The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-12


lower portion of his face snug up to the
tree.
HIS GENERAL APPEARANCE.
He was apparently about 81 years OF
age and there was nothing about his face
which indicated either dissipation on
crime. Neither was there anything which
indicated death by strangulation. It is
possible of course, that he pulled back
wi tn sufficient force to dislocate his neck
| and thus met death Immediately. His
eyes AMI mouth were closed and every
thing about his person showed conclusive
ly that he died easily and as peacefully as
if he had simply fallen asleep. If his
| neck were not broken the theory that he
a ranged verifying carefully beforehand
| and then swallowed some deadly drug
will have suppo rters.
He was dressed comfortably in dark
| cloth ing, the pantaloons somewhat worn
at the knees; an almost new felt hat,
| high Gro wn; dark brown worsted mitten;
gate rs, (unbuttoned) and rubbers, well
worn. His complexion was quite sallow
and he had every appearance of having
been in poor health. His hair was a
handsome very dark brown, brown mus
tacle and. perhaps. four days growth
of beard. His height was five feet and
eleven inches.
In the entire crowd, which surrounded
the body between 8 o'clock and $40,
W hen it was cut down, not a person
COULD IDENTIFY THE SUICIDE.
A telephone message was sent from Mr..
Fred Weyerhaeuser's 10 police headquar
tiers, and about O'Clock Officers Feeley
and Rugh drove up in the department
wagon. Officer Feeley remained in
charge of the body. while his associate
returned to the city after Coroner Halves
and Marshal Miller About $9:15
those officials arrived, and soon after
Knoxs undertaking wagon with a rough
box. into which the body was placed and
then taken to the Morgue.
After the return of the officers to the
city the following jury was impaneled:
Elton C. Crepper. foreman; NJ J. Spur,
George Stocker, j. Frank Ankrum Philip
Miller and David Bowen. Headed by
Coroner Halves the jury went to the
Mergue and viewed the remains. In
addition thereto the suicide clothing was
thoroughly searched, but not scrap of
either written or printed matter could be
found which might serve the purpose of
Identification In his pockets were found
the following articles: A soiled hanfiker-
chief, q silver watch, (hunting case) in
good running order and keeping Arsenal
time; a five dollar bill and forty-three
cents in change; two feet rule; package
of tobacco; a cigar, quantity IF matches,
and large two bladed black handled
pocket knife.
About II o'clock
THE INQUEST BEGAN
in the Office of Coroner Halves. The first |
witness sworn was Darwin c. Pavey, |
whose testimony was as follows:
Reside in Rodman's subdivision, corner 4
of old Fifth avenue and Columbia street;
am 80 years of age and a journalist by occu
patton; am city editor of the ARGUS short |
" before 7oclock this morning when going
to the coal shed on the east side of my lot |
looked across the road and saw what / |
imposed was dummy or scarecrow sus
pended from the lowest limb of |
4 small tree; both feet were on
the ground; WITNESS described the APP
pearauce of the body as given elsewhere,]
wo young men were approaching the
BODY when l saw it, one'of whom at
racted my attention and pointed to it;
vent out of my back gate and across the
Dad; made careful examination of the |
BODY and found that life had been extinct
several hours; the nearest house was Mr..
schlageHs about hundred feet, due east
If where the body was hanging; heard no
unusual noise or cutlery during the night.
To Juror: There was no appearance of
disturbance in the vicinity; the ground
vas frozen but nothing had apparently
,een dragged over it; found no pieces Of
paper, labels or anything else on the
ground in which deceased might have had
poison although | looked the ground over
carefully.
Math. Schlagel sworn: Reside in Rel
mans addition; first saw the body little
lfter o'clock this morning when going
ut to my wood shed; thought The man
vas drunk and asleep; when | finished
ny chores saw him still there and went
,ver, about o'clock, and found he was
lead; don't speak much English so
vent over and called Mr. Longs folks up
The remainder of witness testimony re
erred mainly to the appearance of the
'ody, eorroborating the first witness. Ed.
AReUs.