Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-10
MUMMlFIED BODY FOUND
In Attic of Clark House at Columbia
Been There Since 1900.

Columbia is excited over the discov-
cry of the dead body of baby in the
attic of a house that has been inhab-
tied up to within a week, known as
the Charles Clark place, situated about
one-half mile southeast of Columbia
lake, on cross road.
William Marshall, a New Yorker,
recently purchased the house. Wednes-
day afternoon he thought he would
go over the place and look around and
clean up a bit. During his rambles
about the old farm house he went to
the attic and there in a closet was an
apparently new satchel. After much
difficulty he pried it open and took
from it common shoe box. Upon
opening the box he saw a bundle of
old papers and unwrapping them found
the dead body of a baby. 1t was pref
ty well dried UP and Indicated that
it had been in the box for some time.
There was no great odor and the body
appeared to be the form of prema-
ture child.
Mr. Marshall notified First Select
man L. E. Winter. who notified Medi-
cal Examiner Pendleton of Hebron,
but was unable to get him, so he
called in Medical Examiner William
L. Higgins of South Coventry. He
examined the body and gave as his
opinion that the body was that of a
seven months child. Medical Exami-
ner Higgins notified Coroner Robert
Fl. Fisk of Stafford, but was unable
to get in touch with him up to a late
hour Thursday afternoon.
First Selectman Winter has the body
in charge, pending further investiga-
ton of the case.
The house where the satchel was
found has been occupied for some ten
or dozen years by Mr.. 2 and Mrs.
Charles Clark, an aged couple, and a
sort Of a niece, who has been keeping
house for them and taking care of
Mr.. Clark, who has been in failing
health for some time and about a week
ago was committed to Brewsters Neck
hospital at Norwich. 15rs. r. r. Park
err and c. l.. Simonds of this city ex-
amined him about three weeks ago.
Mrs. Clark, when the family broke
up about a week ago, went to the
home of Emil eHennequin, a neighbor,
who lives close by on the same cross
road, to stay a few days, but expects
to go shortly to New Britain to make
her home in New Britain.
The girl in the case is supposed to
be Flossie: Edgeton. daughter of an
adopted daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Clark. Her parents died about a score
OF years ago. She has led such a life
at times that Mr.. Clark would not
tolerate her presence in the household
and frequently had to order her from
it. During the past nine or ten years
she had been living there with her
grandparents, when they would permit
her. A resident of the town stated on
Thursday afternoon that for a number
Of years she had run a house that
was a disgrace to any town, although
the old couple were in nowise to
blame.
A few years since Miss Edgeton
went off down Derby and Shelton way
for time. but came back. few
years ago she lived with a man in this
city for a while. She has not been
seen since the family broke up and
no trace of her whereabouts can be
found Mr.. Marshall makes the state
ment that F'lossie told him: You may
find a gold mine in the attic"
The papers found wrapped about the
body were those of Derby, Shelton
and New Haven publication and bore
the date of 1900. The satchel bore
the name of dealer in Birmingham
Mrs. Clark said that she knew alb
solutely nothing about the case, but
intimated that she was of the opinion
that Flossie could throw some light
upon the affair. 1t is the belief that
the body has been hid all these years
in the attic. the papers found tending
to prove the fact