The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-09
FROZE TO DEATH ON THE
STREET.
AN EMPTY WHISKY BOTTLE IN
HIS POCKET.
A Tarcical Inquest.

The dead body of man was found on |
Ohio street between Illinois and Orleans |
about half past six o'clock this morning.
His name was Marmaduke D. Abbott
Coroner Knox was notified and about 81
o'clock he sent wagon down and the body
was taken to his shop. The inquest did
not take place until one o'clock as Mr..
Knox was busy on the registry board.
At one o'clock he summoned the following
jury.
w. F. Schroeder, John Albrecht, Curtis
B. Knox, r. Fl. Vermillion, Sam'l Knox,
J. A. Sheppard, c. Hansgen, Geo. Groom,
John Huss, VIM. H. Schuck, John Coyne,
Robt. Coyne.
Mr.. Hansgen stated that the deceased
lived in his house on Main st. between
Canal and Commercial streets; did not
know anything about him only as he saw
him when he paid the rent.
Mr.. G.. Bollman stated that he passed
along the street where he was found few
minutes before o'clock and there was no
person there then. He went to Huber &
Solander's store and began to read HE
ARGUS. He don't think he was there
more than half an hour when some one
told him man was found dead on the
street. Col. Burgh and himself went to
see about it, and found the man down on
his hands and knees, dead. By that time
; large crowd had assembled.
II Mr.. John Coyne stated that he
had known him about Is years.
, He was married man and had
: three children, had been married twice
he leaves wife and three children all liv,
| ing together; he has mother, three Oh
four sisters, and brother living on 18th
5 and Harrison streets, Davenport; he wa.
r born in Dublin, Ireland, and was about &C
+ years old.
+ The jury then sent for his wife, and at
: ter half an hours delay she came; Mrs
e Abbott stated that her husband left hom
s about half-past o'clock last night saying
d he was going to work at the ROCKFORD
70 round-house; he had been in the habit 0
n drinking a good deal, but when he lsf
e home he was sober. He had been at wor
s. at the Rockford round house but had bee
II discharged He was not at the round
10 house last night.
,e The jury returned verdict that b
a. came to his death from exposure to th
cold at the corner of Illinois and OH
y. streets, and that was all the inquiry mad
The body was removed to his late res
dence.
A reporter for The ARGUS passing Ii
e corner of Ohio street very early this morl
ot ing saw few men at the point where tt
H. body was found and went and examine
at it. The body was then resting on hanc
and knees, face touching the ground, b.
al tied on his head, and the body resting
Do leaning against the fence. The report
as turned the body over upon its side, saw
IN cork lying on the ground, saw bottle pr
c.' truding from a pocket, drew it out and a
ne certained that it had had whisky in it,.
This flask was present at the inquest, b
no effort was made to ascertain where
~ how the man passed the night.-where
got his whisky.or how or when death cam
"a The clothes were not removed and
&c pains taken to learn whether mar
US of violence were upon the body,
'ut anything which would Indicate foul play.
zee The coroner's inquest was superGc
leo farce,--such as our coroner's inquests us
ally are Neither the coroner nor the ju
up seemed to take any part C liar interest
III any part of the performance except in ia
Oh ing their dollar apiece, which they peck,
as, ed with alacrlty. No post morton W
oil held, nor was any physician present to c
he anime the body.