Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-01-18

He Arrived in the City Thursday
With a Number Of Friends from
Weston, Clarksburg and Parkers-
burg Spent Thursday Night at
Clara Moss, and was Dead and
Cold When His Room was En-
tered, Yesterday Afternoon
Yesterday afternoon shortly after
thres o'clock one Of the inmates OF Clara
Moss house Of i'll fame, at No. 81 Sew
enteenth street. went to her room,
which she had left at nine O'Clock in
the morning. at which time visitor
of the night before had been left asleep
in bed. When the girl attempted to
arouse the man she was astonished and
Mortified to find him dead and cold.
The alarm was at once given, the po-
lice notified and DR.. Billiard asked to
call. He did so, but the most casual in
spectton showed that death had result
ed some hours before. Coroner Schultze
was at once informed of the event, and
an investigation to ascertain the ident-
ity of the deceased was set on foot.
This was a matter of considerable
difficulty, for the dead man had on
shirt which bore the name Of another
man. a stranger in this city, but very
we'll known out in the State, who was
also in the city Thursday and yester-
dav morning. The name upon the
Shirt was also written on the first page
of a new memoranda book in the pocket
of the deceased, while papers in the
dead mans clothing contained several
signatures, all different, and there were
a number Of printed cards Of stiEl an
other gentleman Parkersburg man.
On the finger of the dead mans right
hand was heavy ring, with the initial
H" in German text This made the
ascertaining of the right name beyond a
doubt a matter of considerable diff
Guilty. but a careful inspection of the
papers. and a comparison of the names
with hOte, registers and checking off
folks who had paid their bills and ore
sumably lett the city made it certain
that the deceased was r. Harshbarger,
of CORVALLIS, DOdlridge county, an I'M
dertaker. .
The deceased was a man of five feet
eight or nine inches in height, would
weigh two hundred to two hundred and
ten, full face dark hair, grey eyes,
brown mustache, and a mole on his left
cheek about midway between the eye
and ear. He was well dressed in a
suit of black clothes. with OvercOat. In
his shirt was a diamond stud, he car
riod a god watch and chain. case num-
Der of watch 1,330,027 and works num-
Der 30,027. and had about six dollars
and half in money in his pockets.
Among his papers was a railroad con-
ductOr's receipt fer fare from West
Union to Grafton. some A. p A. litera-
ture, and a number Of receipts for mon
cy on behalf of West Union Council
No. II. presumably of the A. P. A., al
though the printed forms did not 50
state There were also two certificates
from the Clerk of the Marion County
Circuit Court, in the case of J. NJ.
Harshbarger V. Keen & MILAN, and an
order on the Treasurer of the bod
bridge County CT. & T. Co" for seven
teen dollars, "for services on telephone
line from Aliens to Centre Point
There was also letter, dated Wheel
ing. January II, 1896, from John Car
dona. Of No. 1914 Wood street, this city.
to NJ. II. Willis. speaking Of an en-
closed receipt for money. and hoping
10 SOC the recipient at the State Council
of the Order on the 10th inst. The
name Of the order was not stated. There
were a number of other papers, bearing
the names of various persons. In the
lapel of his vest the deceased wore
small gold pin bearing the three links
Of the Odd Fellows, but this was the
only emblem of any sort TO be found.
After taking charge of all the personal
property. Coroner Schultze notified
County Undertaken Frank Schroeder,
who removed the body and prepared it
for Shipment.
Investigation last evening showed
that Harshbarger came here Thursday,
and registered at the Stamm House.
He met seven or eight other West Vir-
Anians during the day and evening,
and was last seen about the motel AFTER
supper Thursday evening. At that
time he appeared to be perfectly sober.
He was not again seen at the Stamm,
and last evening an inspection of the
register showed that he had not paid
his bin. He appeared at the Moss
house late Thursday night, and retired
10 a room with one of the inmates of
the place This girl said yesterday that
he appeared drunk and sleepy, and at
once went TO s.eep. She noticed that
he breathed very heavily. The girl
arose at nine o'crcck yesterday morn
ing and at that time Harshbarger was
still asleep. The room was not again
visited until about three O'clock, when
he was found dead. as stated. He was
snugly tucked up in bed. on the right
hand side, and from all indications
death had resulted from apoplexy or
heart failure Deceased was apparent
ly about thirty-fve years Of age, and
was a fine looking man. Il is IL e.
that friends will be heard from To-Day
and the body sent to Doddridge county.