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

A MYSTERY FOR Chester
November 12.-Chestcr had somewha
OF sensation to-day. Late this after
noon a report was brought that the deac
body Of 4 white nan had been found ;
short distance from town, in tho wood
near MIR. Joe MeanS's residence. The
discovery was reported to have beer
made by two ntgrocs while hunting,
their attention having been drawn to
the spot by those novcr-faliug detectives
the buzzards.
Your correspondent sccurod : ~ in
a hack as soon as possible, started 6lITfor
the seeds of the tragedy, mystery or
whatever it may be, having been precc-
ded short distance by Acting Coroner
Leckio and hastily chosen Jury Of in-
quest. The Coroner aud his party had
started off burricdly in fact, but they
soon found to their sorrew that the mile
OF the first rumor continued to stretch
and grow until weary tramp of three
or moro miles brought them to the dead
mans body. 1t wos 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, flat on
his face, his body aud legs straisht, his
arms at right angle to the body. The
position was that of man who had
stretched himself in the brook to drink
and had fallen with his face in tho water
to meet death, perhaps by drowning in
q shallow stream:
A small fire was Mt once kindled by
the coroner's jury to furnish flight 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 but
a short distance away. The mans frame
had been dcnuded of its flesh save on
the face and breast. His clothes were
rotten and gone excepting the frag.
ments held beueath his frame, aud when
the corpse was raised from the half Gov
ering sand but little remained beyond
grinnlug skeleton. A small patch of
skin on the face, another on the chest
and thin lock Of s:rai light hair cn the
crown indicated that the unfortunate
was white.
A search was at once began for some
clue to the mans identity. Luckily. in
the destruction aud waste of his cloth
ing, the pockets had beon held to their
places aud letter was soon found d.
rected to Henry Addison, Chester, S. G.
AS the letter was thoroughly soak ed
with water. no aitemnL rAod -iiz---
anu declpher 1t, which canuot be done
before tomorrow.
DR.. S. NJ. Davcga proceeded with his
Investigation, but failed to find any in
dicatiou Of bodily injury. Although
the search for a wound was of ity
made with great difficulty, owing to tho
advanced state Of decomposition and the
destructive effect of water on the hcshy
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 and 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 map seemed to be
young, probably under 25.
Further facts will be developed at
the completion Of the ccroner's inquest
Tomorrow morning. Tho contents of
the mans pockets arc in Acting Coro-
ner's Lcckie's pocket handkerchief to-
night, 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 aud 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.