The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-16

The decomposed remains OF
William p. Luken, supervisor
of Ridley township, Delaware
county, Pa, and a resident OF Chester,
Pa, were found yesterday morning by
four small boys who were picking ber-
ries In a Clump of woods at the Notch,
near what is known as Vinegar Hill,
near by the bridge crossing Leggetts
creek. A postal card was found on
the mans body with the address, will
liam Luken, Chester, Pa" upon 1t,
and Coroner j. J. Roberts notified the
Chester authorities. From the descrip-
tion sent thence to Scranton it is the
same man, the description of his
height, build, clothing, all tallying.
BY telephone communication with
the Chester Republican, The Tribune
last night verified the identification.
The man found at the Notch appears
to be about six feet tall weighing
about l60 7 ounds. In his pockets was
over S100 in cash, handsome silver
watch, two lead pencils, the postal
mentioned above and several other pa
pers.
The cause of his death is an absolute
mystery. Robbery, of course, was not
the cause, as the money found on his
peISOn proves. 1t COnSlSleu Ol DlS
roll of bills and a large amount of coin
and was loose in his pockets, no at
tempt having been made to conceal it.
Coroner j. j. Roberts, who examined
the body is in possession of every
thing found on it. William p. Luken
was one of the most prominent men in
| Delaware county, being a leader in Re-
publican politics. He was elected su-
| w nd N
the position in a most able manner.
| Three weeks ago last Saturday he dis
| appeared from home suddenly, neither
| his wife nor any one of his four grown
up children having the least idea
where he went. In vain, inquiry and
search were made. but no clue was
! found as to where he was.
| REASON PROBABLY AFFECTED.
For several weeks previous to his
strange disappearance he had been
! suffering with very severe attack Of
the grippe and it is thought that this
affected his reason. When he left
| home he is known to nave taken with
him a very large sum of money. He
wore a business suit, a wide brimmed
straw hat and heavy boots.
The man found at the Notch has
gray hair in height and weight tai
lies with the description of Luken,
wore heavy boots and a suit of good
material, and there was found by his
side a wide brlmmed white straw hat.
There Is no doubt but that the
missing supervisor of Ridley township
and the unknown found at the Notch
are one and the same man.
The remains were taken charge of
by Undertaken Cusick, and removed
to his establishment on Washington
avenue. They were in frightful state
of decomposition, the flesh being sep
arated from the bones, and swarms of
insects covering it. The head is sep
arated from the body and none of the
features are distingushable, a CHASTITY
looking skull with a few gray hairs
on it being all that remains of the
human head. From the condition of
the body it looks as though 1t had been
lying in the woods for at least a month
or six weeks. The recent heat is re-
spOnsible for the decomposition.
The body was discovered about
o'clock yesterday morning. Four little
North Scranton boys, of whom John
Saltry, the young son of Patrolman
John Saltry, was one We're berrypick-
ing in the vicinity. One of the lads
ventured into the thicket, and rushed
out almost Immediately with a cry OF
alarm. He had stumbled against
something and on bending over had
discovered it to be formless body
His young companions loked at the
remains and then the four started of
for their homes, returning soon with
! several men.
CORONER INVESTIGATING.
Coroner Roberts was Immediately
notified Of the discovery and during
the afternoon arrived and examined
= the body. He took possession OF ev.
, erytEing found on the body and ther
, impaneled a jury, An inquest will be
held some day this week and the cause
Z of the mans death investigated
SO far, however, it is a total mys
/, terry. The theory Of robbery is entirely
, done away with, inasmuch as the large
. amount of money found on the body
, offsets any supposition that the mar
/, could have been waylsid and killed b!
I highwaymen. Suicide is the next so
luton to the mystery which present.
itself. This, however seems imprac
ticable.
No weapon of any sort was fOun
/ near the body and if the unfortunat
did away with himself in any manne
it must have been with poison. N
e vial which could have contained
- deadly liquid was discovered in his vi
K cinity and 1t would appear rather pc
Z culiar at that, a stranger in the city
= picking a place so much on the out
: skirts as a desirable place for putin
an end to himself. The theory ha