The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-11
A MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE.
Thousands Gazed at q Corpse That
Was Never Identified.

lIer. W. Bealer, an tie Atlanta C9a) Journal.
In neat frame on the Office wall in Pat
tsrson'g undertaking establishment hangs a
photograph that has an fnteresting story
connected with it.
The photograph is that of man not
more than 30 years of age. The features
are regular and delicate, the forehead high
and broad and about tae whole face is an
air Of refinement. The eyes, however, are
closed, for the man was robed for the grave
wh9n the photograph was taken.
He was seen alive for the last time on
April /, 1884, by q street car driver on the
Marietta street line. 1t was tho first car to
leave the city, and the stranger rode out as
far as Pondsr's Kill, and then getting of,
walked across the fields toward the W oOds
Two hours after crowd of merry chill
dren were rolling on the fresh green grass
and enjoying the lovely spring NOR ming as
only children can.
From the hilltop above them came the
report of pistol and they saw a bit of blue
smoke float upward and sail away upon the
brC ~
With childish curiosity they walked up
the hill TO sec who had fred the pistol They
we're timid and approached the place very
cautiously, but on reaching it they saw
a sight the like Of which they had never
seen before.
Lying on his back was a well-dressed
young man. A stream of blood was flowing
from hole in his forhead over his right
eye; his hat was lying on the grass and his
right hand held pistol, the one that had
fired the fatal shot.
The body was removed to Patterson's,
where an inquest was hsld. In the dead
mans pocket was nothing but pocket
book containing $ll0 and phial of lsuda-
mum, not a scrap of paper, not scratch Of
pen or pencil to tell who he was and whence
he came. The name of the firm selling the
hat had even been obliterated.
Witness after witness was examined, but
only one, the stree car driver, had ever
seen the man III life.
The body was embalmed and kept for
eight days, during which time thousands of
people looked upon the cold, white face, but
none of them recognized the dead man
Then the photograph was taken and prep
aratiOns were made for the burial on the
morrow.
On the morning Of the ninth day young
drummer came in to view the corpse
As soon as he had looked upon it he cried
aloud with anguish, declaring it was his
brother.
His grief was very violent. and he at
once telegraphed the sad news to his home
in Greenvile, S. c. He then agreed that
the body should be buried here, and after
ward removed TO his home
The casket containing the remains was
taken to Oakland cemetery and buried, the
only attendants being the undertaken aud
the grief-stricken brother.
The grave was carefully marked by the
| brother, who shed few parting tears over
the new made mound, and then returned
with Mr.. Patterson to the city
The bad just alighted from the wagon
when messenger ran up with a telegram
addressed to the young man.
| He opened Il, read it, appeared very
much excited, damned his hat over his eyes
and hurried down the street, the message
! luttering to the ground
| Mr.. Patterson picked it up and read:
'Your brother is not dead; he is at home
and we'll"
| The grief-stricken brother has never been
| seen since that day.
| Who then was the stranger whose body
rests beneath the sod at Oaklanda Who can
say what crime committed in a fit of pas-
| sion or eXcitement-a crime against which
| his sensitive soul revolted in his calmer mo-
ments-caused bin to quaR the bitter cup
! Of death when life should have been sweet
| est to himi
| Perhaps he has mother or a sister, aud
| who knows but that they are watching
patiently day by day for a letter to come,
| telling where their truant boy has been all
these years, 50 full Of agony and suspense to
! them.
| These and many other kindred thoughts
arise on looking upon the photograph hang
| ing on the wall
The strangers identity will, in all prob
ability, remain an unsolved problem while
| this life shall lest-unsolved to all save one
the God above who gave him being and in
| whose image he was made.