The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-07
Pound Drowned.

On Saturday last several persons no.
ticed dark object in the river opposite
the Peoria round houses. Some thought it
was a dog, others log, but none seemed
to think it was human being. Sunday
morning Mat Hogan and John kells,
while looking at the object were convinced
it was man, and information was at once
sent to police headquarters. Officer Feeley
arrived in a short time aud than John
Kells went out in the water and put rope
around the feet of the body and pulled it
ashore. Ii was 10 high state Of decom-
position, being terribly swollen and
the head black as coal. a search of the
pockets led to the supposition that de-
ceased was Robert Ruthenburg, of New
York On his person we're two memoran-
dunn books, soue letters, gold watch and
chain, and some other articles.
The body was taken in charge by G. B,
Knox. and word sent TO Coroner Morris
who arrived about IL O'Clock and impan-
elled the following jury:
Henry Hayden, foreman, II. G, Cleave-
land, D p. Titcomb. J. f. Van Horn,
Harry Abel. G. w. HAYES. Frank BoDey
E. G. Chopper, Fl. S. Wells, Peter Bloom.
Chas. Hengstler and H. Burgower.
At o'clock Sunday afternoon an in.
quest was held when the body was fully
identified as Robert Ruthenburg, dealerir
smokers articles, New York. 1t also trans
pired that deceased had come to the Har-
per House on Monday, September 80. and
remained there until Tuesday, after din.
Der, since which time no knowledge of his
whereabouts was known. He was in the
habit of coming to Rock Island every SIX
months and remaining at the Harper
House for a week, making canvass Of
towns in the vicinity, so that his absence
from the hotel created no particular uD.
easiness, He was proven to be a man Of
temperate habits, but very nervous dispo-
sition.
DR., 5. O. Plummer examined the body
but discovered no marks of violence upon
| it.
Officer Brennan testified to seeing de-
ceased standingin front of Breunert's drug
store on Monday or Tuesday, staring about
him, as if utterly reckless of surroundings
John Kells gave an account of the dis
covery Of the body, as did also Mat Hogan,
G. P. Hengstler, H. w. Schlass, and
Robert Willerton were each examined as
to identity of deceased.
The jury were unable to obtain any evi-
dence of how he came to drown, nor could
anyone be found who had seen or talked
to deceased since last Monday or Tuesday.
10 accordance with the evidence the jury
returned verdict as follows:
We, the jlrors sworn to inquire the
cause Of the death Of Robert Rnthenburg.
under oath say, that deceased came to bis
death by drowning, but whether accidental
or otherwise the jury is unable to deter
mine.
In addition to articles already named
$67.7S in money, set Of studs and collar
button, ETC., were taken from the body BY
Coroner Morris. Word was telegraphed
to friends of deceased in New York, and
the body will be held until information is
received from his friends as to it's dispo.
sition.
A reply was received to telegram sent,
ordering the shipment Of the body to lew
York. Abe May telegraphed back that
the body was iu such bad condition tina,
it was hardly safe to ship it, and at this
writing no reply had been received. The
body will probably be sent east tonight in