Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-04
A MYSTERY SOLVED.
EDWARD BARTON, WAC has BEEN PUzZLING
BELLAIRE OFFICIALS, IDENTIFIED.
The Dead Stranger was a Rich Farmer Of Near
nRaysnna, Ole had Lost or had Been Rob
bed Of -Four Hundred and Fifty Dollars

The mystery which has surrounded
the case of William Barton, down at
BelIaire, for the past week, has been
solved.
The strang who died while he was
being removed in q wagon to the county
infrmary, on Sunday, and who was evil
IDENTIFY insane when he first came In
contact with the Bellaire auth critics,
has been identified as a wealthy farmer
residing heal Urbana, o., where ne
owned a quarter section Of fine land.
He also had a tract of twelve hundred
acres of land In Tennessee, and was on
his way to visit this property when the
strange misfortune overlook him at
| Bellaire which eliminated in his death.
Mr.. Barton left Urbana on Monday
OF last week, having $3.50 IN his posses
| sion. He was in good health, and ex-
pected to visit his property in Tennes
see on business and then return. On
| Thursday Of last weed he walked into
the Mayors office at Bellaire, and as ne
showed unmistakable signs Of insanity,
he was locked up. Mayor McGowan at
once made an effort TO find his frlends'
both al RaVenna and Urbana, u, out
received no reply to his enquiries from
either place. The Bellaire city jail was
not a proper place to keep the man, and
receiving assurances from DR.. cooper
that be would be cared for at the in
6rmary. William Neal started on Sun
day to take the unfortunate there.
| Barton had eaten nothing during MS
confinement at Bellaire, but when the
two men, in a buggy, reached Rose Hill,
on their way TO st. C%lairsville, Barton
asked for food. Neal stopped at a farm
house and procured some cake and a
cup Of coffee. Barton drank the cohee,
but refused the food. Neal saw thar
his charge was very sick. and the man
| expired before St. Clairsville could be
reached. Neal drove on to the intlrm-
airy and delivered the body to the proper
authorities there, and made a statement
Of the manner of death.
During all this time Barton's place OF
residence was unknown. While he was
In confinement at Bellaire he was inter
| viewed by a man who was acquainted
in Ravenna, and Barton seemed to be
acquainted with the leading business
men Of that city. He had the name
Edward Barton tattooed upon one arm.
He was we'll dressed, but had only about
| thirty cents in his possession when he
was searched by the Bellaire authori-
ties. He could give no account Of where
he had been or what had befallen him.
| There was some criticism at Bellaire,
last night, over the removal OF Barton
in the condition he was in. Last night
| Mayor MCGOWAN again telegraphed to
RaVenna, and this time received a re-
DIV which set all doubts OF Barton's
identity at rest.
Some twenty years ago a family
named Barton lived In Bellaire, but
moved to parts unknown. Some OF the
members of the family were OF un-
sound mind, and one Of the boys was
named Edward. One son, Noble, van
dered back to Bellaire about ten years
ago, and after a few weeks departed as
mysteriously as he came. But it never
occurred to auy Of the Bellaire people
who knew this family of Bartons, to
make inquiry Of the mysterious visitor
of last week, whether he was a member
of the same family. Yet he may have
been,