The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-11-14
Evident in the Mysterious Death
OF a Preacher Who
DIED IN THE WOODS
Near crhig's Crossing Just Off Augusta,
Ga. Family Refuses to Accept Body
of Rev. A. E. Roiahn After 1t
Had Been Identified by
Forty.one People.

AOley y'VAS kSVP1eS
i The Augusta Herald says the uys-
tery surrounding the death Of Rev. A.
E R3jahn Is being cleared, and it de.
Veloped Thursday that there Is an ug-
ly shadow In the back ground that
| viii probahly never take . definite
form.
It was noticed, as the supposed
tramp, who died in the woods near
Craigs Crossing, on the Sunday after
noon Of October %. lay at undertak-
ing establishments Of Mr.. B. z Elliott,
that there was an ugly bruise upon
his nose, aud that two Of bis front
teeth were out.
At the time, the marks being upon
the body Of supposed insignificant
tramp, no scspicions were aroused.
However 8 chain of evidence develop.
ed since to tne effect that the man
asd been seYerely beaten, and the
| mystery Of his being In the woods has
5sen solved.
We're it not 70, an. unusual happen.
ing, the death Of Rev. A. e R<jshn.
an apostolic minister, would have Seen
forever an unsolved problem to the
general public, and most especially to
his flock at Langley, who waited IN
vain for bis coming.
After being identified by forty-one
nsmoers Of the apostolic faith, who
conducted the funeral service at the
undertaking establishment last Sun.
day afternoon, the body was sent 20
Dallaston, Pa, all expenses necessary
having besn telegraphed by 3 brother
Of the dead preacher. Recently Mr. 3.
e Elliott was mystided by the ,e-
ceipt Of the folio wing telegram from
D.llaston, Pa:
This Is not the body Of A. E. Ro.
jahn, advise disposition. Produce body
OF return money.
(7igned) FRANK RoJAEN. !"
R,v. J. q. Benson, OF Langley, s.
@, was in the city Thursday morn.
ing and stated that be was unable to
explain the strange circumstances.
Forty people have identified him."
declared MI. Benson. "Hs was . close
friend Of mine, and can produce
many psople who saw the body and
Who knew it to be Rsv. A. e Roj ahn,
Il Dallastown, Pa. 7 have letters In
my pocket from him, and I have
sritten him numbers Of times at Dali
lastown, many Of the letters being
forwarded to him st other places"
MI. Bsnson took from bis pocket
the key to the mystery surrounding
the death Of the humble minister, who
distributed bis money among the poor
aud never took up a collection. A por-
sion Of the letter is as follows:
my head feels little sore today,
but am glad that can say that I
vas knocked down for the truth and
for Jesus sake. told tbs man when
be hit me- the first lick back Of the
head that I was willing to de tor Je-
sus. A negro tried to take him away"
The letter was written from R,ck'
ingham, N. c., and bore the date OF
September %. one month from the
time he was found dead In the woods
MIR. Benson Is sure that the severe
beating caused insanity, and that the
man wandered In the woods until he
died. The letter further stated That
be was knocked down because he de-
clarsd that swearing was Of the devil
Mr.. Banson stated that the unfor.
tpnste minister assisted him In re-
Yiyal at Langley Last April, and made
hosts OF friends, 90 many thai ne was
invited to return. he was p1ohablv
On his way, when he became involved
In the difficulty.
A pathetic circumstance incident to
the death occurred when be was dying
in the lonely wood, some ktndheazsed
person thinking him q tramp offered
him q cup Of coffee, for which he OF.
cred In payment bis last nickel
1t is not known why bis family 70.
fused bis body.