Mummified Thief Rests in Peace After 128 Years on Display, Unveiling True Identity
After captivating the residents of Reading, Pennsylvania for over a century, the mummified remains of an accidental thief will finally be laid to rest. The burial, scheduled to take place on Saturday, coincides with the 275th anniversary of Reading. Known locally as Stoneman Willie, the once-living thief had been on public display at the Theo C. Auman Funeral Home and Crematory since his untimely demise in a jail back in 1895.
Stoneman Willie’s unusual preservation came about as a result of an unintentional experiment by funeral home director Theo C. Auman. Back in the day when embalming was a new and curious art, Auman accidentally stumbled upon a highly potent formula that inadvertently mummified the thief. Little did he know that this macabre incident would lead to Stoneman Willie’s enduring presence as a local legend.
Kyle Blankenbiller, the director of Theo C. Auman Inc., confessed that the concoction used to embalm the thief was far too potent by today’s standards. The formula was just too high octane, and certainly nothing we’d use today, Blankenbiller revealed to The Philadelphia Inquirer. He further explained that Auman’s curiosity about the preservation of the body led to Stoneman Willie’s astounding 128-year exhibition.
Over the years, Stoneman Willie became a beloved icon, connecting with multiple generations of Reading’s residents. For many, visiting the funeral home to catch a glimpse of the mummy was an essential part of their childhood. You can only imagine going to fourth grade one day and you go home and you go out on a field trip to a funeral home to see this mummy, Blankenbiller reminisced.
Local historian Charles Adams III, who had encountered Stoneman Willie as a child, will deliver the eulogy at the burial. Adams vividly remembered the mummy’s sensationalist appeal, stating, When I was a kid growing up, he was a sideshow freak that people craved to go see. I saw Stoneman Willie, you know, and when I first saw him, I came out saying, ‘I saw Stoneman Willie.’ Now, to be a part of the laying to rest. And you used the word man. I’m very, very particular about that in my eulogy.
In an intriguing turn of events, the burial will unveil the true identity of Stoneman Willie. Saturday’s ceremony will see his real name engraved on his headstone, finally shedding light on the mysterious life he led. Initially, the thief had provided a pseudonym, using the surname Penn, upon his arrest in 1895. However, after his demise from kidney failure, his cellmate revealed that he was actually an Irishman who had concerns about tarnishing his family’s reputation.
The decision to lay Stoneman Willie to rest has been met with mixed emotions. While some see it as a fitting end to his unconventional journey, others mourn the loss of this local legend. Regardless, this event will undoubtedly be a prominent and poignant moment in Reading’s history as it celebrates its 275th anniversary.
As Reading, Pennsylvania prepares to bid farewell to its enigmatic mummy, the story of Stoneman Willie will be remembered as an accidental attraction that captured the imagination of countless individuals. The unveiling of his true identity will serve as a reminder that even the most mysterious tales can eventually find resolution.
