An Unmarked Grave

The workmen, who wero laving the water pipes througb Felch park last Saturday carue upon a heavy iron oasket, beavily ooated with rust, whioh was about sis feet under the surface. No name was fouud on the casket which when opened disolosed the face of an old man. The head and body were in almost a perfect state of preservation, the collar and necktie being in positiou md tha iull-cheeked face being covered by a beard. It was flnally detenniued that this was the body of Chief Justioe William A. Fletcher," who died in this oity in 1852 after haviug lost his property, and who was buried at the expense of the Washtenaw bar. No stone had ever marked bis grave. The body was reinterred where found. Judge Fletcher presided over the territorial circnit conrt here frorn 1833 until the state was admitted into the union. Judge Fletoher was the first chief justioe of the Supreme Cnnrt of the state of Michigan, serving in that capaoity froni 1S36 to 1842, when he resigned. He was a laau of dignity and refinement and was respected by our citizens. Unfortnnately he ruarried his landlady whose insane eccentricities are still remeinbered by many of our older residents. Tbey resided on what is uow the fine Smith property on the corner of Washtenaw and E. Univereity aves. She kept a cow and had the hay for it stored in their parlor. She bought many silk dresses and had theni made up but never wore theni. lustend she wore a short calicó dress in which she used to oome down town to sell eggs, taking the back streets to avoid the judge. She would make ap batches of pies, cakes and bread, flll the oven and building no fire go away to let them finish baking. Twice sbe went east on visits, each time takiug with lier a large barrel of soft soap. Sbe use to yell ruurder iu the dead of night, Finally the judge secnred a divorce from her. In spite of bis nnfortunate rnarriage, the judge was one of the great men of Michigan and it is a shame that the last resting place of the first chief jnstice of Michigan should go uutuarked. Money should be rait,ed to purchase at least a plain slab to mark the grave.