The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1883-04-28
FOUND DROWNED.
The Body of a Man Found
Washed Ashore along
the Yellowstone.

While hunting on Saturday last Harry
Brown came upon the body of man
lying on sand bar in the Yellowstone,
adjoining Smiths ranch, about seven
miles below Billings. He came into
town on Sunday morning and notified
Justice Matheson, acting coroner, who
at once proceeded to take the requisite
steps toward holding an inquest. Geo.
Town James Ferguson, Walter Mathe-
son, J. T.. Hendry, Thomas Wheeler and
Harry Brown WEIR summoned as jury,
and yesterday afternoon in company
with Mr.. Matheson, drove down with
one Of Mr.. Towns teams to view the
body. They found it lying as described.
face downward, where it had evidently
been tloated by the high water in the
river earlier in the spring, probably a
month ago. Around the shoulders clung
the rags of what once had been blue
flannel shirt. Red and white speckled
drawers and bluish-black pants had
slipped down and were hanging about
the knees, and pair Of rough shoes
were on his feet. Otherwise the body
was naked the flesh horribly discolored,
with decomposition we'll advanced.
Except few tufts Of light hair On the
back of the head the skull was entirely
bare, and when the body was turned
over the features were in such a condi-
ton as to be unrecognizable. The jury
was sworn in, viewed the body adjourn
ed their inquest till to-day and returned
to Billings. The belief being current
that the body was that Of man named
"Dick," who worked around the opera
house and disappeared last autumn wit
nesses were summoned for the purpose
Of Identification. The inquest was re-
| sumcd to-day at II o'clock.
Thomas Flanagan testified that Dick
had worked for him about year in
Miles City. Last November, when wit
ness came here to take charge of the op-
era house, Dick came with him and was
around there week or ten days. He
drank very hard and at that time was
suffering from delirium tremens. Wit
ness paid man to watch him, but about
five o'clock one morning late in Novem-
Der or early in December Dick disap-
peared and he had not seen nor heard Of
him since, He was man of light COM
plexion, and when he disappeared was
wearing such clothes as those found on
the body. From the description he be-
lieved the body to be that of the man
Dick.
Harry Brown deposcd as to finding
| the body. He knew Dick and believed
it was his body. He based his belief on
| the shape Of Dicks head, which exactly
corresponded with that of the corpse.
J. NJ. Hannigan knew this man Dick
at Fort Lincoln, when he was 4 private
in Company B. Sd Infantry. His name
was Richard Curtin, and he believed
him 70 have come originally from New
York. Witness understood that Curtin
was discharged for drunkenness.
| Thomas Wheeler had seen Dick or
| Curtin the night before he disappeared.
He had dciiriuIn tremens. He was
dressed in such clothes as were found
on the body. He also believed the body
| to be that of the man referred to from
the peculiar shape of the head.
The jury returned verdict that de-
ceased came to his death by drowning
while suffering from delirium tremens.
and from the evidence believed that the
deceased was the person known in his
life time az Richard Curtin, of the town
Of Billings.
Mr.. Smith, on whose ranch the body
was found, was directed by the coroner
to give it decent burial.
Benton's new court room is now ready