Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-30
FOUND.
tsAnei tbs Waters G

engaged dragging the river in vain en-
deavor 10 recover all that was mortal of
Jack Delee, who came to a sudden death
by falling through hole in the Suspension
bridge the night before. Night settled
down upon them with their labors unre-
wsrded, bat the search was renewed yester-
day morning. At eleven O'Clock, two
young men, James II. Christley and Matt
Ray, while using graphing hook near this
side Of the river, and about sixty feet below
the bridge, were successful in bringing the
body TO the surface. They Immediately
rowed their skif' to the opposite side of the
river, dragging the body with them. With
out removing it from the Water, one of the
young men came up and notified Coroner
Braniley, who proceeded to hold az inquest.
The body was carried up on the back and
jury sworn.
DR.. W j. SDeed made careful exami-
nation of the body, and found a small hoe
in the back of the head, near the top, and
another on the forehead. After the con-
tents of the pockets had been removed, the
jury retired in order to hear whatever testi-
mony could be offered in the case.
MICHAEL DoWD
was the first witnessed called, and be testi-
fed as follows:
live on Sycamore street. Jack Delee
came to my house Monday night
between eight and nine O'Clock. Isaac
LRngham was with him. | had some
whisky and treated them twice. Lansham
started to bring him over to the Sherman
House, and they wanted me to come along.
When we got rear the bridge Jack seemed
TO be rather heavy. | think LsDgham is
bartender at the Sherman House, and he
said Jack had promised to stay al night
with him. We took him to the Sherman
H use and he said he wouldn't stay unless
l would. He got up off the bed where he
had kinder laid down and said:
GILL GO HOME WITH THE OLD MAN TO-
NIGHT"
Then me and him undertook to go home.
We got around to the bridge all right, and
after we got on The bridge, he fell in against
the bridge. He said, "Hold Oh, my hat is
Off" l told him I'd get his hat, and start
ed to look for it, aud the first thing knew,
heard splash as he struck the water.
That was about eleven or half past eleven.
l went back to the Lollgate Office and re-
ported, and boy went with me to the po-
lice station. He had only took two or three
drinks at my house. He would stagger
sometimes as we walked along. Twas with
him all the time until he was lost. We
was not in drinking saloon that night, ex-
cept the Sherman House, snd he didn't
drink any sitter we left my house. l don't
know whether he had been drinking before
be came to my house or not; but l think
likely he might have had drink or two.
only knew him to 60 on q spree once be-
fore; that was Christmas time-I never
knew him to drink except thai time. am
wipe in the roundhouse and be run the
switch engine. have been acquainted
with him for the last three years. He quit
running the engine couple or three weeks
ago; no, he quit about the time
HIS SISTER DIED,
aad that was about five or six weeks ago. l
never got mad with him in his life, nor him
with me. always had rs good feeling for
him as l would for brother. Mr.. Lang
ham said he promised to stay with him that
night, and after he went there, it seemed
like be got sorry. Langhsm didn't go back
to the bridge with US. Langham got kinder
angry because he didn't stay as he promis- |
ed. L never saw Langhsm after that until |
l saw him yesterday. l wouldn't under.
take, for any consideration, TO 90 over the |
railroad bridge at night. always went |
over the suspension bridge.
JAMES Il. CHRISTLEY SWORN.
l dragged the body up about sixty feet |
from the bank and about sixty feet below |
the bridse-just above the old pier. The |
hook hung around the leg and l dragged |
him out. His coat was torn when he come |
up. l made three or four very hard pulls. |
His feet was down the river, and he was |
laying or his face.
MATT RAY
testified that he was pulling the boat and |
substantiated the statements made by |
Christley as to the manner in which the |
body was recovered.
The jury then proceeded to the bridge, |
where DoWd pointed out the spot, on the |
north side where he thought they were |
when Delee disappeared.
The party then went to Coroner BraDt- |
ley's Office, where the
CONTENTS OF DELEE'S POCKETS
were carefully examined and found to con-
sist of: A black morocco pocketbook, con-
taiuing q two dollar and q enc dollar |
greenback, four silver quarters, about a |
hundred collars of Confederate money, five |
nickels, trunk key and couple of letters,
a pocket-comb and heavy silver watch
and chain. The watch had stopped at 1857.
DR. W. j. SNEED
then testified that he had examined the
body, and had found q scratch on the ae-
terror and another on the superior portion
Of the head, both of which extended only to
the Dons, either of which could have been
received when he fell into the river, as he |
probably fell feet foremost. Neither of
those wounds would have caused death
The Doctor stated thst he had examined
the MT worn By the deceased, and which
had been found on the bridge Tuesday
and had found only one hole 10 it,
and that was caused by wearing.
The jury consulted but few moments
and returned a verdict to the effect that the
deceased came to his death by drowning.
John Delee, cousin of the unfortunate
man, had offered reward of $50 for the
-ecovery Of the body and Mr.. Chris.
Powers as President of the Hibernian So
,iety, had offered an additional reward of
rs.
The remains were taken in charge by
)elee's relatives and will be buried to-day.