The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-05
VAS NE MURDERED?
A Strange Tale About John q. Goshorn's
Mysterious Death.

BRISTOL. TENN. July "A strange
story in connection with the death Of
John G.. Goshorn. whose mysterious dis
appearance and the subsequent discovery
Of his body I'm q cave six miles from here,
created a profound sensation about
| year ago.
Goshorn was on insurance agent, and
/ his home was at Charleston, w. Va.
| where his family stands high He was
! well educated and quite a skilful miner
alogist and metallurgst. He gave out to
/ his friends here that he was going into
/ the mountains south OF Bristol 10 look
| for n silver mine. that legend has long
/ spoken Of as existing somewhere In the
| Smoky mountains. and he also wrote to
| n young lady at Charleston. 20 whom he
was engaged to the same effect. He did
not return at the time he had named,
and a prolonged inquiry was made. but
no tidlngs Of him were found until the
! discovery Of his body I'm the cave six
| miles southwest Of Bristol. A coroner's S
! inquest was held and verdict Of sui
eide was rendered. The natural position
in which the body was found, and an
empty laudanum bottle hidden under
/ rock I'm the cave, gave color 10 the theory
Of suicide. though no motive for self
| destruction was known, es ne was young.
good-looking Of good family, and had
no bad habits.
Now comes the story which processes
10 account for his death. A convict IN
the Virginia peritenuary recently told
some one that he belonged to a gang Of
moonshlners In the mountains of North
Carolina, which also did a large business
I'm making and circulating counterfeit
silver coin. one night while they were
engaged in their work in a cave. deep
hidden in the recesses Of the iron noun
tain. "a stranger walked in upon them.
They Immediately siezed him and de-
manded his name and business. He as
sured them that he was neither Il de-
tective slor a revenue offer, but that his
name was Goshorn and that he was
prospecting for silver I'm the mountains.
They held a consultation, and determined.
on the advice OF a young man who was
with the party, and who had some know
ledge Of medicine, TO drug their prisoner,
and convey him, while unconscious so
far away from their rendezvous that he
would never find IL again. should he de-
sire TO do So The drug was accordingly
administered in a drink OF "moonshine"
whisky, and when II had taken effect,
several members Of the band detailed for
the purpose started TO convey the un-
conscious victim away.
Before proceeding far they found 20
their dismay, that they had administered
an overdose Of the narcotic, and that the
man was dead. In deep dread OF dis
covery, they hurried along by mountain
paths, far away from the scene Of their
lawless work, and deposited the body In
Bishops cave as related above. They
took care TO place II in a natural position
and TO hide the empty laudanum bottle
in the cave, so as 10 create the suspicion
that he was guilty Of self-murder.
This Is the story. How much truth there
Is in IL Of course cannot now be known
but many people here have always scout
ed the theory that Goshorn committed
suicide, though at a loss 10 account for
the peculiar circumstances under which
the body was found. This story Of the
convict may turn out TO be true. and may
be the means Of ferretlng out the foul
crime. and bringing the perpetrators 10
Justice.
Two attempts were made last week TO
burn the Bristol Foundry and Machine
works. IL was set on fire Saturday night
and but for the timely arrival Of Fore
man Tucker on the scene would have
been destroyed. on Sunday night Fore
man Tucker heard some one near the
foundry, and on investigating found two
men. who hsstlly retreated He fired his |
pistol at them. and they returned the fire. |
getting off without detection.