The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-09-22
A MAN FOUND DEAD.
j. II. Holmes Was His Name and
He Died of fAppOplexy.

Hot SPRINGS, N. c., September 21.-
Especial. This peaceful village was
thrown into a fever of excitement last
evening over the report of the finding Vi
dead body on the precipitous noun
tain side above Lovers Leap" "Who
was he ?" and "How did he die?" were
the questions on everybody's tongue. A
mysterious death within few hundred
Yards Of the centre of the town was
enough to startle the citizens from the
even tenor of their way and take prompt
steps for the investigation as to the
cause of the unknown's decease. The
first step was to secure the remains which
were high up the mountain side, the out
stretched hands clutching in their death
grasp tufts of grass which helped sustain
the body in position.
This was no easy task. The descent
of the mountain at the point where the
body was found is so steep that an able
bodied man finds difficulty in picking
his way along the very narrow footpath
ON the rocky slope. The duty of carry
ing a corpse down this place in the dusk
of the evening was far from pleasant.
Two sturdy mountain climbers performed
the task, however, and brought the body
across the ferry to the mayors office.
Here, under the dim rays of lantern
it lay, exposed to the view of the NOR
bidly disposed onlookers as the Hon.
Beverly w. Hill, took charge of the pro-
ceedings and swore in a jury of the good
citizens to sit over the remains. Lawyer
Rumbough took the testimony and DR..
Montgomery was the medical examiner.
In solemn and dignifed manner the
mayor called for John Saunders" A
fluttcr of expectancy ran through the
crowd of spectators. Hold up yonr
right hand" said his honor "Do you
solemnly swear that you will tell the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but
the truth, so help you God ?"
~ do, answered the witness.
Now tell what you know of finding
this body" remarked the mayor.
my wife said that this man came to
my house shortly after nine O'Clock in
the morning and solicited pictures to en-
large. A picture was given to him, but
my wife told him he must make the terms
with me, which was agreed to. The
stranger expressed a desire to climb
Lovers Leap" My little boy guided
him to the pathway up the mountain
side Before starting the man left his
pictures at the house, saying he would
return for them. He did not come back.
My wife cold me of the circumstance
and secured the assistance of Mr.. Robert
son. Weclimbed the mountain and nearly
at the summit we found the mans body.
He had fallen on his face and was in that
position with his hands clutching the
grass and his spectacles pushed up on
his forehead"
Mr.. Robertson confirmed Mr.. Saun-
ders' testimony. Another citizen said he
saw the man knocking at the Episcopal
church door a few days ago. The man
appeared queer" He visited number
of people in town and made a favorable
impression.
At a late hour last night the jury rem
dered verdict of death from natural
causes-probably exhaustion and heart
failure, owing to the vigorous climb.
On the mans person were found watch,
thirty-six dollars in money and papers
showing him to be J. B. Holmes, travel
ing for Fairfield, Ills, photograph firm.
Mayor Hill telegraphed to Illinois but
has not received an answer. The body
was buried this afternoon. M. Y. B.