The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-01-01
BURNED TO A CRISP.
Frightful Death of Conrad Will
son Of Massillon.
Both Hands ard a Foot Completely
S.vred From the Body.
The Remains Burned Beyond Recogni-
tion--The Origin of the Fire Mystery
Particulars of the Sad Affair.
Burned to a crisp.

Burned to a crisp.
Erlghtful death of an aged man.
He INDUCES too freely in the flowing
bowl on Christmas eve and goes to his
home in Massillon.
He starts fire and then goes TO sleep.
The house is soon in flames, and the re-
mains are discovered burned in horrible
manner.
Such in brief is the story of one of the
most fearful! deaths that ever occurred in
this vicinity.
The victim was Conrad Wilson, one of
the best known citizens of Massilion. He
was seen in the streets of Massil on
Wednesday evening about o'clock. 1t
is supposed that shortly after this he went
to his home, as he was never afterwards
zen alive.
About 10 o'clock the same evening, there
was an alarm of fire and the Massillon de-
partment responded promptly. The
blaze was at the residence of Conrad
Wilson in North Hill street. When the
department arrived the flames had gained
considerable beadway and the small
structure was in blaze. The home in
which Conrad Wilson has resided for
many years was little frame building.
While fighting the flames one Of tue boys
DISCOVERED THE REMAINS
OF man in the burning mass. The fire.
men quickly rescued him and it was dis
covered that the victim was the gentle
man who resided in the house.
The body was burned in most terrible
manner and it was impossible to recog-
nize the features of Wilson. The re-
mains were taken to the undertaking es-
tablishment of John Il. Ogden. Life
must have been extinct long before the
body was discovered. The tlremen soon
had the flames extinguished and only the
frame work of the building remained
standing.
Conrad Wilson was about 65 years of
age and has resided in Massillon nearly
40 years. He was known to every man,
woman and child in the city and was
general fayorite. He was considered a
a harmless old man, and his only fault
was a desire for strong drink. He harmed
no one but himself and was always quiet
and peaceable. He resided alone in the
little frame house where he met his death.
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
He had been down street early in the
evening and had been drinking some. 1t
is thought he went home and after start
ing the fire lay down near the cook stove
TO sleep off the effects OF the liquor. In
some manner the house caught fire, and
while asleep he was probably suifocated.
When the flames reached him he was un-
conscious and while perhaps making a
slight struggle, yielded up his soul to its
maker.
HIS FAMILY.
Just how the fire originated is mystery
and will always remain such. The de-
ceased was known by the nickname
"Coonn and was well connected, being a
brother OF George Wilson and an uncle of
Attorney Wilson, of Massillon. He was
married twice, his first wife being dead. He
waB divorced from the second one. He
had daughter by his first wife, who is
married to a son of Hugh McColloch ex
secretary Of the treasury. The daughter
resided In Ft. Wayne with her husband,
who is well known banker of that city.
She has always been very attentive to her
father, making him many presents and
writing to him frequently. She was teio-
graphed in regard 10 his sad death, ard
no arrangements for the funeral will be
made until she is heard from.
SOMETHING IN REGARD TO wILLIsoN.
During the war Wilson was tele-
graph operator and rendered the govern
ment valuable services. Re was one of
the first sound telegraph operators, and
an expert at the business. After the war
he devoted himself TO the tailoring nusi-
ness and established quite trade, but
drink was his ruin and of late years he
has been doing odd jobs. The old man
was very fond OF flowers and cultivated
them 10 some extent.
THE ooRoNER NOTIFIED. 81
Shortly after II o'clock Wednesday eve