Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-15
A REMARKABLE CASE
RETURN OF MIR. NEwCOMB, WHO
WAS mOuRSED As DEAD.
Falls Overheard I'm Chesapeake Bsy,
Hut Reaches shore-HaIf Crased
with Fright He Wanders Aimlessly
from Place to Place.
Falls OyrrIpOar

PETERSBURG. VA. March n-(spe-
cialt-The announcement in the papers
this morning that Mr.. Jesse N. Newcomb.
who has been missing since last Septem-
Der. and who was generally supposed TO
be dead. was alive and at his brothers
home. In Greensboro n. c., was a sur
prise to the community-a very gratifying
surprise, II may be said. Mr.. Newcomb
was a prominent grocery-merchant.
member OF the Common Council. and
very popular citizen. In September last
ne went TO Baltimore to purchase goods.
and did make the purchases, the goods
being subsequently received here. II has
been alleged that he purchased
ticket for a passage home on the steam
er Alabama, of the Bay Line. but that
this ticket was not taken up. and the sup
position was that Mr.. Newcomb had
fallen overheard and was drowned.
AS time elapsed and nothing, under
the most vigorous investigation. could be
heard from him. the belief became general
that he was drowned-certainly. dead. He
was. in course OF time. virtually declared
dead by the Hastings Court OF this city.
which appointed an administrator TO wind
tically wound up The family. OF course.
believing with almost the whole COM
munity, mourned his death. and his bust
ness was transferred to his son.
A GALLANT SOLDIER.
Mr. Newcomb was a gallant soldier
throughout the late war; was an active
member of A. p. Hill Camp of Confede-
rate Veterans; was a prominent and ac-
tive Mason and Knight Templar; was al
so a member of the orders OF Elks, Royal
Arcanum, and knights Of Honor, and in
all respects a honored citizen. In the last
two named orders he had policies OF In
surance. which. however. have never been
paid because the body had never been
viewed. However, the courts had prac-
ticaly declared Mr.. Newcomb dead by
the appointment OF an administrator. and
the Common Council had practically de-
clared him dead by declaring his seat
vacant and electing his successor. and
one or more OF the secret orders Of which
he was member had agreed TO report
him dead. Now that he is alive and In
the custody % friends and relatives 1t
can hardly b. stated what complications
will arise. But everything is forgotten
I'm the rejoicing over the fact that he Is
alive.
BROUGHT HOME.
Mr.. Newcomb was brought to the city
from Greensboro this evening. II had
become generally known that he would
arrive on the $50 train from Richmond
and a large number OF his friends were
down at the depot TO meet him: also. an
indscrimnate crowd Of white and colored
people. When taken from the train, Mr..
Newcomb presented the appearance OF a
very III man. and did not seem to recog-
nize any of his friends. lie has fallen
OF at least seventy-fve or a hundred
pounds He was taken at once to his
residence, and 1t is hoped by all that he
may have a speedy recovery.
HALF CRAZED by FRIGHT.
GREENSBORO. n. c.. March H-(Spe-
cial MIR. T.. c.. Newcomb. OF this place.
is not a believer In ghosts. but he thought
he had encountered one last week when
his brother. J. NJ. Newcomb, who he sup
posed was drowned last September, walk
ed into his place Of business. Ii seems
that Mr.. Newcomb after falling over
board In Chesapeake bay. managed to get
to land. but was craZed by fright and
exposure, so that he wandered from one
place 10 another aimlessly, visiting Rsltl-
more. New York. Chicago. New Orleans,