The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-01-15
Sad Death of a Noted Character.

To thousands of people in Baltimore county the
anne "Billy" Wilson was as familiaras their own,
nd there were few who knew him who have not
ad their "little joke" at his expense. Whilst
Billy" was by no means "lOafer, he was some
That of nomad, having no fixed abiding place,
ut moved around, working when it suited him
nd taking his ease when he felt so disposed
Billy" was an important individual about cleo
on times, and although he was lifelong Demo
cat, all kinds of attempts were made to deceive
i'm but he generally proved to be smarter than
lose who tried to mislead him into casting
ny other ballot except the one which bore the
ickory tree. Unfortunately for "Billy" he was
aa1FShd of whisky and had been heavy drinker
modify all his life For few weeks at time he
woud do light work then the desire for spree
would seize him and he would leave and indulge
his ppetite as long as money would hold out and
thencontinue until he could no longer beg or Dor
row ten cents with which to buy drink. He
keptup this style of living for years and was
rarey if ever SICK.
Fr few years past "Billy" had been spending
his winters at the county alms-hOuse, straying
off eery now and then for spree, which, being
over he would return again to his old quarters
On ne 23d of December last he left the aims
hous with the intention, no doubt of enjoying
the christmas holidays according to the bent OF
his nture. On Christmas day, late in the after
moor he was seen on the York road, short dis
tanc south of the Timonium toll-gate, very
drunk, and this was the last time he was seen
alivt
Mt until Tuesday last was there even a suspi-
cionthat "Billy" was not still in the land of the
living. On that day colored woman passing
alon; the pike near the point where he was seen
on christmas day, noticed that the dogs had
been gnawing at something buried in snow
banhat the side of the road and going to the spot
was orried to see portion of the face, head and
neckOf man. She at once gave the alarm and
in afew minutes several persons had gathered
who t once identified the body that of "Billy''
Wilsn. It is supposed that at night he was
apNercme by drink and the cold and either fell or
d YIN, the heavy snow ofChristmas night and
49, y following covering his body and obscuring
it from the view of those almost constantly pass
ing dong the pike. The corpse presented
ghasty sight, the dogs having uncovered the head
and t,rn away much of the face and neck
As stated above the body was discovered some
time curing Tuesday, but it was not removed nm
til Wednesday, morning, and q man who passed
that Ioint late Tuesday evening saw dog tear
ing at the face of the dead man That anything
so inAuman as this should be permitted in civil
lied community is incomprehensible to Us and
certainly does not speak well for those who knew
of the condition of the body and allowed it to re-
main prey to the dogs.
Justice Cain, on Wednesday morning, held an
inquest on the body, the jury rendering verdict
of death from intemperance and exposure. The
remains were buried at the expense of the
county.
William Wilson was probably about Is years of
age, although some who knew him say that he
was older He was native of Baltimore county
and had never been outside of its borders. lie
had his faults-who has not but he had also his
good parts. Peace to his ashes.