Asheville, Sept. 19—Mystery enshrouds the past life of J.R. Harrison, a tubercular patient who died at Montrose Sanitarium in Weaverville September 4, saying just before he breathed his last that if people here knew who he was they would “tar and feather him.”
Harrison, alias K.L. Carson, alias Edward Fred Magne, alias Edward Alfred Cohen, alias Charles Moyne—names he is alleged to have gone under in every corner of the world and to have acquired property and wives under, came to Dr. J.M. Crawford’s sanitarium several weeks ago, broken in health and a victim of tuberculosis. He is said to have begged to be taken in as a pauper without means and without chance of help from relatives for he said he had none.
When grim death came near and Harrison felt himself sinking lower, he asked that the attendants leave the room and only the head nurse remain, the story goes. His request being complied with, Harrison pointed to a small handbag, and as he sank lower whispered to the nurse that she would find papers and letters addressed to several persons but all meant for him.
An investigation of the small handbag is said to have resulted in the discovery of several receipts for deposits in foreign banks and disclosed former residence of the man in many parts of the world. Harrison is said to have had in the small bag papers showing ownership of bank stock in Sweden amounting to 500 pounds in English money. It was also revealed that the mysterious man held stock in a department house in Florida and other property in New Zealand. Certificates of deposits in the Bank of London and uncollected coupons on a London banking house were also in the miscellaneous lot.
The latest development in the case is that Harrison with six aliases has been discovered to have living at present three wives. J. Scroop Styles, investigating the matter, refuses to give out information until he has heard from parties in Sweden, New Zealand, California and other places where it is believed the man of mystery lived and perhaps married. Investigations are going on and it is expected here that the strange man’s identity will soon be made. Why Asheville people would “tar and feather him” leaves an unlimited field for the play of imagination. It has been suggested that Harrison may have been a spy during the world war. Other theories are being advanced in Weaverville where the incident is being talked about on the street corners and meeting places. Record of the man’s death has been filed at the courthouse.
From The Charlotte News, Monday, Sept. 19, 1921
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