brattleboro, expecting to find this
decidedly posthumous work bubble whch
could be easily blown away. After Two DAYS
careful and somewhat critical examination l
90 away, l confess, a good deal puzzled: L
10.
as every one would do after thoroughly
investigating the matter = the theory
that this manuscript was written by the young
man, Mr.. A. He says he has never read the
first volume, and care not whether he has or
no, being fully convinced that he is not capable
of writing so much as one page of the second
volume. This, of course, is no disparage-
ment; for how many men are capable of
doing what Dickens left undone? 1 am driven,
then, to accept one of the two conclusions.
&c 90 h,C tx.Is
vidual as go-between, in order TO place an ex-
traordinary work before the public in an ex .
traordinary way, or the book is, as it processes
to be, dictated by Dickens himself from the
other world. The one supposition is scarcely
more astounding than the other. If there is
in Vermont man, heretofore unheard of, who
is able to write as Dickens Lwrote, he surely has
no cause to resort to any such device as this
IT. on the other hand, Charles Dickens HIM
self, though dead, yet speaketh,' what shall
we next expect? 1t is but fair to say that, with
the fullest opportunity for investigation, 1
found not the least evidence on any hand of
fraud while the name of the "amanuensis, -
were allowed to give it, would dlspel any sug-
gestion of that kind from the minds of every
citizen of this place who knows him.
DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH WoULD-BE
SUICIDE.-This morning as Conductor Tucker s
train, which leaves Boston at s o'clock, was
leaving Mattapan, the engineer discovered a
man lying upon the track short distance
ahead. He at once blew the whistle and the
train was stopped within few feet of the man.
The brakeman went forward and aroused him.
and was met with the most abusive language.
He was removed from his perilous position, and
the train went on. At ten o'clock the train
returned and the same man was seen at the de-
pot at Mattapan. 1t was thought best by Mr..
Tucker to take him to Boston, as he was evil
IDENTIFY bent on suicide, and one of the brake
men was instructed to ask him to get aboard
and come to Bosom. Instead of complying
with the request he again commenced abusing
the brakeman, and gave strong evidence of in
sanity. Officer Lally of the Boston police force
and Constable John d. Bradlee of Milton, who
happened to be on the train, attempted to COM
pei he man to get on to the train, in order to
prevent him from again attempting to commit
suicide, as was evidently his purpose A most
desperate struggle then ensued, and it took the
united efforts of six men to put the handouts
on the desperate man, during which time he
seriously injured 4wO or three of those assisting
in his arrest. He caught the brakeman's
thumb in his mouth and inflicted an ugly
wound with his teeth. He was finally hand
cuffed and got into the smoking car where he
again had struggle with the officers, but was
Overpowered and brought to Boston. Here he
was given in charge of the officers and taken to
Station -Four. There is no doubt about the
young mans insanity, and he evidently laid
down on the track for the purpose of taking
his own life. He is about sixteen years of age,
and has wild look about the eyes, Journal
of Tuesday evening.