William Finch
Feb. 22, 1859-July 11, 1913
Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, July 15, 1913, Page 1, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library
FLOATER FOUND IN RIVER WAS BODY OF WM. FINCH
Was last seen on Friday. Police suspect it was case of suicide.
FAMILY IN NEBRASKA
Deceased had worked for Michigan Central for 27 years
The body found floating in the St.Joseph river late yesterday afternoon by Lawrence Schrumpf and Edward Miller, and which was recovered a little later near Brown's Eddy, has been positively identified as that of William Finch, a Michigan Central railroad employe, who worked under Walter Garrett, in the bridge and water department.
The first clue to identification was obtained from a torn and water soaked envelope addressed to "Wm. Finch, Niles, Mich., care Wm. Rogge."
The letter was in a feminine hand and was dated at Chadron, Nebraska, the post mark bearing date July 8, 1913.
Other letters were written on stationery of J.W. Irwin, a building contractor of Chadron, Neb., and one that was especially legible and written in a bold and clear hand was addressed to "Dear Uncle."
It told of family affairs and how one was going to a Normal School, and other matters of interest such as a younger relative might write to an uncle with whom there was a bond of affection.
After the finding of these letters Lloyd Finch, an employe at the Kawneer was notified and he positively identified the letters and other personal effects as belonging to his father.
Lloyd was taking with his father as recently as last Thursday evening, July 10.
The condition of the body which was terribly bloated and distorted byond recognition, decomposition having set in, led Coroner Skalla and others who viewed it, to believe that it had been in the water from ten days to two weeks.
The extreme heat recently and the belief that the body may have lain in shallow water where the solar rays reached it, thus hastening decomposition, accounts for its condition and the fact that it rose to the surface so soon after drowning.
Whether he accidently fell into the river or committed suicide, is of course a mere matter of conjecture, and can probably never be determined.
The body was in such a terrible condition that it was decided to bury it at once, which was done last evening at Silver Brook Cemetery.
The flesh on the ends of the fingers cleaved from the bones and had the appearance of having been eaten by turtles.
The face was also lacerated, and this led to a report that the man might have been murdered and his body thrown into the river.
Aside from the letters nothing of value was found in the pockets.
There was no money. A few stamps were found in the empty bill book, an empty match safe and a bunch of rusted keys.
The body was so swollen the clothing was filled almost to the bursting point.
Mr. Finch is survived by a wife and five children, three sons and two daughters.
Mrs. Finch and three children are at Chadron, Neb., where they went last September for the benefit of her health. Her son, Earl, has a position there under his uncle, J.W. Irwin, who has a railroad position as foreman.
Mr. Finch has been employed by the Michigan Central for over 27 years having entered their service in 1886. He preferred to remain with the company with Niles as his headquarters rather than go west, and he provided regularly for his family in Chadron.
Since September he has boarded with Mrs. William Rogge. He worked everyday and most of the time his work took him away from Niles for several days at a time. On July 3 he laid off for the Fourth and had not worked since.
On Thursday night he talked with his son and the latter said he would see him the next night. Mrs. Rogge says Mr. Finch left the house at noon on Friday and she never saw him again.
His son called on Friday evening and his father's absence made him think he was out of [illegible].
Mr. Finch as one brother James, of Niles. Two nephews, Louis Finch and William Bradford reside in South Bend.
Mrs. Finch is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Webster, prominent farmers residing near South Bend.
The pay check for the dead man for last month's work is at the M.C. office.
The deceased was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and was in good standing. He carried $2,000 insurance in this order.
A jury was impanelled comprising the following who after viewing the body adjourned to meet this eveing in the council room, August Ausmus, Thos. Roach, Henry Bowerman, Jack Lambert, John Kline and Ernest Reagle.
Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, July 16, 1913, Page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
NO NEW LIGHT ON DEATH
The coroner's jury in the case of William Finch, whose body was found in the river Monday afternoon by Lawrence Schrumpf and Edward Miller, met at the city hall last eveing and returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased was found dead as stated, but how he came to his death was unkown to the jury. The two boys who made the grewsome[sic[ discovery were the main witnesses.
No new facts have been discovered and whether it is a case of accidental drowning or suicide is left an unsolved mystery.
The formal verdict was as follows:
The said William Finch was found in the river, the cause of death being unknown.
