The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-09
DEATH IN A BOX CAR,
The Mysterious Finding of Man Muir.
dered With Coupling PIN.

DULUTH, December CAV mysterious
murder case was developed here to-day, as
there is little to indicate where the murder
was committed, and nothing is yet known
by which the victim can be identified. Car
No. l, 316 arrived here last night from Lis
bon, Dakota, loaded with wheat for w. w.
Davis, OF this city. This morning Mr..
Davis inspector, A. E. Pruden, on opening
the car discovered the body OF man in
the center OF the car, with the face and
hands besmeared with clotted blood. Coro-
ner Graft was at once summoned, and an
investigation showed that the man had
been hit with a coupling pin, which was
found in the car covered with blood. On
the left side OF the head the blow fell, mash
ing the ear. Blood was found spat-
tered on the roof of the car, indicating
that the man was standing up when
the blow was struck. The blow must have
crushed the skull and produced instant
death. The man was apparently about
thirty-fve years old, OF rather heavy build,
five feet four inches in height, and with a
small dark chin beard and mustache. He
was dressed in workingman's clothes,
heavy dark blue pea-jacket over blue Mack
inaw chekered pantaloons, stoga boots
and imitation fur cap. Nothing was found
in the pockets, bnt he had under his pants
pocket evidently OF his own make, was
leather roll enclosing S475 in bills, the
largest bill being one OF $50. Nothing was
found to identify him or show where he
came from, but lying in the wheat near him
was the following note written on Il North
ern Pacific letter head:
SANBoRN, Dakota, October 26.-Mrs.
Burke: Enclosed find $12, for which please
send receipt. My thanks. Just got my
pay for September work. Hope you and
the folks are all we'll and happy. As for
myself, am well, but not very happy.
Respectfully,
s. l.. PLAT.
A telegram to Sanborn elected the fact
that Platt is Northern Pacific telegraph
operator there, and is now there. The
body OF the murdered man does not indi-
cate that he was man apt to have SO
much money usually. The car left Lisbon
November 2G, and was four days on the
road. DR.. Croft, the coroner, thinks the
man has been dead about that time, or II
little less. At Fargo the seal OF the car
was all right, but at Brainerd the seal OF
one door was broken, and was replaced
with new one. 1t is thought that the
first seal was broken at some point be-
tween these two places. After a coroner's
Jury was empaneled they viewed the body,
and adjourned till next Monday. The
| body was movet. to the morgue, and word
sent to Lisbon. Tomorrow a photograph
OF the man will be taken and sent to Da-
kota.
A dispatch from S. l.. Platt, OF Sanborn,
Dakota, whose name was signed to the
letter addressed to Mrs. Burke, and which
was found in the wheat car beside the MUIR
dered man, received late tonight, says:
wrote letter addressed to Mrs. Burke,
Leonard, Dakota, about October oath, in
! closing postoftice money order, payable
| at Fargo. ! have no idea who the corpse
can be. You will probably get what infor"
nation is necessary from Mrs. Burke,
Leonard, Dakota. s. l.. PLATT.