The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-04-23
A MYSTERY.
The Body OF the Man Found Near
MhlpoIt not lden,jii d.
It Ia Neither Leroh nor sohreiber--sup-
posed to be the Body of Clinton Man.


man. The description tallieo
with that of August Schneider Of North
Rex street, who disappeared March 16. 1t
was at first thought that the body might
be that Of T. Il. Lerch the missing
Ir was soon discovered how.
ever that the body was not that of Lerch,
as IL did not answer TO Lerch's description.
Besides IL is pretsy thoroughly understood
that Lerch is alive and we'll.
Coroner Openhimer and NEws-DEMo.
oRAT reporter lett for Millport yesterday
afternoon, and an investigation is now be-
ing made. A message from the coroner
to-day announces that the body is neither
that Of Schneider or Lerch, but is thought
to be that of Clinton man who disap.
peared a short time since.
The man found in the river had on three
coats, the outside one being common
cotton one. He wore pair OF dark trous-
ers, Over these were drawn pair of
overalls, making II apparent that he was
laboring man. Concerning the particu-
lars Of the discovery of the body the Mas
sillonian has the following.
AT 80 O'Clock this afternoon. VIM.
Clapper, section hand on the Cleveland,
Lorain & Wheeling railroad, found in the
Tuscarawas river at Hernbrook mine
trestle near Millport, near the second
river bridge the body of a medium sized
man. The corpse was badly decomposed.
The hair was dark. His clothes were
muddy. He seemed to have on overalls.
The coat seemed to be oily or oil cloth.
The man seemed to be of middle age.
A rope was uied and the body an
chored to prevent 1t from floating away.
Report was sent to Erhard & Schimke's
brewery, and Mr.. Erhard notified the
mayor and marshal and the coroner was
also informed. These officials left for the
place. The first man who saw the body
was Geo. Adams, one OF crew on the
shifter. He saw It floating near one of
the abutments of the trestle.
MAssILLoN, April % 22-[Special.l-C
oner John II. Openhimer went to Millport
yesterday afternoon tn view the remains
of the man found in the Tuscarawas river
and If possible ascertain the cause of his
death. The remains we're in fearful
condition. The body was badly bloated
and the smell was such that the specta-
tors kept away respectable distance.
The investigation failed to establish the
identity of the drowned man. He is evil
IDENTIFY about fifty years of age. He has
dark black hair and gray eyes. He
is in the neighborhood of five feet
ten inches. The features could not be
recognized plainly, yet it was easy to see
that a photograph in his pocket, was a
likeness of himself. On his person beside
the photograph was found prayer book,
one cent in money, broken gold ring,
pair of gloves and long worsted money
purse. He had on a pair of light blue
pants, and overalls of some dark material.
He had on three coats, but it was impossi-
BILE to tell the color, on account of the
mud on the clothing.
1t is hardly likely that the remains are
those of John Schneider or t. W. Lerch.
The description corresponds to that of
Schneider, but it is impossible to account
for his being in that locality. 1t is thought
that the unfortunate man floated down the
river from Clinton or some point this side
of there.
Everything about the case points to
a murder and Coroner Openheimeri lis now
hard at work trying to establish the iden-
tity of the murdered man and II successful
in this will attempt to locate the murder
er. The face and head of the drowned
man were horribly mutilated, The skull
is fractured and there is mark on the
right side of the head near the temple,
which looks as IL it had been caused by a
bullet. There is also deep cut at the
mouth and one side of the face is badly
swollen. This injury must have been in
flicted before death as If it had been done
afterwards, the flesh would not have
swollen. The supposition is that
the man was murdered, then robbed and
afterwards thrown in the river.
The remains had been in the water for
many weeks. This is shown by the fact
| that the body is so much decomposed
| The flesh is soft and while moving the
body some of his hair dropped out. The
amount of clothing that he had on also
shows that 1t was cold weather when he
| was drowned as he had the three coats
buttoned up tight around his neck.
The remains were brought to Massillor
last night and will be inferred in this city
Coroner Opnheimer last night took the
| testimony of Marshal Hagan and Mr.
Volkmore. They were at the scene soor
after the man was discovered and assisted
by Mayor Reed, pulled him out of the
water. They told of finding the body
near the bridge at Millport, but coult
throw no light on his identity, on how he
came to his death.
The village OF Millport and the town oI
Massillon are greatly excited over thu
affair, and the universal opinion is tina
there has been foul play. Coroner Open
himer left this morning for Clinton wher,
he expects to obtain information which
will throw some light on the identity o
the unknown.