Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-12
WAS A STRANGER.
The Man Found in the Woods
Near Andalusia.
A BULLET HOLE IN HIS FOREHEAD

And a Revolver Clinched In the Right
Hand Tells the Sad Story OF Self De-
struction No One Could Identify the
Unfortunate, Whose Body :vas Badly
Decomposed.
An inquisition over the remains OF
the man found in the woods about
two miles southwest of Andalusia
yesterday, revealed nothing bearing
on the establishment of an identiii-
cation of the unfortunate. who Sc
lected a lonesome hillside thickly
shrOuded with trees as pace to ex-
tinguish his earthly existence. An
ugly hole in the RICH. temple, i
Dlood-covered revolver clinchcd in
the right hand, with one chant Der
dischars ed, established clear case
of self-destruction. That the unfor-
tunate was not foully dealt with was
evident from the fact OF an amount
of money being found on his person.
which high ~aymen would not be
very apt to leave undisturbed. H.
formation CLEANED from Andalusians,
who claimed to have spoken to a man
tallying in description, threw no
light on his identity, and Dep
uty Coroner Eckhart ordered the re-
mains, which were badly decom-
posed, buried. The body was dis
covered yesterday morning by David
Finley, an old gentleman engaged in
hunting squirrels.
The Discovery.
Wandering through the woods.
Finley's curiosity was aroused by j
stencil. AS lie continued the odor
became stronger. and he concluded
to investigate. Following the direc.
ton from whence it emanated, Finley
made his way into a thicket of crab.
apple trees. a little further on, w.
ing on Il hillside, he observed the
body of man. 1t was badly dccom-
posed. The man was stretched
out, with front downward, and
the facial features were terribly
disiigured from decomposition.
satchel containing a blue cashmere
coat. new cotton shirt and pair o!
blue cveralls lay alongside the body.
which was dressed in blue striped
pants, cashmere vest. new sus.
penders, congress shoes and a
new brown soft hat. In the pockets
were SAIL, a pocket knife. and a
carpenters pencil. The man APP
peared to be about 40 years of age,
weighing 100 pounds, and having
sandy hair and smooth shaven face
The bloody Weapon.
Clinched in the right hand was 6
32-calibre revolver, covered with
blood from the wound inflicted in
the temple. But one chamber of the
weapon was discharged. one bullet
having produced the desired effect
Mr.. Finley notified Coroner Hawes,
who dispatched Deputy Eckhart to
conduct the inquest. The testimony
of several who had seen a man ar
swering the description of the one
found dead, was given. but identifi.
cation still remains 4 mystery. John
Steckman. who runs ferry between
Buffalo and Andalusia, stated tina,
he had carried man over to Anda-
lusia last Saturday, whom he be.
| iieved to be none other than the un-
loTluhaIe. inquiry was maue 81 the
fcrryman as to the direction
OF Edgington, the suicide in
timating that he had ac-
quaintances there. u. +. Smell was
also asked by the same man as re-
garding the direction of Edgington
The supposition is that the man was
farm hand in search of employ
ment, and tired of trugging along
with life's problem, became dcspond-
cnt while on his way to Edgingtor
and committed suicide without
leaving word or letter which would
lead to his identity.
The Inquest.
Deputy Eckhart impanneled a jury
composed of Charles C.. Hayes, Fred
Hiliinger, George Britton, S. C.
Thompson, George Spickler and Da
vid Finley. Nothing obtainable sug
gestive of anything but case of sui
eide, a verdict that the stranger tool
his own life last Saturday, was re
turned.