SUSPECTED MURDER
The citizens in the vicinity of Clifton, were greatly excited on Monday, over the discovery of the dead body of Thomas Downing, the old hermit, who has lived for the past twenty years, high up among the cliffs in that vicinity. Murder was at once set down as the cause of his death and coroner Chas. Wippermann of this city was notified by telegraph. Mr. Wippermann left to make investigation Monday night. Suspicion that anything was wrong with Downing was first aroused on Saturday last, some children chancing to pass by his secluded abode noticing that the door of this hut was open, with no occupant in sight. The idea that something might have happened, the lone inhabitant of the cliffs, soon spread among the neighbors and a search was instituted, which was continued for a considerable time, foul play being strongly suspected, as he was known to have a considerable amount of money which he usually carried upon his person, or concealed among the rocks. He was at last found behind a log, some twenty feet from the hut, partially covered with brush and snow, by Patrick Nash and Wm fiddler on Monday. The search party at once covered they body with a blanket and carried it into the house, without making an examination, and awaited the arrival of the coroner. Blood was reported to have been seen on his hands and everyone at once concluded that it was a murder. Conjectures of all sorts were rife as to the probable assailant, when the deed was done and whether the murderer had secured the money. Until the arrival of the coroner, excitement ran high.
Upon the arrival of the coroner, investigations were at once commenced, and on Tuesday a jury was empanelled and the inquest held. They body was found in a cramped and frozen condition, and had to be thawed by soaking with warm water before an examination could be made. The testimony brought out at the inquest was, that on or about the 15th day of November was the last time Downing was seen by anyone in the neighborhood. That on the 18th day of November, Mrs. Babbethz, one of the neighbors, went to his home with washing, and found the door open with on one about. This circumstance of his leaving the door open, was something which he had never been known to do before, but instead had always been very guarded, and securely locked the door of his humble home if he was going out of sight of it. It is said that at one time he had a gun attached to the latch of his door, which would discharge itself into the face of the intruder, should anyone attempt to molest him in his sleep.
Dr. W. S. Scott of Stockbridge, was summoned to make an examination of the body, but could find no signs of violence having been used or that death had resulted from any but natural causes, the early marks found being on his face, where the nose and upper lip were knawed off by mice. The verdict of the jury was that Downing had come to his death from heart troubles or some other similar disease.
His reputed wealth was next looked after, and the coroner’s testimony of the cashier of the Bank of Menasha shows that Downing has had $2,500 on deposit since 1884. This was all the money of which any clue could be ascertained. The remainder of his horded gold is undoubtedly hidden where it will never be discovered.
The body would probably never have been found until spring had not the late thaw removed most of the snow under which it was buried. After the inquest the remains were left at Sherwood, awaiting the arrival of Henry Barlow of Oshkosh, who was notified of the death and is the only person known to have any knowledge of the hermit’s past life. The old recluse had told several neighbors previous to his death, that should harm befall him, Mr. Barlow should at once be notified, to whom, he stated, he had left the disposition of his possessions. His sister living in Pittsburgh, Pa., and also a niece in Birmingham, Ala., were notified. He had also intimated at different time to various parties, that upon his demise, his relatives would receive none of his savings.
The hut in which he lived was a very small concern being about 12x16 feet in dimensions. It was built some years ago by fishermen and sold to Downing about four years ago for a sum of $8.50. The room, upon entering bears the appearance of a small storage place, it being literally filled with barrels, boxes, blasting tools and various other articles. His bed was located in one corner, and consisted of a long box, upon which was spread a quantity of straw, which had from appearances been used for a long time as the straw was ground to a chaff; over this was a spread a calico covering. A pillow lay at the head of the bed made from a common two-bushel sack, filled with dried moss. Upon a table lay a half finished letter to a niece in the South, dated Nov. 1st, in which he states that he had been ill and did not expect to live much longer, that there was no work for him in that section, that he had quit the use of whiskey and that in another year he expected to move to Lake Superior. A memorandum book was also found, in which he had noted all of his expenditures. Frequent entries of the purchase of liquor show that he was not dealing with the exact truth when writing to his niece. A pile of shoes were found and carefully examined, many expected to find the missing gold he was credited with having concealed. Two cotton shirts, a pair of overalls and a woolen jacket, comprised his wardrobe. Nothing to interest was found and the coroner’s duties were here ended.
Downing was born in England in 1820, and came to this country in 1840. Upon his arrival he was entrusted by his brother with a large amount of money which he was to invest in western lands, but instead of doing this he squandered it in gambling. He lived a reckless life for many years securing for himself quite a record as a pugilist and profession gambler. After some fifteen years of debauchery, he vowed that he would replace the money which had been entrusted to him by his brother, and did so with god he won by breaking a faro bank at Oshkosh. Shortly after this he removed to Clifton, working at the lime kilns and living in seclusion among the rocks in a little log cabin. He was gifted with herculean strength and could easily do the work of two men, receiving large pay of which he expended but very little. For years he has not labored and has lived alone, with as little intercourse with men as possible. Women he despised.
About four years ago his hut caught fires and was leveled to the ground. He barely succeeded in saving from the flames an old rubber shoe in which was concealed some $3,000. The paper was considerably scorched and had to be sent to Washington. It was redeemed to within $15 of the original amount.
Previous to this fire he was taken sick with a fever which lasted some six weeks. All of that time he remained in his bunk, his only food being some butter and sugar which were the only eatables within reaching distance.
At one time a sister and a niece spent a few weeks visiting him, stopping at a hotel in Sherwood and visiting him during the day. After their departure he stated that they must be after his money for he would see no other object in their visiting him. The only person who ever seemed to be on intimate terms with Downing was a young man whom he called Robert, who visited him for a day. Their parting is said to have been very effecting.
The eccentricities of Downing were many and would take columns to chronicle. His death was for a long time expected in the form of a murder, but the real cause has cheated the lover of criminal horrors and has made a fitting finale to a checkered career.
December 10, 1887 - Chilton Times
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SUSPECTED MURDER
The citizens in the vicinity of Clifton, were greatly excited on Monday, over the discovery of the dead body of Thomas Downing, the old hermit, who has lived for the past twenty years, high up among the cliffs in that vicinity. Murder was at once set down as the cause of his death and coroner Chas. Wippermann of this city was notified by telegraph. Mr. Wippermann left to make investigation Monday night. Suspicion that anything was wrong with Downing was first aroused on Saturday last, some children chancing to pass by his secluded abode noticing that the door of this hut was open, with no occupant in sight. The idea that something might have happened, the lone inhabitant of the cliffs, soon spread among the neighbors and a search was instituted, which was continued for a considerable time, foul play being strongly suspected, as he was known to have a considerable amount of money which he usually carried upon his person, or concealed among the rocks. He was at last found behind a log, some twenty feet from the hut, partially covered with brush and snow, by Patrick Nash and Wm fiddler on Monday. The search party at once covered they body with a blanket and carried it into the house, without making an examination, and awaited the arrival of the coroner. Blood was reported to have been seen on his hands and everyone at once concluded that it was a murder. Conjectures of all sorts were rife as to the probable assailant, when the deed was done and whether the murderer had secured the money. Until the arrival of the coroner, excitement ran high.
Upon the arrival of the coroner, investigations were at once commenced, and on Tuesday a jury was empanelled and the inquest held. They body was found in a cramped and frozen condition, and had to be thawed by soaking with warm water before an examination could be made. The testimony brought out at the inquest was, that on or about the 15th day of November was the last time Downing was seen by anyone in the neighborhood. That on the 18th day of November, Mrs. Babbethz, one of the neighbors, went to his home with washing, and found the door open with on one about. This circumstance of his leaving the door open, was something which he had never been known to do before, but instead had always been very guarded, and securely locked the door of his humble home if he was going out of sight of it. It is said that at one time he had a gun attached to the latch of his door, which would discharge itself into the face of the intruder, should anyone attempt to molest him in his sleep.
Dr. W. S. Scott of Stockbridge, was summoned to make an examination of the body, but could find no signs of violence having been used or that death had resulted from any but natural causes, the early marks found being on his face, where the nose and upper lip were knawed off by mice. The verdict of the jury was that Downing had come to his death from heart troubles or some other similar disease.
His reputed wealth was next looked after, and the coroner’s testimony of the cashier of the Bank of Menasha shows that Downing has had $2,500 on deposit since 1884. This was all the money of which any clue could be ascertained. The remainder of his horded gold is undoubtedly hidden where it will never be discovered.
The body would probably never have been found until spring had not the late thaw removed most of the snow under which it was buried. After the inquest the remains were left at Sherwood, awaiting the arrival of Henry Barlow of Oshkosh, who was notified of the death and is the only person known to have any knowledge of the hermit’s past life. The old recluse had told several neighbors previous to his death, that should harm befall him, Mr. Barlow should at once be notified, to whom, he stated, he had left the disposition of his possessions. His sister living in Pittsburgh, Pa., and also a niece in Birmingham, Ala., were notified. He had also intimated at different time to various parties, that upon his demise, his relatives would receive none of his savings.
The hut in which he lived was a very small concern being about 12x16 feet in dimensions. It was built some years ago by fishermen and sold to Downing about four years ago for a sum of $8.50. The room, upon entering bears the appearance of a small storage place, it being literally filled with barrels, boxes, blasting tools and various other articles. His bed was located in one corner, and consisted of a long box, upon which was spread a quantity of straw, which had from appearances been used for a long time as the straw was ground to a chaff; over this was a spread a calico covering. A pillow lay at the head of the bed made from a common two-bushel sack, filled with dried moss. Upon a table lay a half finished letter to a niece in the South, dated Nov. 1st, in which he states that he had been ill and did not expect to live much longer, that there was no work for him in that section, that he had quit the use of whiskey and that in another year he expected to move to Lake Superior. A memorandum book was also found, in which he had noted all of his expenditures. Frequent entries of the purchase of liquor show that he was not dealing with the exact truth when writing to his niece. A pile of shoes were found and carefully examined, many expected to find the missing gold he was credited with having concealed. Two cotton shirts, a pair of overalls and a woolen jacket, comprised his wardrobe. Nothing to interest was found and the coroner’s duties were here ended.
Downing was born in England in 1820, and came to this country in 1840. Upon his arrival he was entrusted by his brother with a large amount of money which he was to invest in western lands, but instead of doing this he squandered it in gambling. He lived a reckless life for many years securing for himself quite a record as a pugilist and profession gambler. After some fifteen years of debauchery, he vowed that he would replace the money which had been entrusted to him by his brother, and did so with god he won by breaking a faro bank at Oshkosh. Shortly after this he removed to Clifton, working at the lime kilns and living in seclusion among the rocks in a little log cabin. He was gifted with herculean strength and could easily do the work of two men, receiving large pay of which he expended but very little. For years he has not labored and has lived alone, with as little intercourse with men as possible. Women he despised.
About four years ago his hut caught fires and was leveled to the ground. He barely succeeded in saving from the flames an old rubber shoe in which was concealed some $3,000. The paper was considerably scorched and had to be sent to Washington. It was redeemed to within $15 of the original amount.
Previous to this fire he was taken sick with a fever which lasted some six weeks. All of that time he remained in his bunk, his only food being some butter and sugar which were the only eatables within reaching distance.
At one time a sister and a niece spent a few weeks visiting him, stopping at a hotel in Sherwood and visiting him during the day. After their departure he stated that they must be after his money for he would see no other object in their visiting him. The only person who ever seemed to be on intimate terms with Downing was a young man whom he called Robert, who visited him for a day. Their parting is said to have been very effecting.
The eccentricities of Downing were many and would take columns to chronicle. His death was for a long time expected in the form of a murder, but the real cause has cheated the lover of criminal horrors and has made a fitting finale to a checkered career.
December 10, 1887 - Chilton Times
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