Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-06-23
A Remarkable Case OF Mistaken Iden.
titY,

LAST Sunday morning man was run
over and killed at Evanston by an incom-
ing railroad train. The corpse was at once
identified by many persons residing there
as that of Josiah Hill, gardener who
formerly resided in the village. Amidst
great sorrow word was sent to his family
residence in this city at No. "a Grant
place, and they Immediately went out to
care for the body of the unfortunate head
of the family. The wife wept, and in her
almost inconsolable grief frantically Ca
ressed the dead one. The inquest was
held, and there was no lack of evidence
concerning the mans identity; in fact it
was never questioned. At the expense of
the family the remains were inclosed in a
very fine coffin, and on Tuesday, the day
appointed for the funeral, the body was
borne to the grave amidst the lamenta-
tions of large circle of friends and ac-
quaintances. As if to complete this
whole story of deception, the remains
were buried in family lot in Rosehill,
owned by the brother of the deceased.
That apparently was the end of Josiah
Hill on this earth.
On the jury at the inquest was Deputy
Sheriff Kearney, who, among others pres
ent at the time, knew Hill verylwell, and
SWOIC W tllC luCulllJ. luGSuhy, Juc luCu-
tical day of the funeral, he visited Win
netka ON official business, and was almost
frightened out of his senses by seeing the
veritable Hill at work in garden. Hail
ing him he coniured him by all that was
good and holy to return TO his ghostly
residence, and not to be wandering
around a ghostly gardener. Hill thought
the man was crazy, at first, and upon
listening to a subsequent eXplana-
ton concluded that his surmise was
correct, and all the way to town yesterday
he regretted the untimely fate of his
friends brain. But Judge of his surprise
and astonishment upon entering his own
home, to see his wife scream out and
faint before what she took to be an appa-
rition. She had never doubted the iden-
tity of the dead man, and her husband had
left her only few days before to do some
work in Winnetka, hence she could not
have forgotten any single particular of his
appearance. Indeed, it was some time
before she could be convinced that her
husband was still alive, and not in the
cold, cold grave to which she had on the
previous day consigned him. She in
sisted with redoubled vigor that she had
examined the dead man, and fully identi-
fed it in every particular as that Of hei
husband, even to shortness in one of his
limbs, and its similarity in size, looks and
marks. A daughter, seventeen years OF
age, also mourned the untimely deceast
OF her father. Learning all the facts in
the case, Mr.. Hill was extremely anXiou:
to view the fellow that looked like him
and yesterday visited the Coroner's Office
to effect the removal of the "stiff'' from
what he hopes to be his final resting
place. The necessary order was given
and to-day the body will be exhume6
and taken to the Morgue for another in
quest.
And now arises the question, Who wa!
the fellow that looked like Hill9 II ha'
been thought that it was some regular
tramp who had been rummaging abou
that section of the country for some time
but no one can identify the remains a
any other than those of the lamented Mr.
Hill, who still lives.-OhtcGgO Tribune
| June IS.