The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-12-06
An UnknOwn Dead Wan Iden.
tlfied.

Our readers will remember an account
published in THE LEADER of Nov. 10, rela-
tive to the finding and burial of an I'M
known man under beech tree near
Bogue Chit:o the latter part Of October,
and also our publication of two letters
found upOn his person by the jury OF in
quest We mailed a marked copy of THE
LEADER to the Sheriff of Mercer county
mentioned therein. and a few days since
we received from him the following reply:
PRINCETON, Nov. 21st, 1oo3.
Elitor Brcokhaven Leader, Brooknaven, Miss,
Dear Sir-To-day | received a copy Of
your paper dated Nov. 18th, i--3. giving
proceedings of inquest of some unknown
person, and describing letter heads cf the
Sheriff of Mercer county, Missouri. The
umkuow person is an Englishman by birth,
but 4 citizen Of the United States for the
last thirteen years. He came from OF
tumwa. Iowa. TO this place on the Attn day
Of March. l-~3. lie went to the Mayor
OF our town, claiming that the Odd Eel
lows and Masou> had been following him
for three or four years TO kill him. Asked
the Mayor to furnish him lodging for the
night. The Mayor observed a; once that
he was crank and came for me. | and
James Boatman a Constable of our cOUn-
ty) went with the Mayor to his office and
talked with him Thomas Z. Hedge and
the Mayor about five or ten minutes, and
came home leaving them aloe: had not
been at home over five minutes when the
Mavur came for US a second time. We
again retired from the Mayors office iu-
tending to take him to a hotel and get him
a room, but had proceeded only Il short
distance. when Hedge fired shot from a
- calibrc revolver, striking BOatman in
the back of the neck. After lie fired the
shot. | caught him and threw him on his
back with intent to disarln him, when he
fired second shot at me, missing me en-
tiTely. On the 18th day of March 1--3, he
was indicted by the Grad Jury for feloni-
Gus assault, and his trial continued till the
September term Of the Circuit court, 1883;
at which time bis case was dismissed by
the prosecuting attorney, on the sole
ground of insanity. | immediately pro-
ceeded and> procured "a Railroad ticket for
him TO Peoria, H., where he claimed TO
have a son II years of age residing.
The first letter purporting 10 have been
written by Melissa Hole, must have been
written 10y John W. Butcher, who was i'll
Jail, at this place, waiting trial for bur
glary, but might possibly have been writ
ten by Miss Hole as she was then doing
general EOusework in my family. The
second letter was evidently written by
Hedge to present 10 the Judge and Jury,
in case they should attempt to convict him
of the charge preferred III the lndi tmcnt.
His real maine was James Parkinson Hedge.
lie was coal miner by occupation aud
had had hissspinaI column hurt by i fall in
coal shaft, which at times affected his
mind. He as only - years old, instead
of A. or 20 as stated i'll Your pAer, and
,H-l,a h.. L. l.r I,l
in his pocket. He was dressed as follows:
Black worstcd pants, blue flannel SHIRT,
gray Kentucky jeans coat, All old brown
colurtd hat; woe boots without socks.
" hen he left here he had a long black
mus tache. lie claimed to have been mar
RED twice, but both OF his wives were now
dead. Claimed also to have brOther-in-
law running an Ocean Steamer between
Liverpool and New York of the lnman
Line. Told Inc often that he had not heard
from his parents for several years.
The day the first letter was written pur-
porting to be written by Melissa Hole,
caught Hedge and Butcher attempting to
unlock the hall door to the Jail corridor
with a key which they had made from a
piece of tin cut with glass. Their treat
ment from me and family was always kind
and humane and there was never a threat
of any kind entertained after the first
night at which time l saved him from
Judge Lynch by mob by locking him in
a cell Immediately after his arrest.
Any further information wanted by you
or your authorities in regard to this I'M
fortunate man, so far as | am able, will be
cheerfully given.
Very respectfully yours,
HAwLEY HEREFORD,