Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-26
WILMINGTON.
NV YORK COTTON ytrTuKEa.
THIRTY YEARS AFTER.
An Old M,s,srp In fair War OF Beins Ia
travelled. at Last.


A Shirleysburg Pa telegram says:
Nearly thirty years ago a young man
named John X. Hicks. halling from
New York. came 10 Shirlcysburg, and,
being a potter by trade, he soon found
employment ia the pottery Of Samuel
Backus, in the upper end of town. lie
was steady and industrious young
man. and readily won the esteem OF the
people Of shirley sburg, and particularly
Of the family Of Squire Backus, whose
daughter IN cstrse Of time he welded.
shortly after his marriage he engaged
in business and proSpered. lie
was seemingly happy and contented.
lie had become leading and hon
cred member Of the Baptist Church, at
that time the weallhe>t and most in
iiuental denomination in the place.
His seat in the house of worship was
never vacant, and his duties a. super
intendent and teacher in the sabbath
school were neyerneglecied. Suddenly.
however. he disappeared and was never
more heard of. though his friends and
the auihoritie, exhausted every avail
able means to learn something Of his
wheIeaboutS or probable fate. Pre-
vious to his disappearance he was
known 10 have received a considerable
sum of money. and it was finally con-
GUIDED that lie had left the country for
some unknown anu unexplained reason.
Now, after a ,spSe of almost thirty
years, comes a startling revelation that
may possibly be the means Of clearing
away the mystery. Ms. Mary Beatty,
an old lady who lives at Vineyard Mills,
but " ho resided near ShirleySburg at
the time Of llicks'S disappearance. has
made statement IN the presence Of
Samuel Baird and his family wherein
she alleges that John Hicks was
murdered, and that his body was
concealed in a lonely spot among
tie rocks in piece of woods
IN Germany Valley. this county, and
that his bones remain there TO this day.
Nr>. Beatty states that previous to
stopped at her father house in search
OF lodging. They purported to be dro-
Ncr>. and displayed large rolls Of mo-
ney. Both Of the men spoke German
iu,ntiy. They remained in the neigh.
borhool ior several days and succeeded
IN gaining the confidence Of John Hicks.
" hen not securing the country they
could be seen almost constantly in his
society.
Tn the night preceding the dissp-
pearauce Of Hicks one of the men took
/ his departure. On the following night
+ the other cue also left. After the lapse
Of several day, the two strangers re-
turned, when the disappearance Of
Hicks was still the general topic Of
conversation. and again secured lodg-
Ing at Mrs. Beatty home. The ilimsy
PARTITION separating her room from
thor sleeping apartment enabled her
TO hear quite well all that they said,
and before they left finally she discoy-
cred that they had murdered Hicks and
also where his body was hidden. Being
Of an exceedingly nervous tempera.
ment Mrs. Beatty refraiHed from speak
irg of her awful discovery lest she.
too. might suffer the terrible fate Of
Hicks. For almost thirty years she
has withheld the secret Of the murder.
snd now that she i, rapidly nearing the
grave she wishes by the tardy dis
closure to relieve her mind Of lis un-
bearable weight. Steps are being
taken to thoroughly investigate tho
matter and, II possible at this late day.
to bring the perpetrators of the deed to
Justice.