The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-14
FOUND DEAD IN THE FIELD.
An Exciting Discovery Made by Some
Farmers Living Near Cumberland.
The Body Identified as That of Thomas G.
Reading, an Ex-Councilman-Th Bottle
of MOrphine-A Strange Badge


Ripley & Hedges, undertakers, that the dead
body of a man was lying in a wheat-feld on the
farm of Thomas Huested, about three miles
east of Irvington, and quarter of mile north
of the National road. When the undertakers ar
rived at the place they found the body of a we'll
dressed man lying in the field, while in the road
near by was light-covered wagon, to which was
attached valuable black horse. The wagon
was fixed up for sportsman. There was a good
jointed rod and some fishing tackle, a rife,
double barreled shotgun and large quantity Of
cartridges suitable for both weapons and also
ammunition for revolver.
A little after o'clock yesterday afternoon,
while Mr. Huested's sons were hauling in wheat
to stack it, they noticed man walking about in
the field. The only remark he made to them
was, 'sYou have nice wheat" AS he walked
away from them. they thought he acted strange
ly, and he talked to himself They heard him
mutter, Nov. George, didn't go to do that;
didn't mean to do it; I'm sorry" and other words
mere disconnected aud which they could not
understand The young men went to the house
and told Mr.. Huested, who went over to the
field. When he arrived at tho spot he found the
man lying upon his face, and thought he had
either been overcome by the heat or had fallen
in fit. Upon turning him over, he found him
to be dead.
When the body was brought to Ripley &
Hedgess undertaking establishment Mr. Hedges
examined the face of the corpse and looked
through his pockets for something whereby to
identify him. They had some difficulty in get
ting the body, as where it lay it was guarded by
black and white bulldog, and the animal had
to be coaxed away before they could touch the
body After they had placed the body in the
wagon, the dog, not having seen the disposition
made Of his late master, followed the wagon a
short distance toward the city, and then, evil
IDENTIFY not quite satisfied, followed no further,
and probably returned to the horse and wagon
of the hunter, which were left at the farm.
The head of the corpse was quite bald, and his
face, except the upper part of the cheeks was
From the hip-pocket was taken a six barreled
revolver, from another pocket a good silver
watch: there was a pocket-book with $l5 in
money, and there We're cartridges in nearly
every pocket. Every barrel of the revolver was
loaded.
The undertaken thought it clearly case of
sunstroke, and so expressed himself The next
moment he took from an inside vest-pocket q
dram-bottle nearly filed with morphine
IA saere it Is" said he; this is what
ence is likely to be wrong, as the fact that
there was so much morphine in the bottle and
that the cork and label were soiled, would rath-
er indicate that the person had been an habitual
user OF the drug. In another pocket was found
a number of papers. ~One of these was signed.
rs d. Pray, secretary of the indianapolis Gas
light and Coke Company" aud was a receipt in
dicating that i. c. Reading had left with
him for safe keeping one lady's gold watch and
chain, one gentleman's gold watch and chain and
three rings" A crumpled card bore the words,
''T. c.. Reading, The Hub" The Hub is sa-
loon at the northwest corner of Pennsylvania
and Maryland streets, opposite the gas Office
Nearly every one present knew Mr. Reading,
proprietor of The Hub, he having been at one
time a member of the City Council, and for
several years connected with the we'll known
carriage factory of B. c. Shaw & Co. So each
one looked at the dead man and thought him
probably relative or friend of Mr. Reading.
There was badge pin upon the vest of the dead
man, with a cross and crown emblem and
the letters Y. NJ c. A.-the badge of the Young
Mems Christian Association.
AS the reporters were about to leave. the I'M
dertakers took another look at the face One of
them quickly called out, II have it now. It's
Tom Reading himself" So it was and though
his face was familiar, at least not strange to
anyone there, death had so changed it that no
one had recognized it. Besides, the Y. NJ G. A.
pin had misled all from supposing the wearer
could be in the liquor business. 1t is not I'M
likely that 1t was worn as a joke.
Mr.. Reading was man about fifty five years
old. He was something of sportsman, liking
and owning a fast horse and being fond of
hunting and fishing. He was a man of warm
and generous impulses. and few years ago was
considered an enterprising and prosperous me-
chanic. He leaves. it is said, widow.