, 1884-10-24
AMONG THE SLUMs.
A Victim of Alcoholism Drops Dead
At a Saloon.
Opium and Whisky Ending in a Pau
-per's Grave.
Foul Play Suspected and the BODY
To be Disinterred.

- 11oNCladl nAOll hlk Il
man named George Ryan was standing in
the doorway of Graham's saloon, on Sew
enteenth street, conversing with a painter
who is Familiarity known as ''Scotty."
Suddenly Ryan staggered and ere the by
ISLANDERS could realize the nature of his
sudden illness he fell upon the sidewalk,
gasped once or twice and dying gave no
sign of consciousness.
Officer Nolan was sent for and in a short
time DR.. Marston made IN examination of
the body. As life had fled, theremains were
taken to an empty shed in the alley at the
rear of the Inter Ocean, where, with a
brick for a pillow, the body was laid until
it could be viewed by a Coroner's jury.
In the afternoon Coroner Chafin sum
monsed a jury consisting of Messrs. W.
r. Hosford, b. F. Deitrick, Harry Blake,
]. B. Woods, John Douglass and Samuel
Finch.
From the evidence before the Coroner's
jury it seems hat Ryan came in a few
days ago from the range, where he had
worked in Miller's hay camp. Since his
arrival in town he has spent most of his
time at Graham's place. Last winter he
"hung out" at that saloon and once he
was arrested for stealing a violin. He
was addicted { othe inordinate use ofopium
and when in Jail begged SO %pitifully for
the drug hat the officers gave him a little
from time to time. He had a passion for
music and was never happier than when
playing a violin. Nothing is known of
his people except that his mother resides
in California. As Ryan was a middle
aged man, his mother, if the information
regarding her be correct, must be quite
aged.
The jury decided that he came to his
death through alcoholism and exposure.
The deceased was a pauper and will be
given a pauper's burial. Whisky and
opium dragged him down to the lowest
station a man can occupy in the world.
He had been in a fight a day or two ago
and his face was disigured by d~iscolora-
tons and a cut over one eye. Uncared
for and unattended and clothed in rags
his body lay in an abandoned stable until
taken away and dumped into a pauper's
grave. The record of his life and death
will be only a number upon the books of
the city sexton.
Since the above was written it is Off
cially learned that reasons exist for
Iuspecting that a criminal responsibility
may be established in connection with
Ryan's death. The body will therefore
be disinterred to-day and h careful post
mortem examination will be made, in con-
nection with which dissection will be nee
essary. The Coroner will either cause
the jury engaged yesterday to reassemble
or will empannel another as circumstances
may direct. The motives for foul play do
not seem to be clearly established but it is
thought advisable to thoroughly investi-
gate the Idatter.
A f9% days & Ryan stole a coat and
upop/the discovery Of the theft the owner
VI nc kdIiutni oiluIh h1ah buAf IL -
said, inflicted no serious injury upon him.
Wednesday night Ryan slept in a vacant
yard between Fifteenth and Sixteenth
streets, near 0'Neil street. He was in a
stupor at the time and remained, lying
uncovered upon the ground, until the
effects of liquor had, in the main, passed
away.
Last night Officers Hosford and Deit-
rick arrested Selden Walker a colored
man, and confined him in the city jail.
Some time after his arrest Walker told
another officer hat the ones who arrested
him gave no explanation for so doing, but
he thought he had been arrested on nc
count of a suspicion that he was implca-
ted in Ryan's death. The circumstances
of the death seem to be less clear than
before the Coroner jury met yesterday,
but the matter will probably be investi
gated to-day.