The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-07-22
boy BELIEVED DEAD
TURNS UP At FUNERAL
A BLAKELY YOUTH IN LOVE
WITH SISTER OF SUPPOSED
CORPSE KEPT SILENT.
UNKNOWN BODY WAS BURIED
Parents Startled at Meeting Son as
They Were Leaving Grave. Rela-
tives and Friends Viewed Remains
OF Victim of Accident.

tives and Friends Viewed Remains
OF Victim of Accident.
ATLANTA.-One of the strangest
cases of mistaken identity on record
was unfolded near here Thursday
when John w. Hinton, 15-year-o1d
Atlanta youth, mourned for dead for
several days and supposed to have
been the central figure in a funeral at
Bogart, Ga, astouned his parents, rel
atives and friends by appearing as
they we're about to get aboard train
after the funeral Young Hinton had
been visiting relatives near Bogart
Corpse Was Harris Body.
According to information obtained
by Gainesville authorities from Hor-
ace Singletary, of Blakely, Ga, the
body of the dead youth is that of Col
lis Harris. Singletary, who was seri-
ous1y injured at the time the boy be-
lieved to have been Hinton was killed,
is reported to have stated to the au-
thorites that the reason he had not
disclosed the identity of his compan-
ion earlier was because he was in love
with Harris sister and that he did not
wish her to think him responsible for
her brothers. death
The body of the dead youth had
previously been identified as young
Hinton by his father, stepmother and
several relatives. A host of friends
viewed the body and none entertained
the least doubt that it was that of
Hinton.
Insurance adjustment papers al
ready had been signed by the COM
pany which wrote policy on the
boys life.
Mourners Were Startled.
A scene of confusion which quick
" attracted crowd Immediately re-
suited when the parents and the re-
Gently mourned son were reunited.
The train arrived at this moment and
the family climbed aboard, the strange
case being unraveled on the way to
Atlanta while passengers of two
coaches stood spellbound.
The boy had been missing since he
went away six weeks ago and it was
by accident that his whereabouts was
learned. his aunt at Smithsonia having
failed to answer queries from the
father concerning the boy. Neither
the boy nor members of the family
he was visiting were aware of his sup
posed death until the arrival at War
bington.
Singletary Relates Story.
Singletary told the authorities at
Gainesville that he and young Harris
left Blakely Saturday night to go to
see Singletary's sister in Warsaw,
KY They arrived in Atlanta Monday
and then caught freight train head
ed for Gainesville. Ten miles out
from Atlanta he related, they were
discovered and put off,
Picked up later by motorist, they
were taken to Gainesville Tuesday,
and while waiting for another freight
train to come by they lay down on
the tracks and went to sleep, think
ing it would stop for water before
reaching them, according to Single
tary.
"The next thing l knew" Single
tary declared, some one was dragging
me from under the train.
Love Affair Story Changed.
Saturday afternoon another amaz-
ing development came in the case.
Horace Singletary changed his
story regarding a love affair with
young Harris sister, declaring that it
was his brother, Frank Singletary.
who was in love with the girl, and not
himself. His brother emphatically de-
MED such was the case.
AT almost the same time that news
of this changed story came from Car
tersville, where Singletary is recover
ing from dangerous injuries received
at the time Harris was killed, press
dispatches from Blakely were to the
effect that Harris sister had been
married for three years and had in
dignantly denied to newspaper men
that she had ever been the object of
young Singletary's affections. The
boy, she said, is several years young
err than herself.
His brother, Frank, who also was
in Gainesville at the time, expressed
amazement over the younger brothers
second statement.
Womans PARTY Wants