Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-11-05
rHr.o1A rros no UsrIsUrorDr.
ssnJamin DewoIf Not the MAN
EHe La Alive and Henrfy.


The mystery surrounding the death OF the
strange man who took his life at the Clay
ton House on Wednesday, October 22d, is
possibly nearer solution than heretofore,
but there is yet a confusion Of circum-
stances most peculiar. On friday last
Chief Of Police Dougherty received
a telegram from Washington stating that
the dead man had boon identified by
photograph, taken at the death,
as benjamin DeWolf OF 20 West Fayette
street, Baltimore. A dispatch was directed
to the above address, and a reply was re-
ceived which stated that DeWolf was sup
posed to be living at No. 653 Preston street,
West Philadelphia. Max Ephraim, living in
this city, formerly lived in the fntnily OF
Benjamin DeWolf, and at onco telegraphed
him In Philadelphia, receiving as q reply:
will bout home On Sunday evening.
Deputy Coroner Smith, after the dispatch
was received from Washington, went di-
rectly to Baltimore aud. going directly 10
the police station, VAS given detective
and with him went to the address given in
the telegram. HnrH he found Mrs. Harto-
gensis, a sister Of DeWolf. He showed her
one Of the photographs Of the dead man,
which the woman Immediately identified MS
her brother, and after learning that he had
suicided, she swooned away. The identin-
cation was positive. Other mem
picture, and several neighbors who
had known Benjamin DeWolf very in
timately also identified him in the picture
Not one OF the many who were shown the
picture had any doubts as to it being the
man In question, and the deputy coroner
returned home Friday night satisfied that
he had established the suicides identity be-
yond question. The telegram signed b.
DeWolf, however, went to disprove this be-
lief, and to again shroud the affair in mys-
terry.
Max Ephraim who was shown the dead
mans remains when they laid in the morgue
and could not identify them, was
diately and emphatically pronounced
IL to be a picture OF Benjamin
DeWolf. Ephraim is entirely positive he is
not mistaken in the Identification and this
fact in connection with the telegram
entirely confuses him.
The Baltimore papers fully accept the
theory that the suicide is DeWolf and con-
corning him state that he was 65 years of
ago, and during the war and until about
| 1868 was engaged in business in Washing
| ton, near the Metropolitan Hotel, as u
ieweler and pawnbroker, but since 1870 he
has been engaged in business in Baltimore,
Philadelphia and New York. He had the
| reputation of being one Of the best judges
| Of diamonds in the country. He kept
cigar store in Baltimore at one time.
Owing to some family troubles he has
| lived alone for the past 15 years, much of
which time he has resided In Philadelphia.
1 He was reported to be worth 800, 900 OF one
| time but through some unfortunate business
| venture he was reduced in circumstances
very considerably.
| Saturday at noon Chief Dougherty re-
| ceived telegram from one of Benjamin
DeWolf's sons, stating that his father has
been missing for some time and asking the
cause of the inquiry. The DeWolf family
/ in Baltimore request that the remains BIO
/ disinterred and sent to Baltimore.
| PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 31.-Beniamin De-
| Wolf, who, it was supposed, was the Clay
\ ton House suicide, is ut his homo, No. 653
| Preston street, West Philadelphia.
/ Your correspondent, with Chief of Police
| Dougherty, called at the above residence az
| noon to-day, but failed to sec the object of
so much inquiry, he having gono across
| into the city short time before.
| The family with whom he boards states
he Is In the best OF health and when he left
home this morning was entirely ignorant of
| the speculation he had excited.
| A picture of the suicide, enc taken after
death, was shown the family and eacii one
| pronounced 1t an exact likeness ol BeDja-
| min DeWolf.
They recognized in the pictir he fca-
lures of MIR. DeWolf and stated Il was Il
more correct photograph Of their l,oarder
than any ever taken of him.
In response to Il telegram from his flmily
this morning, Mrs. DeWolf replied That h.
was enjoying excellent health, and has
never been better in his life.