Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-05-15
LOCAL Ne VS.

C0RoNRR's INQUEsr.-The inquest held by
Coroner Day, over the body of Bphraim Croker,
noticed Yesterday, resulted in the verdict, that
deceased came to his death by some cause to the
jury unknown. ]. B. Dexter, Jr., Esq, was fore
man of the jury, with H. G. Townsend ]. A.
Maynard, Benz Thayer, Theodore H. Bartlett,
and Samuel Bsnnister.
From the evidence given below, it would seem
most likely that deceased might have died in
fit, or from some act of his own, as he had been
in melancholic mood, and had had immediate
relatives similarly afflicted, though there was no
positive evidence whatever of the cause of his
death. He was distant relative (cousin) of
Col Alvah Croeker, OF Fitchburg, and an honest,
industrious man, and farmer of some property
in West Fitchburg.
J. Waldo Denny, Assistant Marshal, testified
that about eight o'clock on Wednesday evening.
he left the police Office with J. B. Dexter, Jr.,
and found the deceased in the North part of the
city, little North of B. P. Rices bakery, and
about fifteen yards Westerly of the Nashua Rail-
road track. He was lying on his face, with body
and legs extended, his right arm turned under
his body, grasping bunch of grass, and his left
hand over about his head. Found in his peck.
ct two dollars and thirty eight cents, and piece
of paper, on which was written as before stated
AlDah Crocker of Fitchbuyg. saoora Have seen
the body at Mr.. Sessions's shop; recognize it
that of Ephraim Croker of Fitchburg. For some
time it has been noticed by his friends that he has
teen suffering under some alteration of mind -
| Deceased is a kinsman of mine. He has seemed
| to be discouraged and down spirited. He buried
| his wife a year more ago, and since then has
| exhibited some melancholy. He married his sec
md g, 1s,- ~
| of the mind is malady in his branch of the fam
| ly. Last Wednesday, evening my gardner had
| been in to Mrs. Crocker's, and he told me that
| Mrs. Z. wanted me to come up this morning, as
| her husband seemed to be in a strange frame
/ OF mind. l went up this morning to see her,
/ and stated to her the rumor l had heard of
/ her husbands death. She said he left home yes
terday morning. AT some period after he had
! LETT, she found piece OF paper stating that he
wished certain property distributed to the Kim
ball family. l then stated that the body in Wor-
cester was probably her husband. In Fitehburg
he sustained the character of an honest and in
dustrous man, and had many friends there
The paper found upon the body l identify be-
ing in the hand writing of deceased
Deceased's eldest BROTHER professor in a col
lege at Montreal three or four years ago, left
there for st. Louis, and had never been heard
from since A sister of the deceased died in the
Lunatc Hospital in this city.
VIM. N. Green, Esq, Judge of the Police
Court, testified that about o'clock P NJ, of
Wednesday, as he was passing out for fishing,
with his younges; son, upon the railroad track.
he saw the body of deceased near the fence under
its shade. Passed on. Came back about P NJ,
and found the body in the same position. Went
to him, and touched the body with the butt of his
fish pole. The body seemed to be stiff. Went
to house and called for assistance, telling per-
rrho L. ~
cred. Returned to the body at the same time
with Messrs. Denny and Dexter
DR.. Rufus Woodward, being sworn, testified
that he had examined the body of the deceased,
at Mr. Sessions's shop. Noticed that his left
hand appeared as though he had clutched and
held on to a bunch of grass Noticed good deal
of blueness about the ear and under the Jaw on
the right side, and about the neck, and there had
been some bleeding from the right nostrl. Blood
had dried on the face. Examined the body, and
found no bruises or CUTS and no marks of vic.
| lencs of any kind on the head or about the per.
son. The blood had settled in the depending
part of the body. DR.. Sargent examined the chest
and bowels On cutting through the scalp, found
great deal of blood flowed out. When the top
of the skull was sawed off, it showed great con-
| gestion the blood vessels of the membranes of
the brain. The brain firm and healthy
throughout, and the chest was free from disease
only exceedingly coDgested with blood. The
heart free from disease, and natural. Exam
ined all the internal organs, and found no evil
| dence of disease. The stomach contained about
one.half pint of fluid substance, looking like d-
| gested food Detected no smell of laudanum,
strychnine, or other poison in it. Thought the
body was not poisoned with any metallic or min
eral poison. The contents of the bowels were
healthy and natural. There was no positive evil
dence that deceased had fit, though it might be
he had one. Utterly unable to give the positive
cause of his death. The contents of the stomach
are preserved for analysis.