Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-06-04
FATAL ACCIDENT.
The Coroner Holds an Inquest upon
n DeRd Indian.

me HOId8 an Inquest upon
n Dead Indian.
Many citizens recollect an old Indian
who frequented Poplar street, near
Main, for months past. That Indian is no
more, be having gone to the happy hunt
ing grounds in consequence of having
been thrown out Of wagon yesterday,
which broke bis arm and caused internal
injuries, that produced death. The
fact being reported to Chief Atby, he
ordered detective Cranmer to notify
Coroner Spelman and 60 with him in
search Of the dead man and hold an in
quest on the body. Cranmer found
Coroner Spelman in front of McCuller's
stable OF Adams street, where be was
%discoursing upon the subject Of suicides,
and speaking regretfully Of the fact that
but few people were shutting off the
mortal coil with morphine or other
deadly drugs in these sultry days.
On being notified, the Coroner Ieaped
from his seat and hurriedly rushed up
to his Office and grabbed a handful OF
blanks suitable to summoning juries on
inquests. On returning to the street he
took Cranmer into a saloon and treated
him to a cigar, he THE Coroner) taking
a "shoo-ay" lager; then Selling the officer
by the arm be rushed forth in search Of
the dead. What did he die Off asked
the Coroner. Il don't know" replied
Cranmer, but | think he was thrown
from a wagon" well, it makes but
little difference" c~on6dentially answered
Coroner Spelman, "he is dead any
how Just then one of the Adams
street fire boys met them and stated that
the dead Indian was carried into a sa-
loon on the corner of Second and Union
streets. Thither the coroner and the
officer hurried through the sun, which
poured its heated rays down With an in
tensity known to thermometers that are
up near the nineties. On arriving at
the saloon Cranmer asked after the dead
man, and the saloon keeper became in
dignant and denied that any dead man
was carried into his house. While this
controversy was going on, the Coroner
had his note book out and was summon
ing as jurors all the citizens who passed
by on the sidewalk. When he got seven
jurors he walked in and asked, Where's
the dead MANI The saloon.keeper
cursed a few times in Italian and
carried the party into a back
room where lay the recumbent body Of
Lo, the poor Indian. whose untutored
mind saw God in the clouds aud heard
Him in the wind" He lay there in bis
war paint, and neal by was his right
arm, which had been torn from its
socket by the accident. There was an
aroma of tobacco and cigars around the
Indian, which caused Coroner Spelmau
to swear aud caused Cranmer and the
jury Of inquest, as well as a crowd Of
spectators, to indulge in roars of laugh,
ter. The coroner rushed from the house
and came very near whipping FIVE or siz
men who met him and inquired about
the dead Indian. He hunted for Chic
Athy and a few others, whom he sus
pected of putting mp the job, but they
were not to be found. Late last nigh.
Spelman returned to Adams street
where his Office is located, and spent Q
few dollars in treating the boys on con
dition that they would drop the subject
forever. If you want to excite the Cor.
oner just say 4" Indian . in his presence.