The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-06-27
PASSED In HIS CHECKS.
Alfred Peterson, a SWede, Dies Sudden
lY at the Island House at 1880
Last Evening.

The ways of providence are mysterious
and past all understanding. Death is
everywhere. The old adage says that the
young may die and the old must die, and
that the saying is true, no one can, will
or does, for moment, doubt About
thirty days ago a large swede named
Alfred Peterson, came to Rock Island and
secured board at the Island house on the
corner of Twentieth street and Second
avenue. He seemed to be in perfect
health, and had plenty of money. which
he layishly squandered in whatever his
fancy desired. He was given to taking
little more liquor than was good for
him. He very often became full, but he
never was boisterous around the house.
He was, in fact good boarder, very quiet
and orderly, always speaking kindly and
in friendly manner with every one with
whom he came in contact Last night,
according to the evidence before the cor
oner's jury, he was drinking pretty freely.
He commenced drinking hard in the after
noon. and kept it up until about 10 o'clock
in the evening, when he said he believed
he would go to bed. He did not complain
of feeling unwell, but said he was tired
and sleepy on account of running about
so much. He was occupying room No.
| in the Island house, and to this room he
retired. About half past ten last night
Mr.. Ghegenheimer to told his wife that
he would go to Peterson's room and see if
if he wanted anything, and then he
would close up for the night.
He went to Peterson's room, knocked on
the door, but received no answer or sum-
mons to come in. Waiting little while
and hearing no noise in the room, the
landlord opened the door and entered.
There he found Peterson lying on
the bed crosswise. He called his name,
but received no answer, and he went up
to him and took hold of him by the
shoulders, and discovered that Peterson
was as
DEAD AS DOOR NAIL.
The landlord was Mortified, and at once
FASTENED down stairs, and calling another
boarder out of bed, he sent him for DR..
Barth, who arrived about fifteen minutes
afterwards, but his presence was of no
avail for Peterson was dead and had been
dead, the doctor thought, before the land
lord had seen him. As soon as possible,
Coroner Halves was notified, and he came
and took charge of the body. hut in
quest was held until eight O'Clock thi:
morning.
THE INQUEST.
The following gentlemen were secured
on the coroner's jury and met in Corone
Halves Office this morning: Thomas
Thornton. foreman, VIM. bunker, Bel
Coulton, Chris, Buck, Conrad Snyder and
Lousi Eckhart. The evidence before thu
Jury this morning was about the same a
stated. The landlord was sworn. also thu
boarder who went for the doctor The,
testified as above stated. Dr. Barth wa:
sworn and gave 1t as his professional
opinion that Peterson had died of hear
disease. There was nothing in the room
or nothing about the man to lead them tt
form an opinion that he had com.
mitted suicide. There were no other wit
nesses examined, but an examination o
the dead mans property was made. H
had an oyercoat. much worn, a wallis
filed with good clothes, and besides thi
in his pocket was found evidence shown!
that he was hard working man. HI
was quarryman, that is.to say he fur
nished stone for all kinds OF purposes. Il
the pockets of the clothes he had on wa
found four dollars and fifteen cents il
lsilyer. In large pocket book among
lot of papers certificate of deposit 70
1876 in the First National Bank wa
found. The coroners jury then foun
that the man had come to his death b
heart disease, in accordance with the ties
timony given by DR.. Barth. Undertake
Knox took charge. of the body at min
O'Clock this morning and removed it fror
the island to his undertaking establish
ment. 1t is not known whether Peterso
has any relatives or not, but if he has nc
he will be buried in one of our cemeterie
tomorrow.