The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-03
SHROUDED IN MYSTERY.
WAS THE MAN FOUND IN WOLF
RIVER BOTTOM MURDEREDs
The Remains Given a Decent Burial In
Calvary Cemetery Controversy Be-
tween onicials over an Unexpected
Find OF Treasure.

account Oh tne nOrrlDle nnu OF ION JOnn-
son, colored, Of this city, while squirrel
hunting in Wolf river bottom, Of the
corpse Of an aged white man. AS will be
recalled, the body was naked save shirt,
and lying on the edge Of shallow stream,
which flowed about six inches OF water,
on the edge OF which the head Of the dead
man partially lay. As minute descrip-
ton OF the person and clothing Of the man
as was furnished by the coroner was fully
set forth, along with the facts that the
other garments necessary TO mans attire
were found drenching wet by a stump
BONE six or eight feet distant from the
body, and from the pants pocket was taken
npuse and loose currency amounting TO
$3.50 A description Of the railroad ticket
and the points Of destination, as men,
toned thereon, will also DO borne in
mind. Quite crowd of the people
in the neighborhood had gathered
10 see the corpse, which lay
about half mile from the main road to
the left Of Hindman's Ferry, four miles
from the city, out in the river bottom, but
none OF them being able to identity the
remains, and as the jury of inquest were
unable to discover any marks OF violence
upon the person OF the deceased verdict
from unknown causes was returned, and the
body assigned 10 County Undertaken John
Walsh for interment. Mr.. Walsh sent his
employee, Mr.. Curtis, out for the body,
and he brought II TO the city.
The relation Of these facts are solely for
The purpose Of calling attention 10 later
developments in the case. As stated, the
body was half mile from the levee known
III. -. a L..
md jury had finished the inquest the
body was intrusted TO two negro men,
Andrew jackson and Dan Exum, 20 be
carried to the public highway. There Mr.
Curtis received il. The body had
been placed in a rough blanket and
bound about the waist by the
blue WOODEN scarf OF the deceased
Through the blanket holes were punched,
and heavy wooden bar run; placing the
ends Of this on their shoulders, the two
faithful oolored men carried il half milo
through the muddy bottom 10 the public
road. Along with the body they had
gathered up the clothing in bundle and
placed II in the blanket. On arrival at the
road, Mr.. Curtis had the body placed in
The collin as IL was. And now comes the
new point in the case. Mr.. Curtis took
the pains 10 examine the clothing more
particularly, as the result shows, than the
coroner and his jury, who had taken from
the pockets OF the coat and pants, purse
and loose change amounting to $3.50. On
the left hand side Of the coat, directly I'M
der the armpit was course drilling sack,
about the length and size OF a 8 cent table
salt sack. In this was leather money
pouch filed with English sovercigns,
which measured fully half way
The cloth sack. Right here Il
h best 10 give what took
jackson, as told an APrEAL reporter, who
found him yesterday afternoon at Gibson's
store, Just out from the bottom where the
corpse was found. jackson states that
when the young man Whose name IL
Curtis, but which no did not know de-
tected the sack OF coin he pulled II from
Us fastening, and throwing II on the
ground said that II contained nails. Jack
son heard the Jingle Of the coin, and
whether familiar 10 his ears or not he
knew that Il was not nails, and demanded
that he see H. Curtis poured II out. IL
WAS good yellow gold Enthusiastically, but Of
forign mold, and the negroes knew not
what TO make Of Il. Curtis, according 10
yacllson's story, did not know what II was
either, but since he saw IL was not nails he
said "well, well bury Il with the old
man." and throwing Il back into the sack
he tossed II into the colin along with the
clothing and drove off, Mr.. Curtis states
that on arrival In the city he took
che sack Of coin and turned II
over 10 Mr.. Walsh, and that on examina-
Zion Il was found to contain seventy-ninc
sovcrcigns, and TINT Is the last he has seen
Of H. Jackson says that the sack was
about half full Of money, and judging
from the amount poured out oil II, Il could
not have been less than ~ 900, and proba-
bly, more.
Jackson also states, that on the crown Of
the dead mans head were plain blood
shot bruises, which were fast coloring 10 a
purplsh hue. In his judgment the body
had been where II WINS iound about fifteen
OF twenty houn.
J. w. Roach, a tenant ON the farm oI
Mr. n. l.. Gibson, near where the body
was found, was at fint quito sure no could
identify Il Ne that Of an aged miner, OF
rather mineral expert, whom he has
known nj Atoka. Tenn, and had been On
Yagcd by Messrs. Storms, Standridge and
Moore. In exploring mineral hills neai
that place. The description he gives suita
Tho CORPSE exactly, with the exception
that he had when last seen, two or three
IuouthH aEVI ntfott ntttgyg tial VN1e
The size and style OF clothing. and that he
was devoted Catholic, ar,
Identical with tho published state
mont Mr.. Roach was unable
% recall his name, but said that the mar
no had In mind answering 10 the descrip
ton Of the dead man. was an old Cali
fornia miner, had In late years settled neal
Kansas City, where he was well 10 do
having largo and respected iamily and I
great deal Of property, though following
The bent Of bis nature. he roamed abou
the country on exploring expeditions o.
new mines, being often probably em
ploycd, NJ In the case nj Atoka. hr
Roach had not seen him for seycra
months, and In regard 10 the Information
conveyed M 10 tho railroad ticket, sur
missed that aside from its being scalpcrl
ticket purchased In this city, that In lac
the dead man might have gone 10 New
York to sell some mining stock, and beef
on his way home.
The mystery Is, how came the man n
The place found and the condition ~ dc
scnbcd. All o. his clothing was foun'
near nj hand, with the exception OF hat
There being no evident marks Of violence
could u have been that he deliberatel
pulled of his clothing and laid down an
died? But how came him there9 tn
nearest railroad station from where he wa
found II Frazier, on the Newport News
Mississippi Valley road, n half mile dil