“The story of the finding of dead body on the West Side, mention of which was made Monday, was thoroughly investigated today by order of the Coroner.”
“Sol Hughes and S. F. Royse, the two men who claimed to have found the body, were corralled and, with Undertaker Fuller and others, to the lonely place on the Grice farm, three miles below town, where they were certain existed evidences of a ghastly crime.”
“As the little party neared the spot a deep hush fell upon them all. Even Undertaker Fuller felt more solemn than usual. All felt that something was about to drop, that would shake the country from end to end.”
“Hughes led the way to fatal spot. “There it is,” he exclaimed pointing to a little mound, and the others paused, awe-stricken in the presence of death. After a moment they surrounded the grave and Hughes and Royse got busy with their shovel. The sand flew in all directions and in less than a minute, the work was done, the body lay exposed to the sight of the searching party.”
“They gazed a moment in dead silence. Then somebody exploded with “I’ll be damned,” and the sentiment was echoed in the breasts of all beholders. Then somebody laughed a loud guffaw, but this time Hughes and Royse did not join in the mirth. It was not their time to laugh.”
“For the body was that of a full grown black hog.”
“His hogship had not been murdered, gentle reader. He had died a natural death, and his owner, a tenant on the Grice farm had buried him beneath a weeping willow tree, on the sandy banks of the raging Ohio. The raging storms of the past few days had uncovered the remains and Sol Hughes and his trusty imagination had done the rest.”
“Hughes and this story caused considerable of a commotion about town Monday night. After the Coroner failed to find the body, Hughes sent him word that he would take him to the place this morning. The Coroner could not go, but sent Undertaker Fuller to bring the remains to town.”
“The story told by Hughes was that he and S. F. Royse had gone down the river Sunday after persimmons.”
“They finally pulled their boat into shore and walked along the bank. Hughes’ attention was attracted by a white object about thirty yards from the water’s edge or midway between the river and bluff bank. The two walked up to it, when Hughes suddenly stopped and exclaimed: “Why it’s a corpse.” It was almost hidden from view. A slight portion of the abdomen was exposed to view. The head, breast, and legs were buried beneath the earth. On either side as though placed there to protect the body from waves, was a plank. The two men judged the body had been buried for several weeks, for the stench was awful.”
“Hughes and Royse were the heroes of Slabtown Monday night. They had pig toe bones which they were showing around as joints of the fingers of the corpse they had found. They were exhibited to their admiring friends about town. Alas, how things have changed today. Just let any one shout out, “How’s your dead friend, Sol?” and Sol is ready to shed his coat and fight right then and there.”
“And as to seeing any finger joints, why that is almost an invitation to Sol to commit murder. Sol says, however, that he be dinged if any more floaters bob up they ‘kin jist float.’ He won’t interfere with them again.”1
