The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-11
DUGFOR GOLD
Man, Apparently Insane, Frightened
Neighbors by Queer Doings.
HAGERSTOWN, MD. July 2.-The

| Man, Apparently Insane, Fri htenee
Neighbors by Queer Doings.
HAGERSTOWN, MD. July 1.-The
mystery of the mountain" was solved
| to-day. Last week several holes which
| looked like graves were found on top
| of South Mountain, about three miles
| below smithburs. on the Davis tract.
| About midnight on June Esd two men
drove during a violent thunderstorm
through Cavetown, where they borrow
ed a lantern from A. Heck Oswald. The
next morning the tracks made by the
horse and wagon were followed up a
rough lonely road to one of the widest
spots in the mountain. Here freshly
dug hole about eight feet long and two
feet deep, with several other holes near
by was discovered. The man who bor-
rowed the lantern said he a cattle
dealer Near the holes were found u
laprobe and rawhide whip. These were
brought to Hagerstown and given to
Sheriff Angle.
The officers, with this clue went to
work on the mystery, the opinion being
general that an unsuccessful effort had
been made to bury the body OF a per-
son.
This morning, between s and 8 o'clock.
w II. Hefflefnger, livestock dealer
OF Hagerstown, drove rapidly through
Cavetown in a stick wagon. He was
seen by Mr. Oswald, from whom he bor
rowed the lantern the night of the storm,
and recognized. Hef1efnger met VIII
liam Wolf and said he heard he had his
laprobe and whip which he lost on the
night of June ed. Mr.. Wolf told him
the laprobe and whip were in the posses
sion of the Hagerstown police.
Heniefinger drove rapidly up the same
road in which the tracks of the teal
were followed last week, and was fol-
lowed by Wolf and his son. They sent
word to Smithsburg and Constable
Charles Sigler, John Beck and William
IIimler started at once for the noun
tain, and came upon Heflefnger at a
rugged place about a quarter OF mile
beyond the spot where the holes we're
dug last week.
Here Hefflefinger was watched for an
hour digging and prying out rocks with
= crowbar and throwing out the dirt with
his hands. At intervals the digger would
utter long prayers. He had Dug mole
large enough to bury horse IN Inc
rarty closed in on him and asked what
he was doing He appeared greatly con-
fused and finally mumbled that the
spirit" had directed him to the spot and
dig for gold Beyond this he would say
nothing. but consented to so with the
constable before Justice Ferguson. at
Srnitbsburg, without a, warrant He adj
lnttted he dug the other holes on the
r7ieht of the wild thunedstorm on June
Esd
He was taken to Hotel Wishard where
he sat mute and acted strangely. Every
one thought he was wholly or partly in
sane. while others believed he was feign-
ing insanity
States Attorney Poffenberger, in
Hagerstown. was communicated with
over the telephone and he advised that
since no charge was preferred Heftle-
niger should be released.
Heffiefnger drove to Hagerstown. ate
his dinner and departed hastily this af-
ternoon His daughter said she could
not account for her fathers strange ac-
ton Some time ago he was hit on
the head with billy. but she never no.
ticed anything queer about his conduct.