The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-10-23
An Old Mars Sad Death,

Tho following singular story was
taken from recent issuo Of the 1ulian.
apolis Journal: Mr.. Samuel Turner, mn
old and respected citizen Of Green wood,
ten miles south Of the city, committed
suicide under peculiar circumstances
Mr.. Turner had lived at Greenwood
since 1928, where lie amused consider.
able property, mud gained tho respect
and esteem OF all who knew him. Owing
to physical peculiarities his habits and
views were eccentric aud peculiar. His
head was bald aud had been from birth.
Tho absence Of hair no concealed BY n
large rod turban, which he wore ct all
places and at oil titus. A little tuft
grew on each car. He had but one
tooth, and there never had been any
more. To complete his peculiarities
his body was covered with strange and
mysterious marks and signs Of odd
shapes aud colors. 1t is supposed that
the curiosity with which he was every.
where regarded bred in his mind n
strange, morbid fear, which finally
mustered and ruled him. Like many
other such men, he dreaded that he
should become burden upon his friends
or tho community but alongside Of
this grew up another fear, which u.s.:
sumed, gradually, monstrous and horris
bic proportions. He mover married,
aud in his lonely bachelor liie, though
surrounded with relatives aud friends,
bis heart must have chilled in marking
tho rude, peering stare Of the multi
tudc, and his soul must have grown cold
within him at the thought that after
death. perhaps, he would not be able to
screen himself from the gaze OF q
curious world. As the shadows begun
to thickcn around him tho dread grew
into a horror that his grave would be
violated, that body snatchers would cart
his remains in the night to the dissect-
ing.room, that his body would DO
stretched upon dissecting table in the
presence Of medical students, and his
maugled remains thrown into a sewer
when the surgeons knife Ind done its
work. He used to say "Whcn [ am
dead l don't want tho doctors to got
hold of my body" Tho thought grew
into q phantom, which followed him
everywhere. 1t increased until il
crowded every ether thought ont OF his
bewildered brain.
A short time ago he marked his
oighty-ffth year. Ono day he came to
indianapolis. In tho afternoon he
wrote letter to Mrs. Jackson Lyons, Of
Greenwood, at whose house he lived.
The letter arrived next morning and an
nounced that ho intended TO 20 to
Louisville 10 throw himself into the
Ohio river. Inquiries were made, and
John Turner offered reward for the re-
cnVery OF tue body. John Smart, Of
Greenwood, went TO Louisville dry or
two ntterward, and found that the letter
had contained tho truth. The old man
took tile Elk o'clock train on the railroad,
which arrived at eleven o'clock. A lit.
Ito after TINT hour the watchman on tho
middle pier Of tho Louisville bridge
heard splash in tho water, but as no
further sound came up from tho river
no resumed his walk. Tho body wus
found in tho river about thirty miles
south OF Louisville. It WIS properly
cared for and taken back TO Greenwood,
where the funeral services were held.
His effects were examined, and n let
ter found, dated n year ago, stating that
he had left his will in the hands Of
Judge Hardin, Of Fnnklin. On exami.
ming tho will it was found that he had
left all his money in bank, amounting to
about 5000, to tho American Bible
Society. He held railroad stock amount
ing to about $4,000 more. He directed
That tho interest on these and other in
yestments should be paid to bis brother,
John Turner, during his life, and at his
death should be paid over to the Ameri.
eau Bible Society.