The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-22
a RiCS PAUPER DIES.
Death of n Stranger Who Tries to Conoe al
His Identity.

Ola, Crhy UtaTOSu ~" p"Iu'hSo' ~,
died Wednesday al 7:30 p m. at the
R;chlahd county alrashOuse, leaving
concealed in his clothes enough IN )ney
to have made him comfortable in his
last hours, or perhaps to have saved
his life, rad he but chose to use it.
Tuesday uight when DE- Frank Green
went to his home in the suburbs Ct
Columbia he found living in his yard
this old man He told the doctor he
had ypho;d fever. Dr.. Green asked
him did he have any money with a
view of sepding him 10 the Columbia
hospital. The stranger answered
'Oaly q little"
At the gate au cid, ram shack of a
buggy and lean horse awaited him
1t was driven by Tommy Marsh, 8
young White boy who lives IN that
neighborhood. Tommy did not know
who the man was he Was driving.
The tournout belonged to the sick
man. The doctor helped him into the
vehicle and told him to 90 to the chlct
OF police, who would take care OF him
for the night. Instesd of doing SO he
drove to w&gon yard and sp mt the
night. Wednesday about noon the
police found him and brought him to
the station house. He was given a
rough pallet. The horse and buggy
were left in charge Of Tom my Marsh.
DR.. Green, who attends the county s
sick, was sent for By the chief OF p61
lice. He found his unknown patient
of Tuesday night. The man could
scarcely talk. He did not seem to
want to talk. Dr.. Green could get
nothing from him except that his
name was James Corley. He first
said he came from North Carolina and
after wards that he was from Tennes
see. Corley was removed to the aims.
house at 4:3O o'clock. On the way
there Tommy Marsh was unable to
hold him and he fell from the buggy.
Finally he was gotten there and put
to bed. He grew weaker. DR.. Green
saw he could not livs. He gave Cor
lev stimulants and told him of the
hopelessness of his case. He asked
was there any one he wished to have
notified of his death. C-rley answer
ed, mo one." "Have you any prop
erty or money you wish to leave any
one2" was asked and again the reply
was that he did not
7:3O o'clock Wednesday evening
Corley died. The body was immedi,
ately prepared for burial. An old
negro, who was aiding in the work,
found three small balls of old, greasy
white cloth. They are cunjure
balls" be said and tossed them aside.
They were left lying where thrown.
Thursday morning Supt. Sharp of
the almshouse saw the ''conjure balls
and as be was curious to see what
they were made of, he opened. Tight
ly wadded up wa a $50 greenback
He could hardly believe his eyes. ut
is a Confederate bill" he thought and
started toss it aside. 1t seemed incred'
ible that such looking man as the
deceased could have that much money.
He opened the other ''conjure balls" "
In each we've greenbacks. From all
three 1921 in currency were taken.
In the trousers of the deceased was q
pockstbook. 1t contained rs cents in
change, lock of brown hair carefully
wrapped in paper and worn receipt,
which read:
Received Of Joseph Cooley, one
dollar in full of acc. due me to this
date, Jan. 4, 1895. ''R E Moore"
A silver watch was also taken from
a pocket. Whether the dead man is
the Joseph Cooley in the receipt or
James Corley, as he said, no one in
Columbia knows. The deceased is
described as about go years old, 5 feet
10 inches high. with gray beard and
baldheaded. He weighed about 140.
It was first proposed 10 give the dead
man a more expensive burial than that
usually accorded paupsrs. The advice
of the county attorney, Mr.. j. S. Mul'
Ter, was asked aboutit. He answered:
''Desr sir: In regard to the unknown
person who died st the almshouse last
evening, beg to advise that, in my
opinion, his burial expenses should be
kept within the usual limit in the case
Of the burial of our county paupers
The expense should be paid out OF the
found on his person and the
residue kept by the county officers on
special deposit in bank until parties
entitled to it shall be ascertained.
81. S. MULLLR
This advice was acted on. The
grave has been marked 50 that it can
be identified if relatives should claim
the body and desire to re move it. The
money has been placed on deposit
awaiting claiments. Columbia State
Bank OF Eogland for Free Silver.
At the semiannual meeting of the
Bank of Eneland held in Sanden
Thursday the governor, Hugh 9.
Smith, said:
"You are probably ware of the pro
l. L. LII Al