The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1902-12-24
A SAD STORY.
A Stranger Dies in the County Aims
house at Columbia.
HIS HOME WAS IN CHESTER, Pa.
He Mysteriousiy Disappeared ON
His Way from His Home 10
Winusboro, Where lie
Was to- Work.

John Dougherty, who left his home
in Chester, Pa, on the 2Gth of last
August, died in the almShouSc i'm Co.
lumbia, on the 3lSt of that month,
and it appears that his relatives have
been unaware of his demise. The
disappearance of the expert stone cut
ter was the subject of some concern to
those who were interested i'm him,
and the following appeared IN the
| WinnSboro correspondence in The
State Of Wednesday:
August 2Gth John Doughcrty left
his home i'm Chester. Pa. to come to
work in one of the quarrieS Of Fair
field county, and that is the last that
has been heard of him. Ills baggage
was checked to Columbia and a few
days ago was delivered over by the
railroad authorities to be returned to
his relatives. The railroad company
has in it's possession his ticket. which
was bought by the owner OF the quar-
ry who remembered the number, and
his disappearance was after he reached
Charlotte, for the ticket was punch ed
for the whole trip. How he disappear
ed is a mystery, and his friends, who
have begun trace of him, are APP
prchcnSiNe that he will never bc seen
again. He was about 6O years old"
The State says the attention of the
Rev. II. j. Hegarty of ST. Peters
Catholic church was attracted by this
item and he called at The State Office
Wednesday morning and gave the in
formation tnat Dougherty had died
il the almslUuSe. Father IIcgarty
gave the unknown the burial of the
Catholic church.
Capt. G. NJ. Douglass. clerk OF the
county board of commissioners, was
asked for information in regard to
the sad case. He called up Mr.. j. ID.
Rial superintendent OF the aims
house, and the latter told all that he
knew of the case. Mr.. Dougherty
was sent to the county home on the
-r---1 s>r -'''- noon s'-nc1 Ty Capt
Owen DAILY, chief of police. The old
gentleman was waited on by DR..
Earle, county physician (now deceass
cd.) Mr.. Dougherty's collapse and
death was unexpected and the officers
and inmates Of the institution knew
nothing of his anteccdentS or of his
employment. 1t was known that his
name was John Duugherty and that
he was Il stone cutter by trade. The
deceased had watch and $l.lj in
change when he was taken to the
aImShouSe. Mr. Rial did not rcmcm-
Der what was the specific cause of
death.
Capt. Douglass added to the above
information that the almShouSc is 4
county institution, hut is placed at
the disposal of the city in cases of
emergency and that commitment pa
pcrS from the Office of the chief Of
police do not pass through the hands
of the county officials. The cottages
at the almShOuSe are clean and com
Portable, but this is not hospital
with "A stan of physicians and with
trained nurses. 1t is the cOunty'S
home for those who are worn out and
unable TO fight the battle OF life. Mr.
Rial ministers to the suffering as best
he can. and the inmates of the inSti-
tuition attend their sick companions
whenever they themselves are able.
Tie county physician visits the home
twice a week and responds to all
calls. The need of a large hospital
here is emphasized by just such sad
cases as that of John DUughcrty. al
though there is nothing to indicate
that constant attention of nurses
would have restored him to health.
When Chief DAILY was asked about
/ the case he remembered very distinct
/ ~ that Dpughcrty came to him and
asked To be sent to some place where
he could rest up and rccupcratc. Capt.
/ DAILY described him as an elderly man,
| perhaps 80 years old, and the chiefs
impression was that he was not Il
/ sick man but that hc was broken down
and needed to rest up. In reply tC
| an inquiry why he had not sent
/ DDughcrty to the Columbia hospital,
/ the chief said th2t he did not think
| Doughcrty was i'll enough for that
and on account of the crowded con
/ ditiOn of the Columbia hospital il is
customcry to send such cases 10 the
almShUuSc. He had been surprised 1,
/ hear OF Doughcrty'S death and haC
tried, but failed. 10 lind out whcnc,
| he had come
Has 40 Vessels Lcfr.