The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-15
stranger than Fiction.

A MAN SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MURDERED
RETURNS TO LIFE. Nv.
-.- from the San Jose Herald
About two years ago John &. Arnold,
welLknown san Francisco melodeon-actor,
sougwright, and playwright, came to san
Jose OH business. While here ne visited
Fred. Sprung ut the lattcr's residence, on
Mclaughlin avenue, and was also accostea
nv other aculaintances here. All at once
he disanpeared, and few days later
his dead body was found under tree
in Neff's acknowledgement, near Los Oatos.
A buliet-hole in the head showed thaI cltnei
a murder or q suicide had been contnl.teu.
| The body was brought to yesterday o. MOT
CAMS undertaking-rooms, on SANTA lara
Street. and an inquest was held. FEed.
Snrnne. Mrs. Gendar, wife OF Ned Buck
lev. and MIR. Lockhart, San Francisco I'M
dertaker. positively identified the remains
ns those of Arnold, whom they. had known
| iono and intimately. The deceased had
several physical pecularties which Arnold
WINS known to have possessed. Arnold was
a cripple, having been paralyzed on one
side; he also had cast in one eye, very
I prominent nasal organ, and very heavy,
| luxuriant moustache. All these had
| THE DEAD MAN,
and there also were the same style Of shoes
Arnold wore when he visited Sprung; the
same coat, bat, and pants. And il this did
not furnish evidence enough, the dead man
had on one Of his fingers ring with the
initials "E. Al. E. By on the inside. This
ring Arnold had worn during his lifetime
A verdict was rendered to the effect that
4 the deceased, John e. Arnold, came to bis
death on or about October %, 1876, but
whether it was murder or suicide the
jury could not determine. The body was
taken to San Francisco, there recognized and
identified by Arnold's brother, and finally
consigned to its last restlDg-place In the
presence OF large concourse OF mourning
friends. Time passed on. Several months
later letter was received from Santa Bar
bara, liz; Arnold's handwriting, and pur-
| porting to come from him, stating that he
was stopping there temporarily, hut maklng
no mention Of his supposed murder or
strange disappearance. No attention was
Daid To this, for the reason that lit was be-
lieyed by his relatives that the letter was
written by the murderer OF Arnold for the
purpose OF throwing the detectives
OFF THE SCENT.
| AT any rate Arnold was. not to be found
there when search was. made. Last night:
Fred. Sprung received several kilograms
| from different parties in San Francisco
stating that Arnold bad reEppeared in that
| city few hours before in bissusual health
and spirits. Adyiees this afternoon con-.
| frmed the report, and there seems to be no
doubt the man supposed to: have been MUIR
dered has returned to LIE. Who then was
the man found in4the almond orchard with
Iasbuller In his ;brainp HowJdiG he come to
hayeson Arnold's ring. clothes, &c.s These
are questions which ut present can
not be answered. s%s Taken all ius NIL,
L is 3 case without parallel in
the annals OF crime. We shnli await
With some curiosity an explanati from
the living exempli fcation OF that old adage
e Truth is stranger than 6ction. y, Let Ar
mold rise an iexp plain. Since the above was