from the Frederick Daily News of Monday, March 8, 1897:
"HE DIED ALONE. HAD PROPERTY BUT DWELT IN A BOX CAR. Strange Circumstances Surrounding the Death of William Valentine Near Woodsboro. As briefly stated in THE NEWS on Saturday last, William Valentine, aged about 70 years, a native of Woodsboro District, was found dead in his place of abode along the Pennsylvania Railroad, a short distance from the town of Woodsboro. Other than a discoloration on the right side of his face and body, caused by settling of blood, no marks of violence were found to indicate that death resulted from other than natural causes. Notwithstanding that the deceased owned a comfortable residence within a short distance of his recent place of abode and a house and lot in Carroll County, he died amid squalor and abject poverty in an old deserted box car that had been cast away after the tracks had been removed. Surrounded with misery and without friends to administer to his wants, the man had for some time past led the life of a miser, and died with one hundred and fifty dollars cash upon his person. Prior to the death of his wife, Valentine resided in his residence. Later, he lived in the same house with his daughter, who also died. Then the residence was rented to a tenant, one room being reserved for the occupancy of the owner, who took his meals with his tenants. After a while, Valentine concluded that he was not realizing enough money from his property and in order to further increase his income, he gave up his room in the home and took up his place of abode in the box car, a short distance away. A board partition divided the car into two apartments. In one side were found small pieces of iron, chips of wood and a varied collection of articles of no value other than as junk. The other side contained a rudely constructed bed, a stove in one corner and a few utensils scattered here and there. Upon the bed lying on the right side was found the body. The last seen of the man was on Thursday last, when he walked to a bakery in Woodsboro and purchased some bread. To one or two persons with whom he talked, he complained of feeling unwell. On Saturday morning last, while some workmen were engaged near the car, one remarked that Valentine had not been seen for a day or two. It was at first supposed that he had gone on a business trip to Carroll County, as was his custom once in a while, but whenever he went away, he securely fastened the sliding door of the car with a padlock. On this occasion, however, the door was partly open and when one of the workmen peered inside, the lifeless remains were found upon the bed. Deputy Sheriff Charles M. Andrews, of the vicinity, was notified and after an examination of the remains, telegraphed to State's Attorney William H. Hinks. Mr. Hinks in his usual prompt manner, notified Sheriff McBride and Coronor Thomas Turner, and the three drove to Woodsboro as soon as Mr. Hinks had finished important court business in Frederick. In the meantime, the remains of the dead man had been removed to an undertaker's after it was entertained that no marks of violence were upon his person. After viewing the body and hearing the circumstances of the case, Mr. Hinks deemed it unnecessary to hold an inquest. The deceased was a brother of Dr. Valentine, of the Theological Seminary of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and a brother of ex-County Comissioner Valentine. He also leaves two sons. It is said that his property near Woodsboro is worth one thousand dollars or more."
"HE DIED ALONE. HAD PROPERTY BUT DWELT IN A BOX CAR. Strange Circumstances Surrounding the Death of William Valentine Near Woodsboro. As briefly stated in THE NEWS on Saturday last, William Valentine, aged about 70 years, a native of Woodsboro District, was found dead in his place of abode along the Pennsylvania Railroad, a short distance from the town of Woodsboro. Other than a discoloration on the right side of his face and body, caused by settling of blood, no marks of violence were found to indicate that death resulted from other than natural causes. Notwithstanding that the deceased owned a comfortable residence within a short distance of his recent place of abode and a house and lot in Carroll County, he died amid squalor and abject poverty in an old deserted box car that had been cast away after the tracks had been removed. Surrounded with misery and without friends to administer to his wants, the man had for some time past led the life of a miser, and died with one hundred and fifty dollars cash upon his person. Prior to the death of his wife, Valentine resided in his residence. Later, he lived in the same house with his daughter, who also died. Then the residence was rented to a tenant, one room being reserved for the occupancy of the owner, who took his meals with his tenants. After a while, Valentine concluded that he was not realizing enough money from his property and in order to further increase his income, he gave up his room in the home and took up his place of abode in the box car, a short distance away. A board partition divided the car into two apartments. In one side were found small pieces of iron, chips of wood and a varied collection of articles of no value other than as junk. The other side contained a rudely constructed bed, a stove in one corner and a few utensils scattered here and there. Upon the bed lying on the right side was found the body. The last seen of the man was on Thursday last, when he walked to a bakery in Woodsboro and purchased some bread. To one or two persons with whom he talked, he complained of feeling unwell. On Saturday morning last, while some workmen were engaged near the car, one remarked that Valentine had not been seen for a day or two. It was at first supposed that he had gone on a business trip to Carroll County, as was his custom once in a while, but whenever he went away, he securely fastened the sliding door of the car with a padlock. On this occasion, however, the door was partly open and when one of the workmen peered inside, the lifeless remains were found upon the bed. Deputy Sheriff Charles M. Andrews, of the vicinity, was notified and after an examination of the remains, telegraphed to State's Attorney William H. Hinks. Mr. Hinks in his usual prompt manner, notified Sheriff McBride and Coronor Thomas Turner, and the three drove to Woodsboro as soon as Mr. Hinks had finished important court business in Frederick. In the meantime, the remains of the dead man had been removed to an undertaker's after it was entertained that no marks of violence were upon his person. After viewing the body and hearing the circumstances of the case, Mr. Hinks deemed it unnecessary to hold an inquest. The deceased was a brother of Dr. Valentine, of the Theological Seminary of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and a brother of ex-County Comissioner Valentine. He also leaves two sons. It is said that his property near Woodsboro is worth one thousand dollars or more."
from the Frederick Daily News of Monday, March 8, 1897:
"HE DIED ALONE. HAD PROPERTY BUT DWELT IN A BOX CAR. Strange Circumstances Surrounding the Death of William Valentine Near Woodsboro. As briefly stated in THE NEWS on Saturday last, William Valentine, aged about 70 years, a native of Woodsboro District, was found dead in his place of abode along the Pennsylvania Railroad, a short distance from the town of Woodsboro. Other than a discoloration on the right side of his face and body, caused by settling of blood, no marks of violence were found to indicate that death resulted from other than natural causes. Notwithstanding that the deceased owned a comfortable residence within a short distance of his recent place of abode and a house and lot in Carroll County, he died amid squalor and abject poverty in an old deserted box car that had been cast away after the tracks had been removed. Surrounded with misery and without friends to administer to his wants, the man had for some time past led the life of a miser, and died with one hundred and fifty dollars cash upon his person. Prior to the death of his wife, Valentine resided in his residence. Later, he lived in the same house with his daughter, who also died. Then the residence was rented to a tenant, one room being reserved for the occupancy of the owner, who took his meals with his tenants. After a while, Valentine concluded that he was not realizing enough money from his property and in order to further increase his income, he gave up his room in the home and took up his place of abode in the box car, a short distance away. A board partition divided the car into two apartments. In one side were found small pieces of iron, chips of wood and a varied collection of articles of no value other than as junk. The other side contained a rudely constructed bed, a stove in one corner and a few utensils scattered here and there. Upon the bed lying on the right side was found the body. The last seen of the man was on Thursday last, when he walked to a bakery in Woodsboro and purchased some bread. To one or two persons with whom he talked, he complained of feeling unwell. On Saturday morning last, while some workmen were engaged near the car, one remarked that Valentine had not been seen for a day or two. It was at first supposed that he had gone on a business trip to Carroll County, as was his custom once in a while, but whenever he went away, he securely fastened the sliding door of the car with a padlock. On this occasion, however, the door was partly open and when one of the workmen peered inside, the lifeless remains were found upon the bed. Deputy Sheriff Charles M. Andrews, of the vicinity, was notified and after an examination of the remains, telegraphed to State's Attorney William H. Hinks. Mr. Hinks in his usual prompt manner, notified Sheriff McBride and Coronor Thomas Turner, and the three drove to Woodsboro as soon as Mr. Hinks had finished important court business in Frederick. In the meantime, the remains of the dead man had been removed to an undertaker's after it was entertained that no marks of violence were upon his person. After viewing the body and hearing the circumstances of the case, Mr. Hinks deemed it unnecessary to hold an inquest. The deceased was a brother of Dr. Valentine, of the Theological Seminary of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and a brother of ex-County Comissioner Valentine. He also leaves two sons. It is said that his property near Woodsboro is worth one thousand dollars or more."
"HE DIED ALONE. HAD PROPERTY BUT DWELT IN A BOX CAR. Strange Circumstances Surrounding the Death of William Valentine Near Woodsboro. As briefly stated in THE NEWS on Saturday last, William Valentine, aged about 70 years, a native of Woodsboro District, was found dead in his place of abode along the Pennsylvania Railroad, a short distance from the town of Woodsboro. Other than a discoloration on the right side of his face and body, caused by settling of blood, no marks of violence were found to indicate that death resulted from other than natural causes. Notwithstanding that the deceased owned a comfortable residence within a short distance of his recent place of abode and a house and lot in Carroll County, he died amid squalor and abject poverty in an old deserted box car that had been cast away after the tracks had been removed. Surrounded with misery and without friends to administer to his wants, the man had for some time past led the life of a miser, and died with one hundred and fifty dollars cash upon his person. Prior to the death of his wife, Valentine resided in his residence. Later, he lived in the same house with his daughter, who also died. Then the residence was rented to a tenant, one room being reserved for the occupancy of the owner, who took his meals with his tenants. After a while, Valentine concluded that he was not realizing enough money from his property and in order to further increase his income, he gave up his room in the home and took up his place of abode in the box car, a short distance away. A board partition divided the car into two apartments. In one side were found small pieces of iron, chips of wood and a varied collection of articles of no value other than as junk. The other side contained a rudely constructed bed, a stove in one corner and a few utensils scattered here and there. Upon the bed lying on the right side was found the body. The last seen of the man was on Thursday last, when he walked to a bakery in Woodsboro and purchased some bread. To one or two persons with whom he talked, he complained of feeling unwell. On Saturday morning last, while some workmen were engaged near the car, one remarked that Valentine had not been seen for a day or two. It was at first supposed that he had gone on a business trip to Carroll County, as was his custom once in a while, but whenever he went away, he securely fastened the sliding door of the car with a padlock. On this occasion, however, the door was partly open and when one of the workmen peered inside, the lifeless remains were found upon the bed. Deputy Sheriff Charles M. Andrews, of the vicinity, was notified and after an examination of the remains, telegraphed to State's Attorney William H. Hinks. Mr. Hinks in his usual prompt manner, notified Sheriff McBride and Coronor Thomas Turner, and the three drove to Woodsboro as soon as Mr. Hinks had finished important court business in Frederick. In the meantime, the remains of the dead man had been removed to an undertaker's after it was entertained that no marks of violence were upon his person. After viewing the body and hearing the circumstances of the case, Mr. Hinks deemed it unnecessary to hold an inquest. The deceased was a brother of Dr. Valentine, of the Theological Seminary of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and a brother of ex-County Comissioner Valentine. He also leaves two sons. It is said that his property near Woodsboro is worth one thousand dollars or more."
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