Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-20
In CHARITY'SS SHADOW.
John Wells Dies of Starvation. at the
Door Of the Poor Farm.
WAS ONCE AHAPPY BLACKSMITH.
Troubles Crazed Him and He Was q Charge
on Public Sympathy.
he had NOT EATEN FOR MANY DAYS

Under the shadow of the Allegheny Citv
Home John Wells was yesterday found
dead. Starvation killed him, and in his
death struggles he had burrowed deep into
the mud Of the township road.
William Wells was once the ideal happy
village blacksmith At Verona for years he
had worked at the forge, surrounded by his
wife and children. Misfortunes several
years ago came to him in many different
ways and he lost his reason. One day
while forging out horseshoe small piece
of iron struck him in the eye, putting it
out. The pain of the wound coupled with
some financial losses, drove him mad. The
little home was broken up, Wells was sent
disappeared. They have never been heard
of since.
Two years ago Wells was released from
the insane asylum. Since then he has wan
dered about the country begging alone. His
mind was not sound and he was frequently
flighty. For while past he has been
around Sharpsburg considerably, spending
the most of his time at the mills watching
the men at their work. Several days ago
he disappeared from his usual haunts and
the men missed him much. Inquiry was
made about town, but no one had seen
Wells s
Died In Charfty's Shadow.
Yesterday morning Charles Bremen,
farm hand employed by Mr.. Cook, who
work stumbled over the body of dead man
on the road just outside the Allegheny City
Home: 1t was that of Wells and there was
every evidence that there had been
an awful death struggle. The
mans clothing was y, covered with
yellow mud, his hands were tightly
clinched across his, breast and the face told
Of inexpressible agony. The ground where
he lay was torn and rooted as though hog
had made the place its feeding
ground. There were no marks on the body
to indicate foul play and everybody was for
time at loss to know what caused death.
The body was removed to an undertaker's in
Sharpsburg and Coroner Mcdowell notified.
The more the Coroner worked on the case
the more mysterious it grew. Last night
the inquest was held and DR.. Mcintosh, of
Sharpsburg, made post mortem examina-
tion. 1t revealed an awful fact
Wells Died From Starvation.
Wells stomach showed that not q par
ticle of food had entered it for several DAYS,
and that death was caused by starvation.
Charles Bremen at the hearing remem-
bered of having seen Wells on Thursday
evening at Ross station. He was walking
slowly up and down the depot platform
with his head bowed low. A lady had seen
him Friday night going across the fields to-
ward the Poor Farm. He was moving very
slowly and his features were worn and
haggard 1t is probable that Wells was on
his way to the Poor Farm when what little
strength he hae left him, and death came in
this horrible form. -
When Wells was blacksmith at Verona
he was fine specimen OF man. He was
nearly six feet tall and was built accord
ingly. Yesterday when'his body was found
it was but shadow Of the former John
Wells He was awfully emaciated; in fact,
this strong man of yore was nothing but
skin and bones. ...
Coroner Mcdowell has not been able so
far to find a friend of the dead man. At
Verona there are many who knew him
in his happier days, but not one who will
take charge of his remains. The body will
be held for several days with the hope that
either MrA Wells or some of his children
will turn up and give the man decent
byriaL