The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-17
A RURAL ENOCH ARDEN.
The Startling Story of a Dead Far
mer's Return to Life.
LIVING. BUT LOST TO HIS FAMILY.
The Complications Consequent on
His Supposed Death.
sILvrRs STATION, Pa, Feb. /


The death on Wednesday OF last week Of James
Swnge, at the residence of his son, two miles from
this village saved his family from the consequences OF
most serious business and social compicatons-com-
phcatons resulting from singular freak Of the de-
ceased who has been believed have been dead for
the past ten years buried in the family graveyard
The Swingle family OF the wealthest in this
section. James swnge farmer and had lived ON
the farm where he died for thirty five years Twelve
years ago bis wife died and year and half aerward
being sixty years of age, he married a young woman
had lived in his family for several years She was
twenty-five years old He had six children all older
than his second wife, and three of them married She
being an estinable woman, however the match was
acceptable to all Old Mr. Swinglo of the most
prominent men IN the township devout member Of
the Baptist Church and man generally respected.
SHINGLES DISAPPEARANCE.
In the fall of 1865 Mr.. Swngle purchased through
the agency of William Wtsey, a lawyer OF this place
an addition his farm for 81 500 One rainy evening
in October of that year he left home with the above
OF money, telling his wife that he was going 10
the station pay it to Wltsey. He did not return
that night but the fact created uneasiness he
occasionally remained night in the village. Not
appearing the next day, however inquiry made
for him in this place. He had paid the money for his
purchase and received his deed, and had been
his horse about nine o'clock In the evening, and,
although it very dark and stormy, start toward
home. Al that time there organized gang OF
desperadoes in this region whose exploits horse and
cattle stealing and other depredations had made them
a terror to the people. They under the lead OF
man named Jim smith, and II was believed by many
that they were guilty OF blacker crimes than stealing
horses. When II became generally known that farmer
Swinge had mysteriousy disappeared it stated
by several that two of the worst members of Smiths
gang-"Feeny" Gowan and Frenchman named Du-
DO Bhad been at the station that night and at
once became the general belief that the farmer had
been waylaid by them, robbed and murdered and his
body hidden In the woods This theory was given
still stronger foundation by the statement OF Mrs Mary
Mosher, widow lady, who occupied house IN q lonely
place the road about midway between the station
and the farmers. She appeared in the village in the
midst of the excitement caused by the supposed
murder and said that somewhere about twelve
o'clock the night in question she
awakened by the sound OF voices in the road front
OF her house She got up and looked out but II
so dark that she could see nothing AS she was re-
turning to bed she heard the cry Of "Murderl" re-
peated twice. then the sound OF groans and footsteps
burrying away down the road. Afraid TO 80 TO sleep
again, with the cries ringing in her ears Mrs Mosher
awaited the return of day confident that II would
veal to her the mutlated corpse OF murdered mana
victim doubt of Jim Smiths gang Of cutthroats.
AS was light she looked out, but evil
dence of murder Going out into the road, however,
she discovered signs of struggle and several pools OF
blood
LOOKING FOR THE SUPPOSED MURDERERs
This story settled any doubt that might have existed
to the murder of the farmer and armed bodies OF
hunted the woods for miles, seeking the supposed
murderers and the body Of the murdered man. Tho
feeling OF the public against the Smith gang was so
intense that the leader left the vicinity, which re-
suited in the breaking up OF the organ zaon
Der of which has been hereabouts since. The
day after the disappearance of the farmer his horse
found tied in the woods near the road about half
q mile from his house. The search for his body was
kept up for weeks and large rewards offered for
any information that would lead to traces OF mis- muir
derers, all to purpose. The matter at last ceased
excite any interest in the community, and almost
forgotten by his family and Immediate friends,
when circumstance occurred which brought II again
forward as popular topic
DISCOVERY SKELETON
Some eighteen months after the armer's disappear
ance man named Gable, while fishing in Topee
Pond, on lands belonging to the Swingle farm mile
or 80 from tho house, discovered the skeleton OF
lying on the west shore Of the pond cabin which
had been long known a rendezvous of the Smith
gang stood about quarter Of mile from the spot IN
known, and the remains were gathered up by the
farmers family, they believing that they were his
although there nothing found fixing their Identity.
They were buried In the family graveyard and stone
setting forth the circumstances connected with Swim
ge's death placed at the head Of the grave An
administrator Of the estate OF the deceased APP
pointed, and his property equally divided among the
farmers widow, and the youngest son, also named
James, continued 10 live there and superntend
operations on the farm.
A STARTLING DISCOVERY
In 1869 he married the widow Of his father, and tho
couple were living in unru1ed with three children
that had been born them when In the early part Of
last month the young farmer was given letter at tho
village post Office addressed ITO any living member of
the Swnge family" The letter postmarked at
Cleveland, Ohio. Opening the letter the farmer
asounded TO end that purported to be written by his
father, long believed TO be dead IL as foows:-
CLEvKLASD Dec. 80
very sick and pcnniless among strangers.
my home when taken sick Some Of you
BY tho 1 lake WI" explain al" JAMES s%SsGL nIS''
The letter written in a cramped and trembling
hand but IL resembled specimens OF the old farmers
writing Of years ago. The family divided in their
opinion OF the letter. believing II to be the work
OF some one who was playing on their feelings, and
others were certain that II genuine All agreed,
however tnat in the latter the return OF the old
would result in consequences the end Of which Il
was impossible to foresee and involve them all IN COM
plications It would be impossible 10 evace. The mar
rage OF James would be Illegal aud his children
Hlegitimate; while the dispositions that had been made
Of the old mans property might lead to most disastrous
litigation IL finally decided. however, that one OF
the family should proceed TO Cleveland and investigate
the matter and one Of the sons started at once Tor that
city.
Arriving there, he searched the lodging houses-as
Indicated the letter-and, finally found where
there ledger by the name Of Swinge. The old
man lay mattress the door OF meanly fur
nshed room, and, although greatly changed, at
once recognized by his son. When the latter made
himself known the old nearly beside himself
with JOY. He very III with fever and de-
rous after the arrival OF his son. and IL was
some days before he could be removed 70 better quar-
Three weeks passed before he was in condition
to DO taken home and during that time he could be in
duced 20 say but little about his strange disappearance
an impulse which he could not control and
after travelling about for few days he was
ashamed 10 return and resolved TO 90 West with
about $4,000 he had with him ana invest Il in some
way, and after he had increased II sufficiently 10 return
home and surprise his family. He went TO California
and from there 70 Australia where he made S116 900 In
FIVE years and came back TO California where he lost
II all Thinking that he was drawing near his death,
he determined 70 return home and taken sick with
the fever at Cleveland He refused TO enter into any
details OF his ten years absence until he recovered
nom his illness.
The return OF the supposed dead 10 his native
place created st greater sensation than his disap
pearanco had. He taken At once to his old home,
and the excitement again Frustrated him upon bed OF
sickness The changes that had occurred during his
absence kept from him. His unfortunate WIFE
took her place at his bedside and occupied the painful
position Of one striving by kind and nursngto
restore one whose eonvalescence would destroy her
happiness and honor, and that OF the father OF her
children. The younger James Swinge was almost
crazed At the situation of Affairs and for time
necessary TO keep him Under strict surveillance,
as IL feared he would take bis life. SO COM
plcatod the family affairs that II is not strange
when the physician attending the old farmer announced
Il.