Year: 1876

children illegitimate; while the disposi- ,tlons that had been made of the old mans property might lead to most dis astrous litigation. It was finally de- cided, however, that one of the family should proceed to Cleveland and investi- gate the matter, and one of the sons started at once for that city.

 ArriH ing there, he searched the lodg- ing houses-as indicated in the letter- and finally found one where there was a lodger by the name of Swingle. The old man lay on mattress on the floor of a ,meanly-furnished room, and, al though greatly changed, was at once recognized by his son. When the latter made himself known the old man was nearly beside himself with joy. He was very ill with fever, and became delirious soon after the arrival of his son, and it was some days before he could be re- moved to better quarters. Three weeks passed before he was in condition to be taken home, and during that time he could be induced to say but little about his strange disappearance. He said that he left while under the influence of an impulse which he could not control, and after travelling about for few days he was ashamed to return, and resolved to go West with about $3, ,000 he had with him and invest it in some way, and after he had increased it sufficiently to return home and surprise his family. He went to California, and from there to Aus tralia, where he made $115, 900 in five years and came back to California, where he lost it all. Thinking that he was drawing near his death, he de- termined to return home, and was taken sick with the fever at Cleveland. He refused to enter into any details of his ten years absence until he recovered from his illness.

 The return of the supposed dead man sensation than his disappearance had. He was taken at oEoe to his old home, and the excitement again prostrated him upon bed of sickness. The changes that had occurred during his absence were kept from him. His unfortunate wife took her place at his bedside, and occupied the painful position of one striving by kind care and nursing to re- store one whose convalescence would de- stroy her happiness and honor, and that of the father of her children. The younger James Swingle was almost CEhZ60 ab GLl0 b1buHb1Ou O1 HudAIS, tAuu At was for time necessary to keep him under strict surveillance, as it was feared be would take his own life. So com plicated were the family affairs that it is not strange, when the physician at- tending the old farmer announced that it was impossible for him to recover, that they felt a sense of relief at the yer dict. He died as stated ct the com. mencement of this letter, and never knew the agony and suspense to which his return had subjected every member of his family. ..

 After the farmer was buried, the mar. riage ceremony between his son and his widow was again performed, the sympathy of the whole community be- ing with them.

 The skeleton that was found at Lake Topee again became 8 subject of specu' lation after the reappearance of Swingle Ten years ago the section was a great resort for cattle dealers, who went through the country buying up stock A drover named Gibson made frequent visits here, and men with good memoriei say that he was here about the time that Swingle was missed, but has not been here since. The theorists have settled it that it was his cries of murder which the Widow Mosher heord on that notable night, and that he was murdered by some of Smiths gang and his body carried to the pond and thrown in, l subsequently being washed up where il was found.