The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-02

THE CHASTITY FIND OF A NEGRO IN
WOLF RIVER BOTTOM.
The Body of Handsome, Well-Pre-
served Old Gentleman Found Near
Hindman Ferry Road-His Identity a
Puzzle to the Police.

Puzzle to the Police.
The most thoroughly frightened and
river bottom for many day was Thomas
johnson, colored, yesterday afternoon.
He was in that locality about half mile
from Hindman's ferry, and about four or
five miles from the city, squirrel hunting,
when he suddenly beheld, full in front Of
him and prone upon the ground, the form
Of a man, naked save a gray shirt, which
partially covered the upper part OF the
body, with head and face lying half in
shallow by stream and the rest OF the body
bare upon the muddy earth. Tho alright
cd huntsman started back in horror
at the ghastly sight, but regain
ing his courage, advanced close enough
to see that the form was lileless,
and that OF an aged white man. He has
tened TO the nearest telephone, almost q
mile away, and informed the police Of his
blood curdling discovery Squire John J.
Barry was requested TO visit the spot and
make the necessary inquiry, which he
readily done. II was a long ride, and the
body was more than half mile from the
nearest dwclling-house. Arriving ON the
spot, sufficient number Of men were
found collected from which 10 impanel a
jury, and the inquest at once began. There
was not one OF all the curious gazers on
the aged corpse who had ever seen ii
alive. There was not the slightest
indication Of violence. The features were
perfect, and the placid smooth shaver TACO
and the closed gray eyes seemed rs II they
had sank into pleasant repose, even there
on the sloping, murky bank OF the little
stream which sluggishly swept over the
half Of that old face, which from its kindli-
ness even in death, must have been dear
10 some one and probably TO many.
Inquiry as to who the corpse could be
was useless, for none present could recog-
nize il. Back from the body, and near o
bulky old stump was the clothing, most
presumably the garments in which the
man alive had been habited, and this
clothing was drenching wet aside from
the heavy gray shirt on the body, the
clothing lying near the body consisted OF a
black sack pilot cloth coat, black cloth
vest, with red flannel lining, evidently Of
foreign make, red and gray suspendes, q
purple wooden scarf, drab pants and pair
OF fine cali-skin boots. The body was ap-
parently that OF man seventy-fve or
eighty years Of age, though well preserved,
being OF full face, rather large nose, COM
pletcly bald on the top OF his head, but
the edges, and thick gray eyebrows, and
weighed about ll5 pounds.
The dead man was most surely q de-
voted Catholic, for around his shrunken
neck was string OF beads, a cross, and
four religious medals, the most prominent
one being that OF Pontius Plate TX, and
q pair OF scapulas. In one OF the pants
pockets was found an old lcathern pocket
book, which had evidently been used for a
long time but not OF a very fine quality.
In Il was 50-cent piece OF silver. In an
other pocket OF the pants was found s. in
silver and a trunk key. In one leg OF the
pants was q stout money belt, made
Of canvass cloth. for the holding OF
money or yaluables, and bound
on the front side with heavy blue cloth,
with several time-worn holes In H. This
belt was capable OF holding a large sum Of
money, had cords at either end for fasten-
ing around the waist and securely sewed
up to few inches OF one end which had
been left open for the reception Of the
money and then 10 be fastened by means
OF buttons, three in number. In the
pockct-book was a portion OF an old ticket
Tor third-class passage on the Old
Dominion steamship line There was also
a ticket purchased In New York, from
that city 10 San Francisco via Kansas City
and Mojaye, also 10 Albuquerque, New
Mexico. This ticket had written on the
liua indicated for the passenger, the name
james r. Koe, in a cramped and irregular
hand. Whether this be the genuine name
Of the dead man or not, Is only a matter
Of speculation, NJ the ticket might have
been purchased from ''scalper" This
ticket was stamped "Kansas City railroad,
February %, 1885"
The coroner's jury returned verdict Of
death from an unknown cause. Squire
Barry preserved the clothes, and turned
over the body 10 the county undertaken.
IL should also be stated that
In the pants pocket was a Kansas City
railroad baggage check No. ia. Sergt.
Hedrick took the check down 10 the depot
OF that road, but up 10 late hour no bag
gage was found with q check tallying 10
No. 1lf.
Squire Barry was Of the opinion that
the dead man was much emaciated In
flesh, and had either died from sickness OF
general debility. lie also thought that the
body might have been lying there for one
OF two days But the question u, how
came the man thcrc7 How did he, II he
had been passenger on the Old Domin.
lon Steamship line, get from New York
10 this point In tho above stated
period Of timer How came him 10 be
found In that lonely placer Then, too,
could he have pulled his clothing of him.
sclf-it lay az II Il had been carefully
placed thereY There being no signs Of
violence, could he have been murdered,
and by what means and what fort Tho
money belt was unopened aud there was
$50 In the pants pocket. II the baggage
for which the check calls for can be found
then the identity OF the old man may b,
established. otherwise who he IL or how h,
came 10 bc found where he was will mos