The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-25
-vne cspaGvy OF representative OF the HERALD.
when found him more guarded m his expressions
and very retcent in giving opinions.


and very retcent in giving opni0ns.
WHAT AN OLD FRIEND SAYS.
Upon my arrival at Mount Airy found the resi-
dence OF the twins was several miles from the VII
lage and, the hour being very late, was unable to
60 there. As the Doctors Information was not en-
tirely satisfactory I next sought and obtained an
interview with Mr.. Isaac Armfed. an old intimate
friend OF the twins, who present and helped to
lay them out after their demise.
'Mr. Armfeld,r asked, sis it your opinion that
Eng died from the shock or fright occasioned by
his brothers death2''
Mr.. ARMFIELD-No, sir, 1t is not ! am as well
satisfied that blood flowed from one to the other
through that connecting ligament as that the same
blood hows in my right and LETT arm.
CoRREsroNDENT-Then you think It was the
death OF Chang that precipltated the death OF
Eng
Mr.. ARMrIELD-Yes, sir. After Changes death
the blood from Engs body flowed into his but
there being no responsive vitality it could not now
back, so that Eng died from exhaustion and loss
OF blood, ana not from any shock or fright.
Up to the time OF Eng's death the lgament
which Is some eight inches In length, was warm as
far as where 1t entered Changes body, which was
cold at the time. The very nature of the ligament
which Is Jour inches wide and as thick as my
wrist, passing from the abdomen OF one to the
OF the twins, is proof positive that the same
blood that lowed in the veins OF one flowed also
in those OF the 0tner.
CoRREsPoNDENT-Why, then, does the Doctor
persist IN saying that 1t was from shock or fright
that Eng died
Mr.. ARMFIELD-I don't know; but heard Dr.
Bill Hollingsworth say that he would rather have
the bodies OF the dead twins than the whole of
Surrey county.
CoRREsPoNDENT-What appearance did the
twins present after their death
Mr.. ARMFIELD-Chang was nearly black in the
face and looked as If he had died in tit in great
agony. Eng looked as If he had been asleep.
CONSEQUENTLY you know whether Eng
made any expression OF pain before he died
Mr.. ARMFIELD-Yes. 1 inquired particularly
about that and found that ne called repeatedly to
those around him to rub and pull his arms and
legs, that he was cramped-a sure indication Of
loss OF blood or that the circulation was impeded
from some cause, and this confirms me in the
opinion that the death OF Chang superinduced
that OF Eng.
AFTER HINTS AND SPECULATION.
With this left Mr.. Armfed, in whose theory Of
the death Of the twins have more faith than in
the Doctors
Proceeding to push my inquiries, picked up
various pieces OF information, which led me to
suspect that there is the groundwork of quite
large speculation from ont the dead twins already
cut and dried. The living twins were quite
source Of profit to several of the prominent men
at Mount Airy, and why not now turn the dead
bodies to some account in the shape OF green
backs2 Thus 1t was that on Saturday, the day on
which the twins died. consultation was
held by these gentlemen, who had been
connected in various capacities with the
families Of the deceased, at which 1t
was decided that 1t would be unwise, injudcious
and impotic TO bury the twins at the present
time, Tor various and sundry considerations. This
much, and more, perhaps, agreed upon, the wives
OF the twins were taken into the conference, and
they were soon won over to the plausible and
prospectively profitable propositions OF the Mount
Airy friends OF the family.
NO FUNERAL.
On the following day Sunday, large crowd of
syInpathizing friends and acquaintances of the
twins families assembled at the residence OF Eng,
where the dead were laid out. in the anticpa-
ton OF attending the funeral. clergyman
also put in an appearance to perform the
last sad rites Of Christianity over the bodies
Of the respected deceased. Contrary to the
general expectation however no funeral took
place. the assembled multitude being informed
that it was postponed In difference to the wishes
of the members OF the families who were at nome.
Several Of the sons OF Chang are absent, ana some
OF the daughters OF both, and it given that
they were to be consulted before final disposition
of the bodies would be agreed upon. In the mean
time something had to be done with the bodies,
and with a celebrity that was remarkable all the
utensils OF temporary interment were forthcoming.
THE COFFIN AND TEMPORARY INTERMENT.
coffin OF peculiar shape, constructed of light
plank, and suitable to receive the bodies OF the
fuIp nohn ife Tn RI fho hoIS IF
the twins were carefully placed and covered, and
the coffin securely fastened. This was then en-
cased IN a large tin box, which was soldered and
made air-tight Then the latter was put in large
wooden box, packed in charcoal and made Sc
curely tight.
After this had been completed the great case
containing all that was left OF the twins, was re-
moved to Q cellar in Eng's house, where 1t now
mains. This very respectable process, was in.
formed. was temporary nterment," without even
the last solemn rites OF religion being performed
over the dead.
What the proposed
FINAL DISPOSITION
Of the bodies Is to be am not informed but report
here says that they are to be embalmed and dis
posed Of at an enormous price, to some mu-
scum or medical college, or placed on exhibition
at a sum equivalent to the value set upon them by
realize a handsome percentage out Of the transac-
ton. All of this however is to be subject to the
decision OF the members OF the families who have
been notified Of the death Of their parents and are
expected home at an early day.
NO OPERATION ON THE LIGAMENT.
No effort whatever was made to perform an
operation on the ligament with regard to ascer-
tanning whether there was an artery passing
through it or not, as shat would have materially
interlered with prospective greenbacks, and pres
ent speculations would have been nipped in the
bud. Embaimed and preserved as they are. the
bodies OF the twins will have market value from
which money can always be realized by those
having possession Of them The ligament cut in
the interest OF science the curiosity would be de.
stroyed, and consequently The separate dead bodies
would be OF no value.
NO INQUEST
Here, in a civilized land, were two mysterious