The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-07-05
A REMARKABLE CASE
A Man Believed to Have Been
Murdered Found and Identified.
SEARCHING FOR FOURTEEN YEARS
The Victim Of q Conspiracy Proves Himself
Innocent-Acquitted by aJury But Al
ways Tainted With Suspicion.


COLUMBUS, O., July flames A. Brock,
commission merchant and general broker
Of FL Paso, Texas, who formerly lived IN
London, Ohio, has just discovered that
man whom he was accused of numbering
fourteen years ago is alive, and the sup
posed victim is making tour OF the coun-
try with Mr.. Brock to set at rest the sus-
plcion and gossip that at one time nearly
ruined the accused mans career. Frank
Woosley is the name of the man whom Mr..
Brock was accused Of numbering. He Is a
cousin of Brock and when the latter left
Ohio in the '70's and located in Texas,
Woosley visited him and bought half in
terest in Brooks ranch. Brock and Wool
sey made money. On the morning OF May
-, 1877, Frank Woolsey left the ranch. and
till Monday last has not been heard OF by
his friends or relatives. Ed Woolsey,
half brother of Franks, went to Fort
Griffin, the nearest postoficc to the Texas
ranch, to investigate matters. On Novem-
Der %, 1877, he offered q reward OF Sl,OOO
for the body of Frank Woosley, supposed
to have been murdered, aud for informa
ton which would lead TO the arrest OF
the supposed murderers. This reward
has been standing ever since.
Ed Woosley and Mr.. Moore, VINO
had married sister of Frank Woosley,
accused James A. Brock of having muir
dered Frank Woosley. and, as Mr.. BROCK
claims, entered into conspiracy 10 ROD
him of his property. They not only accused
him of numbering Frank but had him IN
dicted for selling cattle Illegally. number
of indictments making this charge were
found against MIR. Brock and he was
arrested. Shackeltord was then new
county and had no Jail, so the sheriff took
charge of the prisoner. Woosley and Moore
by their charges of murder and illegal sale
of cattle against Brock stirred up public
sentiment 10 such pitch that the prisoner
narrowly escaped being lynched by mob,
His life was saved by the sheriff who
spirited him away. When the excitement
quieted down Mr.. Brock was tried and
acquitted. When Brock found himself a
free man he learned that relatives OF
Woosley had sold the ranch for about go, =
600, and as he could get no satisfaction
from them he left the country and began
life again in another part of the state He
heard from friends in Ohio that it was still
thought in and around London he was
guilty of Woosley's murder. Brock
then offered a reward of $1,000 for
the arrest of Frank Woosley, claiming
the latter was in the conspiracy to rob him
of his property. Woosley had apparently
disappeared from the face of the earth De-
tectives hunted over Texas and other
southwestern states in vain Mr. Brock did
not give up the hunt. He began TO prosper
and moving into FL Paso went into the
commission business, but was constantly
inquiring for Woosley. Whenever he heard
of any one by that name Brock ran him
down and had look at him. He was dis
appointed year after year. Woosley' $
,x,T lal0 lint 40
denied all knowledge of the existence of
her son. Captain G. s. Wells OF Macon,
Ca. took the case for Brock. About four
weeks ago he heard that Frank Woosley
was living at Benton, Ark, and when he
reached there he was convinced he had
spotted his man. He communicated with
Brock who at once left FL Paso for Arkan-
sas. ~ knew | had my man. said Captain
Wells last night, ''but | thought | would
test it. When Brock came ! pointed out
another man and asked if that was
Woosley. He looked at him for
awhile, his head dropped, and he
said it was not He thought the game was
up and he was again fooled. l did Lot tell
him any better, but we got on the train and
went to Augusta When we got to Augusta
pointed out second man and asked hin
if that was Woosley. He looked at him a
few moments. ! saw his eyes fash and his
whole face CLEAN. My Godr he exclaimed,
Yes, that is Frank. arrest him. told
him to keep still and / would. ] got the
sheriff Of the county ana had him arrest
Woosley and Twill take him with US to prove
toall persons interested, that Brock was
innocent of the crime of which he was ac-
cused. Woosley admits that he is the man
wanted and says he felt no objection TO go
ing back TO the home of his boyhood. He
denies having entered into any conspiracy
with his half brother to rob MIR. Brock. and
explains his disappearance by saying that
he lost his mind. He says that he does not
know what happened for twelve months
after he left his ranch in May, 1871, but his
mind came back TO him. He left Texas in a
short while and went to Benton, Ark,
where he worked as a day laoorer. When
he had saved money enough he started in
business for himself, and has for twelve
years, been engaged in the manufacture of
stoneware jugs. He was doing business in
his own name and claims he has never at
tempted to conceal his identity by taking
an alias He is simple minded and appears
to be as he claimed he was, not right in his
mlnd' Captain Wells gets a reward of
81 500 FROM Brock.