The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-09
FOUND IN RIVER.
Body of Unknown Man DiScOy-
cred on Sand Bar.
1t Had Been in the Water
Several Days.
MAYBE ASYLUM INNATE
Man Named Lichlie Escaped on
Friday.
Unable to Identify
the Body.

The naked body of g. man was round
in the Kansas river, back or auburn
dale, Sunday afternoon about 8 O'Clock,
by four young men who We're out boat
Hansen, Grant Gunter and Gilbert re-
terson. They saw the body on SAND
bar lying face down partly submerged
in the river and Immediately reported IL
to the coroner and the police coroner
HogaboOm went to the place with an
ambulance and the body was removed
to the Undertaking rooms OF DeMoss g
PenWell. The body was bloated ana
had the appearance of having been IN
the water several days, just how long II
was impossible to tell. On the back
were two wounds which gave the ap-
pearance of foul play, but an investi-
cation by Drs. Hogaboom and BUCK
master proved that the wounds were
not made by bullets and were only
slight-probably due to SnagS- The
mans height was about feet or 10
inches.he had short black hair,a stubby
muStache and was probably about do
years old, but his features were SO
bloated and distorted it would be diff
cult to make a close guess as to his
age.
The only person who had disappeared
recently was one of the inmates of the
asylum named Iichlie, and word was at
once sent there for Supervisor HDllar
and Attendant Delong. When they ar
rived they looked at the body but were
unable to identify it. Lichlie had been
,
was considered good patient. He was
working on the farm when he made his
escape Friday. Mr.. DelOng said that
there was nothing about Lichlie that
would lead to a positive Identification,
his teeth were good and he bore no
marks except that the first two fingers
of his right hand were slightly deform
ed, being claw like. An examination Of
the body showed that the fingers or the
right hand were slightly deformed al
though the hand was so bloated it was
hardly distinguishable. In regard to
hair, height and beard the descriptions
Lichlie are similar. When Lichlie es-
capped from the asylum he was traced as
far as the Rock Island Y by the attend
ants but there they were forced to give
up the search as all trace was lost.
CORONER'S INQUEST.
The cOroner'S inquest began at nine
o'clock this morning and after examin-
ing the four witnesses who discovered
this afternoon in order that a search
could be made for the clothing of the
man. If the clothing can be found it
will at once settle the question as to
whether the body is that of the escaped
inmate of the asylum.
1t is the general opinion that the body
is that of the escaped man az the police
would certainly have been informed of
the disappearance of anyone else. The
insane man may have been contemplate
ing suicide and he may have drowned
while taking a swim. 1t is impossible
to follow or speculate on the vagaries
of the deceased's mind, but if he wanted
to do either his liberty would give him
the opportunity.
Sergeant Belts and Officer Bundy who
went to the bar before the body was re-
moved say that it would be almost i'm
possible to identify it. The body was
lying face downward and the nose was
hattened and the features so distorted
that they were unrecognizable.