The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-05-07
A CHASTITY FIND.
The Body of the Naked Man
Found in a Swamp,
Near New Berlin, Fully Identified as
Gottleib Lehman.
The Discovery Made bya Farmer While
at work-Particulars Of the Discovery
and Coroner openhimer's Investiga

The NEws-DEMOCRAT last night PUB.
lished the exclusive news Of the Identifies
ton Of the body found in a swamp near
New Berlin, as that of Gottleib Lehman,
who disappeared from Canton last Friday
Coroner John H. Openhmer, as soon rs
notified, left for the place. On arriving
at the farm of Henry Dieble, two miles
west of New Berlin, he was shown TO the
swamp. Lying in three feet OF water,
face downward, with only small portion
of his back above the surface, was the
form of man. The body was about ten
feet from the shore and had evidently
been in tho water for at least two days.
The back was blistered and the left hand
clutched a small bush. Coroner Open.
himer wadcd into the water and pulled
he man onto solid ground. He was nude
and the body was at once recognized as
that of Gottleib Lehman.
Strange TO say the body was well pre-
served and there were very few marks on
IL. There was q scar about three inches
long on the left shoulder, and two small
ones on the back. The legs were scratched
some, but none OF the wounds were deep.
II seems almost impossible that naked
man could have wandered through the
swamps the way Lehman did, without
being bruised and torn in a fearful man
ner. After making a thorough examina-
ton of the body, Coroner Openhimer
turned il over TO the undertaken at New
Berlin to prepare 1t for burial.
1he remains we're first discovered by
Charles Dieble, who was narrowing in
field on the edge Of the swamp. He saw
something white in the water and stopped
to see what il was. AT first he thought
someone had thrown q calf into the wa
ter, and wondered why any of his neigh
bor7 would do such thing. Closer in-
vestigation showed that il was the body Of
q man. Diebie Immediately notified
friends, and the coroner was summoned.
1t will be remembered that Lehman left
his home, No. SO Lawn avenue, last FRI
day morning. He was only partially
dressed at the time, and was supposed to
be slightly demented.
Superintendent Pontiusv of the
Inflrmary, was in the city Sat
fectual efforts TO capture Lehman on Sat
urday when he was seen by parties at a
point near the Inflrmary, but was unable
TO get on his track.
Sheriff Krlder and Officer Becherer
went out in search of the insane man on
Saturday. They found that he had been
seen about two miles north of the Inflrm-
ary. He had made bed OF some straw
and farm yard refuse under hickory
tree. There was evidence that he lay
there Friday night.
Before leaving the tree he divested him
self of oil his clothing, which he bundled
up and left near the spot where he had
lain. The Sheriff and the officer tracked
him for a considerable distance through a
swamp, but could not find him. The
search was continued Sunday with no
better success, and the searchers returned
to the city, having learned nothing further
the man. The searching party
was within 500 feet of where tho body was
found, but didn't discover him.
1t is not definitely known when Lehman
entered the swamp, or where he met his
death, but ii Is supposed to have been late
Sunday night, as that was the last seen or
heard of him.
Sunday evening about 10 o'clock, John
Gursky, who lives near the swamp where
Lehman was found. heard someone around
.be house and thinks probably it was Leh- -!
nan, as the nan was naked. Gurslky
raised the window to look out and the
man disappeared.
Lehman has u mania for wandering in
swampB when demsnted, and when he
lsappe 4red from home some time ago,
he was found in the middle of a large
swamp trying to pull up. a stump. He
caves a wife and two children. The re-
mains were brought to Canton to-day.
Mrs. Lehman was at police headquarters
early this morning 10 make inquiries con-
,erning the tragic death OF her husband.
To NEws-DEMoCRAT reporter she stated |
hat Lehman always felt very badly after |
ne had been drinking a couple OF days.
lie was very nervous all night, and had
been sitting up tho greater part of the
ime. At about four o'clock he said to
lie wife that he would go out for walk
md get little air.
"I'm afraid you will not come back,n
lis wife said to him.
"Oh, yes, I'll be back. Ny heads all
light. Pm not crazy yet,o Lehman an
,wered as he left the house.
That is the last the family saw of him
Until today, as he lay in his cofIln.
Coroner Openhimery yesterday afternoon
ook the testimony of Charles Dieble who |
discovered the body, Henry Dieble, John
1ursky and Joseph Prentzel. Nothing |
vas learned from them in addition to |
What is given above. The testimony of |
,ther Witnesses will be taken later on.
There was quite party went to New 4
Tohn H. Openhimer, DR.. L. IL. Landor |
md a reporter were In one buggy, Charles |
Z. Frazer, Business Manager of the NEWS. /
DEMOCRAT, and Il. McMurray of the Re- /
,ository in another, and Sheriff Krider /
md Officer Becherer in another. At New
3erlin q stop was made, and Coroner /
managed to get away from /
he people in the other carriage, arriving |
4 the place, getting the body out of the /
yater, and making thorough investiga- /
ion before Messrs. Frazer and McMurray |!
Irrived.
Al the examination Of witnesses, John |
sursky testified as follows: | am a
armer 50 years OF age. AT 10 o'clock Sun |
Law evening, man was at my house. A |
laked man came TO my house at this time /
nd walked around the house. / went up |
tairs and looked around. Ten minutes |
.fter heard him again and also q third /
ime. The man then left. He did not /
ap at the door. / looked out of the win i
Iow and could not see him. On Monday i
was told that a man had disappeared. i |
loticed the tracks Of a man going up and /
own the hill. l think the man was |
round the hills for a couple OF days.n
Gursky lives near the place where Leh- /
nan was found, and there Is little doubt l
hat he was the man who was around the /
ouse Sunday evening. The footprints |
ouId be plainly seen on the hill yester- |
ay. No one else could be found who had
cen a naked man. 1t Is very probable |
hat Lehman did not taste food after leav- |
nQ home, as his stomach was greatly de- |
ressed. He evidently wandered into the |
yater and soon expired.
Lehman has always been rather queer.
Ie was O powerful man and some years
90 walked from Tennessee to Canton,
is wife following him by rail later on.