Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-01-25
A Miser's Horrible Death.

George w. AnorT, an eccentric c!d man
of abou. 65 years, who has for long time
lived alone on Ridge avenue, Philadelphia,
had been missed by his neighbors for about
two weeks Yesterday the police were no.
tilted of his mysterious absence, and the
door leading to his room was forced open,
when q most pitable sight presented itself.
With one arm resting over his head, and
the latter reclining against the stove, Knorr
was found in knesling position dead. An
examination Of the room revealed matters
of O. most startling character. In barrel
was found two loaves of hard rye bread,
and on tho floor could be noticed crumbs of
bread, the only food that the old man was
known to eat. The latter was moldy,
proving beyond doubt that the man had
been dead for several days. During the in
vesligation the officers discovered several
deeds to property in East Hammon-
ton. Mullica township. Atlantic county,
n. j., which had been transferred by the
dead miser to George G. Cough!in. The
deeds were dated April 10, 1876, and signed
John c. Woodruff, master in chancery,
except one deed, the transfer of which
was over the signature of James Hayes,
ex-city solicitor of Camden City. The
old man tied these up in bandana
handkerchief which wss in his overcost
pocket. The overcoat and his other cloth
ing were found securely nailed to the bench
on which he had been III the habit ofsieep.
ing, back of tho stove. There was no Gov.
ering present TO show that the old man had
rested properly, aud q stool at the head of
the bench must have served him as pillow.
His shoes were lying several yards distant
| from where his body was discovered, while
| his feet were encased in coarse socks that
| had been frequently manded by his o@n
! hands. Crouched as he was the dead uliser
presented q most horrible sight. His gray,
matted hair hung loosely over his face and
! shoulders, and when the head was raised to
an upright position there was every evi-
dence OF starvation pictured on the counte-
nance. Not morsel of food was found
about the place exceptdry bread. Even the
stove. to which he chung in the throes of
death, had rot had fire in it. 1t was full OF
| paper and ready for ienitioo when the old
man died Cans OF old metal md strips Of
eather We're found concealed among the
many boxes that contained the gatherings
of the mise. from the gutter or street. The
| backened ceilings and smoky walls gave
evioencs that paper had been generally used
as fuel. There is but little known of the
history Of Kuorr He rented the room in
| which his dead body was found more than
| fourteen gears ago, aud has lived there Sc
clpded ever since He would not even al
| ow the agent to como inside 10 collect the
ron;. He would at times get in arrears, but
would subsequently cal! on the agent and
pay un at one time paying S119 He is not
known to have nny relatives or even &C
quaintances He was last seen to enter
bis room about month ego. A man who
occupied an office on the lower floor says
that Two weeks ago be heard Knorr groan-
| ing, and went to his door and called, hut re.
caived no answer The old man is supposed
to have been dying, as he had evidently
been dead that lerglh of time. Everything
shows :hat he starved or was frozen to
death The coroner has taken charge of the
b ody, and will endeavor to find the relatives
of the dead man, if there are any.