The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-10-24
WHO IS HE?

WHO IS He?
Last Saturday about mid-afternoon Arthur |
Whitloek, of this village, started out with |
dog and gun to hunt rabbits, taking south |
easterly course from town. He had proceed
ed as far as Orrin Stevens land adjoining
that OF ]. j. Boles, and had just ascended to
the top of an elevation from one of the nu-
merous ravines that cut up that particular
area OF the township, when he almost STUN
bled onto the body of dead man stretched
out at full length on his back, with his arms
lying across his breast as if thrown there in
quick motion of eonvulsive agony. Un-
perVed for the moment at the ghastly dis
covery, he turned in quick retreat from the
awful sight, and for few moments expert
enced the paralyzing sensations of horrible
helplessness. Recovering somewhat from
his violent agitation, he returned to the body
long enough to ascertain beyond doubt
that life was extinct. Observing two men
working on the adjoining premises, he hur-
r1edly went to them and told them what he
had discovered. These individuals were J.
j. Roles and Ernest Lawrence. They went
WIN yOoLS w I1L1OCh duO Iu0T0y Ju6L Oh LI6
brow of the hill, with his feet to the west,
they beheld the body. At its side was bot
tie of whisky from which moderate draft
had been taken, and a six-shooter revolver
lay about two feet from the right side of the
unfortunate victim. Whitlock then returned
to town and informed Constable Judson of
| what he had found, who, after notifying un-
dertaker Fairchild, proceeded to the woods
where the body was found, accompanied by
P. L. King, Whitlock and Reed Freeman.
There careful examination was made of
the body and its surroundings. AS above
stated, it lay with its feet to the west. The
coat was unhuttoned, and large bullet hole
through the vest, just above the heart, told
the story OF the tragedy. The ground ada
cent to the body gave no evidence of any
one else having been present. The grass
was undisturbed, and there was absolutely
nothing to indicate foul play. Everything
pointed to suicide, and the supposition is
that the man sat down on the ground, fred
the fatal shot and had fallen over backward.
The vest seemed to be a little powder burned
around the bullet hole, as did the flesh
aroun the wound on the body. The bullet
entered little above the heart, but evident.
ly took a downward course into the throb-
bing organ.
Thecorpse had apparently been lying there
about Sc hours, judging from the appearance
of the ground under it and the condition Of
the body, although the face and head would
of themselves have suggested longer time
There was no card, paper or writing of any
character, found either on his person Oh
away from it, to establish his identity.
At the foot of the hill there were the re
mains of a recent fire, the ashes of which
had never been rained on, and a large dish
pan that had been in service over the fire
Officer Judson overhauled the ash-heap very
thoroughly for some evidence of burned pa
pers, but found nothing to even suggest sucl
a thing.
Apropos to the length of time the body
had been there before discovered, the fac
that while all around it the ground wa,
thickly strewn with leaves, scarcely any haG
fallen on the corpse, goes to Substantial
farther the opinion of the undertaken, thai
it could not have been more than SO hours
The body was that of a man not much i
any above thirty years of age, heavy rec
mustache, blue eyes, dark sandy hair, uppel
teeth very even, large and somewhat pro
truding, while the lower ones were smallel
and more irregular. He had on blue coat
: with name of manufacturers, "J. G, & Co.,
on collar, black cheviot vest, brown pant
! with small white dots in them, red flame
undershirt which had been patched will
white muslin in front of the left shoulder
i He also had on white laundered shirt, reC
fieeced cotton socks with little intermixtur
of white, no holes in them; light coloret
, necktie with string on under side, whicl
l by pulling brought to view picture of ex
e President Harrison, which disappeared agail
: on letting go of the string. His shoes wer
e about No. 8, laced black soft hat, size 81
= new; and celluloid collar and cuffs. TIL
E right leg from ankle to hip was covered wit
very small black spots.
On the person were found a silver dun
and nickel five cent piece; about nickel
worth of ine-cut chewing tobacco wrappe
in paper ladies' gold band ring in box c
case, on the bottom of which was the pric'
mark, $3.50; it is evidently of recent pul
chase. He carrid an open-face watch wit
silverode case. When found, the hands wer
at 206. 1t was key-winder case, No. 1926:
: made by the Wallingford Watch Co. Ke.
E was found in pocket. The chain was a broa
u fiat one, made from lady's gold necklace
There was also unmistakable evidence of
photo having been recently carried on th
inside surface of the case. He had on tn
y lapel of his vest a round gold knights
Labor badge with triangular center ,on whic
were inscribed the letters S. O., and VIII
d looked like the monogram NJ. A. A met
comb in rubber case, an indellible bit
lead pencil, long, narrow rubber erase
and two cartridges were also found. He hs
square gold cuff buttons with square chez
cred surface with figure in center, The
were evidently nearly new. He also hs
gold collar button. The revolver was of
caliber, 6 shooter, No. $3.50, made at Worce
ter, Mass. Three chambers were empty al
three contained empty shells.
The body was buried Sunday, and on Il
following day Coroner Weir held an inque
in the jury room at the courthouse. VIII
lock, Boles, Lawrence, King, Judson, al
Fairchild we're the witnesses, all of who
told substantially the same story.
The identity of the deceased remains
complete mystery as ever, notwithstandil