Mathias Bluett
Cincinnati Commercial, Tuesday, 21 June 1881, page 8
Matthew Bluett, an employee of W C Davis & Co. Stove Works, residing in Newport, has been missing since Saturday last. When last seen he had $100 in his possession. He is of average height, forty years of age, and wore a slonch hat, blue coat and dark jeans pants.
Last evening a suit of clothes, found on one of George & Bosts coal floats at the Newport Landing was identified as Bluett's. This led to further inquiry and the watchman at the landing stated he and his brother had seen the wearer of the clothes go down the landing to the floats about 9 pm Sunday night and undress as if to go in swimming. The brother was quite close to him when he went down the landing and with the watchman was standing near the upper end of the float, while the man was undressing at the other.
One of them remarked to the other that it was pretty late at night to go in swimming, but they did not think anything more of the matter. Friends of Bluett say that when he went to work on Saturday morning he had $75 in his pocket and he drw his week's wages, $25 on quitting work that night making $100 in all. When the clothing was found, there was but $1.30 in the pockets. Where Bluett passed the time between Saturday evening when he quit work and Sunday night when he was seen on the coal float is a mystery. It is suspected he was invited into some disreputable place and robbed and that on his return to Newport, committeed suicide.
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Cincinnati Commercial, Thursday, 23 June 1881, page 4
Coroner Rendig yesterday commenced an inquest on the body of an unknown man, found drowned in the Ohio River, near the foot of Evans street. James Patton, who found the body, testified he caught it at the head of Wallmer's coal fleet. Several others testified to having seen the body floating in the river.
At a late hour last night a gentleman called on the Coroner and stated he thought the body was that of Martin (sic) Bluett, who had been mysteriously missing since Sunday and who was supposed to have been drowned. The Coroner will go to the bottom of affairs today.
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Cincinnati Commercial, Friday, 24 June 1881, page 2
At the inqest yesterday on the body of Matthias Bluett, Jacob H Smith, barber, of 18 East Mulberry street, testifid to having shaved deceased 10 pm last Saturday night, and he noticed several large cuts and bruises on his head, some of which looked as if made with a club. He laso had a cut of triagular shape on the inside of his left forearm. He said he had been beaten. Advised im first to go to a doctor and afterward to go home, but he refused. He went to the Henrie House.
J M Cooper, night clerk of the Henrie House said the deceased left the hotel at 5 am on Sunday morning. Noticed his wounds, and asked him who hit him, but he would not tell; advised him to go home, but he said he would not. He left no money in the office.
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Cincinnati Commercial, Saturday, 25 June 1881, page 4
The coroner completed the inquest in the Bluett case yesterday. The only testimony heard was that of Ralph Norton. He testified that he saw a man last Sunday night, about 8 pm, strip himself on one of the barges at the foot of Monmouth street, near the Newport ferry. He missed him shortly after, but found his clothing where he had undressed. a policeman afterwards took charge of the clothes.
Police Surgeon Armstrong made a post mortem examination of the body and found undoubted evidence that Bluett had died from drowning; but whether it was accidental or a case of suicide, he could not determine. The Coroner's verdict was "Came to his death from causes unknown."
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Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, Friday, 19 August 1881, page 3
Newport-In the County Court yesterday, W C Davis was appointed guardian of Matthew Bluett and executed a bond with Bridget Bluett as surety.