The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-11-25

mine who is dying and shsy are TO 90 TO
New York 30 attend the funeral. One OF
them lives at Alfred and the other az
somersworth. They are very old people
ann are not accumstomed to travelling BY
rail 90 want to 90 and get than. II
you will prepare the body for burial
win 20 and get them and meet this train
leaving here at l50 o'clock at Roiiinsford
junction and 90 on with 10 from there.
Can you do this for mer'
Mr.. Downs said that 10 was little un-
usual but they would 10 glad to doliii they
could 10 Garry out his wishes. The man
then said that he WAS going over 10 his
uncls's house and would come back later
In the evening and to II Mr.. Downs more
about u. Il don't think 10 will b neoss-
ssry for you 10 60 over there tonight II
my uncle dies" said the man. 81 win
sec that the body 10 properly prepared In
the house and you can 60 over In the
morning and make II ready for burial
and then put II on the noon train"
This and great deal more the man
told Mr.. Downs and while he was talking
he seemed to he feeling badly, but he told
Q Straightforward story and there was
nothing about 1t which would arouse the
siiehtest suspicion regarding his honesty.
The man then asked about the best way
to get to the houie his uncle was In and
after some further talk he went away.
At . little before nine O'Clock Nj. An
drew Rich was in the Office when the
str. n ger came In again. He asked for
Mr.. Downs, but was told he WAS out He
seemed very snxious to ses Mr.. Downs
and Mr.. Rich tried 70 ind him by tele-
phone. but failed to do go. The man
seemed somewhat disappointed at not be-
Ing able to see Mr.. Downs and Mr.. Rich
said he would 60 out and find him. The
man said that he would not put MI. Rioh
to this troubls and went over the story
he had told Mr.. Downs. He said that bis
uncle was dead but thai the women In
the house would care for the toiy until
morning and II would not be necssfary for
Mr.. Rich to go over there until morn ny.
He knew all the necessary particulars
regarding the size Of the cssket, and other
things and when be had finished told Mr.
Rich he would like to see some cAskest.
Mr.. Rich showed him some and the
man finally picked out one costing $So
Then he changed his mind and said thnt
he thought his finances would enable him
to buy better one than this, and he fe-
lected one costing si5. He said that 1t
would not DO necessary to buy burial
robe as his uncle had new suit of clothes
and the expense Of this would not be
necessary. Ths man said that the size OF
the casket needed was "nine-hve."
This Is the technical Ian yuags used BY
undertakers and would not be used BY
man who did not know something about
the business. Mr.. Rioh did not think this
strange, however. and after going ovsr
all the ARA ngemsnss again and laying
stress on the fact that he hoped there
would be no mistake about getting the
body ready for the noon train he said that
he preferred to pny the bill now.
4 SO Mr.. Rich sni the stranger adjourned
to the office where the man produced
check for 500 Of the Merchants National
Bank of Boston, made out to "Akin g.
Newman Co ;" and payable to Henry {.
Newmsn. This the man said was his
name. The check was properly endorsed
hut in different handwriting from that
in which 1t was made out
The entire bill OF Mr.. Rich was Jul. 80,
including ticket to Boston for the tody.
MIR. Rich looked at the check which
seemed to be all right and gave the man
back $50. 20. This was ono dollar too
much and the man discovered the mis-
take and gave Mr.. Rich back one dollar.
While he was selecting the casket and
talking alb out the burial the man seemed
to feel very badly. He then started to 60
but came back TO write q card to go on
the tox in which the body was to be
shipped aud to thank Mr.. Rich again for
his kindness.
Then he went away and Yesterday
morning Mr.. Downs taking the casket
started for south Portland to prepare the
body for burial. He reached Anthoine
street, which 10 two streets beyond where
the cars turn about to 60 over to Pleas
antdaie further out on the Ocean House
road. He reached there and logan to look
for No. "A. He found that there were
only four houses on this street, and on
making enquiries not q person BY the
name of Ars. j. s. Davis could be found
there. Then MIR. Downs stopped three or
four grocery wagons and asked their
drivers about Mvs. Davis's house, but
could not find any one who could tell him
where it was or who had ever heard of
such person. Mr.. Downs drove about to
many houses In the neighborhood making
inquiries but with no bsttsr result. Then
he went to the office of this town clerk,
Mr.. Noah Knight. but could get no In
formation there. Together they went
over the town books but could mud no
such person on the books as J. D. Davis
or Mrs. ]. S. Davis. By this tins the
forenoon was rapidly wearing away. Mr..
Downs had done . great deal Of driving
about with the heavy wagon and the
basket. and began to fear that he could
not get the body ready in time should he
find 1t to put 1t In on the noon train for
Boston. DR.. SypheTs has NO telephone.
hut nr Rouers If Soueh Portland has