Edwin Morse Mystery Solved- 1899

The Edwin Morse Mystery

Utica Saturday Globe, April 1899

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  The mystery which surrounded the disappearance of Edwin Morse, of Holmesville [Chenango Co., NY], was cleared up on Monday by the discovery of his remains in a field within less than 20 rods of his own door.  Mr. Morse disappeared the day after Christmas last December and the most diligent search failed to reveal the slightest clue to his whereabouts. The search was finally given up by his relatives and it was generally believed that he was dead, though there was no evidence to establish the fact. Exactly 95 days from the day he disappeared, his body was found by Delos Wheeler, who recently purchased the property known as the Phelps farm, which adjoins the premises owned by Mr. Morse.  Mr. Wheeler was looking over his line fence about 5 o'clock last Monday afternoon when he came upon the remains lying beside the board fence on his property just off the land belonging to Mr. Morse and within 10 rods of the highway. He notified Alah Morse, a nephew of the deceased and poormaster of the town of New Berlin, in which the hamlet of Holmesville is located.  Coroner Harris, viewing the remains was satisfied that death was due to a natural cause and did not deem an inquest necessary. 

 

When found the body lay on its back in a natural position, the head tipped back and the hat fallen from it.  One hand and arm was resting across the chest and the other was lying naturally by the side of the body. The remains were in a remarkable state of preservation considering the time that had elapsed since death occurred. They were lying on the north side of the fence and had been hidden from view by a huge drift of snow. The fence was partly down a few feet away from the spot and though persons were in the habit of passing that way in taking a short cut across lots the body had never been discovered until Mr. Wheeler found it as described.

 

Had he lived until January 7 last, Mr. Morse would have been 67 years of age.  He was born in the town of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] and had spent his life in farming.  His sole surviving brother is William Morse....  Mrs. Morse died about 30 years ago.  For several years Mr. Morse occupied the little house and plot of ground he owned at Holmesville, and worked for farmers in that vicinity.  For several months prior to his disappearance he made his home with his brother.  One daughter, Mrs. James Bronson, of Edmeston, survives and their grandchildren.  His funeral was held at 1 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. Burial at White Store [Chenango Co., NY]