Body of Recluse Found, Dead for Days

1922

BODY OF RECLUSE FOUND BERT CHASE OF GILBERTSVILLE HAD BEEN DEAD FOR DAYS.

Lived Alone In Small Home on Otego Road for Years — Body Found by Neighbor Who Having Seen Nothing of Chase for Days Makes an Investigation — Deceased Had No Near Relatives

Gilbertsville, April 3. — This morning while passing the small one-room house of Bert Chase on the Otego road, about three miles from this village, Lewis Coon, a neighbor, who had seen nothing of Chase for several days stopped to investigate, and on glancing inside through a window, saw the body of Chase lying on the floor, face downward. Forcing an entrance, Coon discovered that the man was dead and Dr. C. P. Fox of this village who was called said the man had probably been dead since Tuesday or Wednesday when he was last seen. There is no suspicion of anything other than a natural death.

Chase was a bachelor and had lived alone for years. Coroner Getman is expected to visit the home Tuesday morning to investigate and sign the death certificate.

There were no tracks in the snow around the house since the last fall, and while his poultry were found to be in good condition, they ate eagerly when fed, as soon as the conditions were ascertained. It wasn't known that Chase had been ailing and Mr. Coon had thought him usually well when last seen.

Chase had lived on the small place for years and was devoted to the raising of berries and other small fruits, which he cultivated successfully. He was severely burned about five years ago when a small house on the place burned during the nighttime. He managed to escape from the house and reached a neighbor's partially clad and in his bare feet. Dr. Fox attended him at the time and brought him through successfully.

He built a small house about 8 by 10 feet upon the ruins of the former home and lived there alone. Little is known of his early life. His nearest surviving relatives are a niece, Mrs. Lottie Rowe of Maple Grove and a nephew, Burdette Barber of Butternuts, who will arrange for the funeral and interment.

—Oneonta Daily Star, Oneonta, New York, April 4, 1922, page 6.