The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-04-18
PROF. CROFTLEY'S CRIME.
AN INVENTION WHICH PROVED THE
DEATH OF THE INVENTOR.

DEATH OF THE INVENTOR.
a few weeks ago some wOrkmen en-
gagged in removing an old mansion at the
corner of California and Mason streets
were considerably puzzled at finding a
number of copper wires connecting the
bath room with the room above. The
owners of the property were equally puZ-
zled, having never before known of their
existence.
The wires were removed and nothing
more thought of the matter. This re-
calls to mymind an incident which many
viii now remember.
On the 14th of July, 1862. Professor
CrOftley was found dead in the bath room
have just mentioned. Croftley was well
known among scientific men as Profess
sor Of Chemistry, and, besides, had Il
large circle OF acquainances in this city.
He was supposed at the time to have
committed suicide, and his death fur
niShcd a three days sensation for the
press. The accounts in four leading
newspapers materially coutlicted, which
made the matter all the more interesting
to the public. All agreed, however,
with q singular Unanimity of opinion,
that he was dead. Even the Call, while
not positively admitting his demise in
the article, virtually conceded it in the
head lines.
Croftley, when found, was lying in the
bath, covered with wounds Of 50 curious
a nature that no one could explain how
they came to be inflicted They were
deep, ragged and gaping, there was no
instrument found in the room with which
they might have been made Even the
detectives who visited the scene of Croft
ley's death Shook their heads and were at
sea. Those who discovered the body
found the door securely fastened from the
inside, and they were obliged to burst it
open. The room had no other means of
egress or ingress.
suicide :" remarked one of the re-
porters.
How came these wounds on the
back - asked a detective.
WHO else was here 2" responded a
journalist And neither man had any
thing more to say.
y post mortem revealed nothing new.
except that the physicians found state
of the blood which they could not salts.
factorily account for.
He was frozen, - said a young physi
clan. whose opinion seemed to have Its
foundation only in surmise.
You seem to have forgotten that this
is July" remarked an elderly gentleman
connected with University.
The newspapers We'd with each Other
in building up ingenious theories ac
counting for the affair. The Coroner:
Jury found verdict of suicide for want
of anything better, and the remains were
buried.
The reader who desires to get NOR,
detailed account of the affair as relat Cd
at the time can do 50 by referring 10 the
files of any of the city papers of thai
date. In fact 1 would produce then
here did space permit. The main thing
however, is to clear up the mystery o.
Croftly's remarkable death.
He came to the Coast in 1860, and was
reputed to be a man of sufficient mean:
to live handsomely on the interest Of hi:
money. He stopped a while at the OH
entail Hotel and there met Edward
Dean, young man, who. like himself
WAS a gentleman of leisure They be
came intimate. and. finally, tired of no
tel life. they determined to seek quarters
which would be more congenial and
home like. They found these quarters
at the residence of Richard Armstrong
a mutual acquaintance, who lived il
very desirable quarters on the corner OF
Mason and California streets. Before
the costly habitations of Stanford, Crock.
er and other millionaiTes sprang into eN-
istence, Armstrong; house came very
near being called mansion. Armstrong
rented Croftley and Dean three elegant
rooms, partly because he was running on
a pretty close margin financially The
two found their new quarters as attract
i've as men could wish Mr.. Armstrong
was widower, and the three men had
some rare old times together evenings.
His cellar was stocked with excellent
wines, and his library with books Of the
very rarest vintage of literature.
One evening hack drove up to the
door, and woman clad in wraps, bound.
ed up the steps with astonishing vigol