Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-10
A MYSTERY
IS SOLVED
BODY OF MAN FOUND NEAR
CEDAR RAPIDS IDENTIFIED AS
JOHN wELscH OF sleouRNEY.
SUICIDE
POSSIBLE
Remains Were In Creek, and Clothes
Found Near the Bank of the Stream
-WeIch Left Home Month Ago
and was Never Heard From.

Sigourney, Sept 9.-The remains of
John r. WEIGH of Sigourney, whose
body was found in stream near Ced-
ar Rapids, have arrived here and the
funeral services will be held. Mr..
WEIGH was assessor at Sigourney for
number of years. He left home Aug
ust 5 for Cedar Rapids, but was never
seen in that city. An investigation
following his continued disappearance
revealed the fact that he had left the
train at crossing near Cedar Rapids
at a point not far from where the body
was found. The remains were identi-
fed by means of receipts from a Sig
Quincy Fraternal order found in the
pockets. Mr.. WEIGH had relatives in
Sigourney and Hedrick. The follow
| ing report from Cedar Rapids tells of
the finding Of the body:
| The mystery surrounding the finding
Of the body of an unknown man in a
little creek which empties into Prairie
creek on the B. G. Gard farm has been
cleared up by the Identification Of the
remains through the clothing and let
tiers and papers found yesterday after
noon late, as those of John Welcn of
| Sigourney.
| Yesterday afternoon Coroner King
and Captain Joe Kroulik went to the
place where the body was found, and
after a long search in that vicinity
found the man s'coat, vest and hat on
the bank of the creek just short dis
lance from where the body was found
in the creek. In the pockets were pa.
pers and letters, including cash fare
slip. showing he had paid his fare on
the train from Sigourney to Cedar
Rapids.
i Returning to the city DR.. King tele
i graphed to Sigourney and this morn
. ing the dead mans brother and four
I brothersin-law came to the city, and
in company with Coroner King an6
w. Kool again visited the place wnere
the body was found A further search
was made and handkerchief ant
some tobacco was found. but nothing
else that would throw any light O.
the manner of his death.
u But WEIGH left home about a month
ago and no trace Of MIN could BIZ
. found. Since the remains have beer
, identified, however, trainmen remember
that man about that time got of
! their train either at Beverly or tht
cutoff. but at Beverly to the best o.
their knowledge 1t seems that Welcl
had been having some little trouble a
home. and 1t Is believed that after {
quarrel ne walked to the depot, tool
) the train and started to Cedar Rapids
Getting off at Beverly, it Is believed
he wandered around for time, ant
probably in fit of temporary aberra
ton Of the mind, Invested himself o
coat, vest and hat and jumped int
the creek.
WEIGH was wood worker and wa
a member Of the Odd Fellows, Wood
men and Fraternal Bankers Reserv
society, carrying between $4,000 an
) $4,000 Of insurance in the two las
, named organizations.
The body will be placed in a metali
. casket and taken back to Sigourne
. for burial. The decomposition has pre-
!. crossed SO far that 1t is impossible t
. identify them, but the clothing an
/. everything else leaves no doubt abou
t it being the remains of WEIGH.