The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-11-22
A MYSTERY FOR CuEsrER.-Chester

| " toAInk Foh Cu Observation-Disclosures
November 12.-Chester had somewha,
OF sensation to-day. Late this after.
noon report was brought that the dead
body OF white mau ha d been found a
snort distance from town, in tho woods
near Mr.. Joe Means's residence. The
discovery was reported to have been
made by two ntgrocs while hunting,
their attention having been drawn to
the spot bythosc never-failiug detectives,
the buzzards.
Your correspondent secured seat in
hack as soon as possible, started off for
the seeds of the tragedy. mystery or
Whatever it may be, having been prece
ded short distance by Acting Coroner
Leckie and hastily chosen jury of iu-
quest. The Coroner aud his party had
started oil burricdly in fact, but they
soon found to their sorrow that tho mile
OF the first rumor continued to stretch
and grow until weary tramp of three
or more miles brought them to the dead
mans body. 1t ives getting dark by
this time and thick clouds heightened
the gloom.
AT last the spot was reached, and
dreary place it was. The dead man
lay in the middle of the stream, fiat on
his face, his body aud legs strai .ht, his
arms at right angle to the body. The
position was that of a man who had
stretched himself in the brook to drink
and had fallen with his face in the water
to meet death, perhaps by drowpipg in
shallow stream:
A small fire was at once kindled bv
the coroner's jury to fur rnish light to
work by, and weird scene it was. The
banks were crowded with briers aud
tangled bushes, two big hills shut in the
investigating party So close that even
their conversation could be heard bu.
short distance away. The mans frame
had been denuded of its flesh save on
the face aud breast. His clothes we're
rotten and gone excepting the rrag.
ments held beneath his frame, and when
the corpse was raised from the half coy-
ering sand but little remained beyond
griDnlug skeleton. a small patch of
skin on the face, another on the chest
and a thin lock oC straight hair on the
crown indicated that the unfortunate
was white.
A search was at once began for some |
clue to the mans identity. Luckily. in |
tue destruction and waste of his cloth
ing, the pockets had been held to their
places and a letter was soon found d. |
rected to Henry Addison, Chester, S. G. |
AS the letter was thoroughly soaked |
With water. no aiten,nL-inraad -it--~-
anu declpher 1t, which cannot be done |
before tomorrow.
DR.. S. NJ. Davcga proceeded with his |
investigation, but failed to find any in
dication Of bodily injury. Although
the search for wound was of necessity |
made with great difficulty, owing to the |
advanced state Of decomposition and the
destructive effect of water on the feshy
parts. The skull was intact and no
wound was visible on that portion of the |
breast remaining.
The most probable theory is the one
hinted above, that the man had been
drinking aud wandered out from the
road and got lost, aud then 10 weak
ened condition had dragged himself in
the stream miserably to die From all
appearances the man seemed to be
young, probably under 25.
Further facts will be developed at
the completion of the ccroner's inquest
Tomorrow morning. The contents of
the mans pockets arc in Acting Coro-
ner's Leckie's pocket handkerchief to-
oight, that official swearing by all the
powers that he would not let any news
paper man IN Christendom get peep
at the relics before morning. The
skeleton was moved out on the bank aud
left there, all ghastly and alone, to wait
for to-morrows light, when closer in
spection will be made, the corpse dis
posed Of and the official verdict brought
in.