Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-13
MYSTERIOUS DEATH.
Coroner's Inquest and Post
MOrtem Examination
ON the Body.

ebtccmtu ctuAcut was iouhu u his oou
in an Office IN the second story Of the
Stillman Block, on Second street, be-
tween nine and ten o'clock this morning,
with life extinct. Dr. Adams, who occn-
pies an office in the same building, and
Immediately adjacent 10 that Of DR..
Hooks, was the first TO make the sad dis
covary, and did so under the following
circumstances; Upon rising this morning,
and while making his toilet for the day, be
desired pin wherewith to adjust his
collar, and stepped into DR.. Hooks
office to procure the same, his OVID sup
ply having been exhausted. On going
to the latter's door, he found it sjar, and,
supposipg the doctor had arisen and
stepped out, he passed into the apart
ment, and helped himself to what he re-
quired from cushion on the mantleshelf
in the room. The doctors Office being
divided by . partition so as to screen bis
bed from view in that portion of the apart
ment entered by DR.. Allen, the latter,
after providing himself with a pin, as
above stated, passed out without observ-
ing anything calculated to arouse his
suspicious as to the fate that had be-
fallen his friend, whose body was
really lying lifeless at the time
within ten feet of him. DIR. Allen having
professional call to make hastened of
to another part of the city Immediately
after leaving DIR. Hooks Office, but on
returning about three quarters Of an hour
after, again visited the Office, and on this
occasion went into the Doctors sleeping
apartment to see if he was still a-bed,
and then for the first time discovered the
body, lying rigid and stiff upon the sheets,
with blood oozing from the mouth and
slight scar on the forehead, just
above the right eye. Hurrying
up to the bed on making these discov-
cries, he felt the pulse and found life to
be extinct. Returning then 10 the other
room, he found candle still burning
in the socket of candlestick, the
pipe of the deceased thrown care
lessly on the floor, and chair still
sitting at his desk, as if some one
had just risen from it. Nothing beyond
this, or indicative of the manner in which
the deceased had come to his death, was
discoverable. From the Office DR.. Allen
then repaired to Steever's drug store, in
the same building, and there made known
the melancholy fact. The authorities were
forthwith notified, and an inquest was
at once held on the body by Acting
Coroner Foley. DR.. Allen was exam.
ined and testified, in substance, as above
stated. Mr.. Ed. Winters, shoemaker,
occupying an apartment just under that
of the deceased, testified that be-
tween the hours of one and two
clock, this morning, he was aroused by
noise over his head, and thought he
heard some erepeat once or twice the
expression don't" A eroan as if of
some one in great pain followed this,
and'then all became quiet again. He
heard no footsteps on the floor, and did
not think any one was in the room with
the deceased.
Mr.. M. Marshall, tailor, who also
sleeps below, likewise testified to hear.
ing the groans and shrek, but did not
hear the word 'dont." He thought
some one might be laboring under an
attack of mania portu, but did not think
any violence was taking place. A post
mortenr examination was then ordered
by the Coroner and performed by Drs.
Rodgers, Woodward and others, all of
whom arrived at the conclusion that the
deceased had died either in a fit Of
apopexy or from heart disease, but
most likely the former Upon this evil
dence verdict was rendered by the
Coroner's jury, that the deceased had
came to his death from natural cause
without violence" DR.. Hooks was
among the first practicing physicians of
Memphis, and had been resident Of the
city for over fifteen years He was a ma
tive of Wake county, N. c., but on
completing his education in that State,
moved West, On the breaking out of the
war be cast his fortunes With the South,
and, at great personal sacrifice, stood by
his native section to the last. he served
the Confederacy with great efficiency in
the nitro and mining bureau, under Col.
Huut-peculiar physical disabilities un-
fitting him fer active service. Upon
the close Of the war he resumed the prac-
tice of his profession in this city. He
was reserved and highly accomplished
gentleman, universally esteemed by his
profession for his mary and varied ac-
quirements, and by all who knew him for
his many genial and endearing social
qualities. BE was about forty-fve years
of age and unmarried. His only relative
in this vicinity is brother, who resides
at Casters landing. Ark.
The ToURxAxRxT.-The sir knights,
who have enrolled their nsmest to do their
devoirs in honor of love and beauty, a
II. Ia - ALL ,..oot.c,,.r g. The