128-year mystery unveiled: 'Stoneman Willie' of US receives a proper burial and a name

In Reading, Pennsylvania, a mummified man, who had been shrouded in mystery for 128 years and known to the public as "Stoneman Willie," finally received two significant things on a Saturday - a proper burial and the revelation of his true identity.

Clad in a period-appropriate tuxedo, this enigmatic figure, who had become the subject of local legends and ghost stories over generations, saw his enduring anonymity come to an end during a solemn funeral in Reading. At last, he was introduced to the world as James Murphy, originally hailing from New York.

He earned the nickname "Stoneman" due to his extremely tough, leathery skin.

A group of people, including funeral home staff and well-wishers, came together and said, "Rest in peace, James," as they revealed his tombstone. The tombstone had "Stoneman Willie" in large letters, with his real name written in smaller letters below it.

James Murphy, who had Irish roots and struggled with alcoholism, passed away on November 19, 1895, due to kidney failure while he was in Reading for a firefighters' convention. This information was shared by Kyle Blankenbiller, the director of the Theo C. Auman Inc. Funeral Home, where Murphy's remains had been kept.

Murphy's real name had been known within the funeral home for the past 128 years. However, it was only when the decision was made to give him a proper burial that researchers confirmed his identity as James Murphy. Local historians had to do some detective work, using records from the prison, funeral home, and other documents, to uncover his true identity.