The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-22
.Frsnssd BY Special Arrangement Copyrighted 1885,
@ III n IN E.

IN TWO pARTs-pART IT.

having an nour still at my disposal before the
inquest. confirmed my theory by visit to the
publishing department of Messrs. Bancroft.
Stating my name and position as executor. the
manager inquired, you bring the prospectus
Mr. Wilcox was to have placed in your hands
yesterday morningq" 'sNo," / replied "a
few days ago Wilcox mentioned 1t, and
was to have consulted with me about it
but have found no trace Of it or his MS as yet;
in fact I supposed you had them both. Still,
have no doGbt can End them before long some
where among his papers. In the meantime, you
will, of course, agree with me in the propriety
UR keeping the same absolute secrecy in the mat
ter which my friend enjoined." In discussion with
Mr. j. / found all the story Wilcox had told me
corrobcrated, though they had seen no more OF
the MS than l. There was nothing to prevent
his making the same statements to us both; in
fact, to my mind, it but proved the hallucina-
ton more clearly.
The inquest was attended by that crowd of
curiosity seekers that always congregate Ia such
place in search of what is CHASTITY and horrible.
j had not been summoned to attend as witness,
but thought 1t my duty as Wilcox's friend and
executor to be present. Besides this, was anx-
lous to learn whether anything shown there
would confirm the theory had formed as to the
cause of death
The coroner, with all the importance charac-
teristic of petty officer, at first insisted on an
autopsy strenuously, but urged him to omit
this unless it should be hereafter shown indis-
pensable. and finally prevailed upon him to do
SO.
The inquest was not very long, nor was any
thing startling or important developed. Price
was the first witness called. He was, he said,
the partner Of Wilcox in the chemical business
the manufacture Of dyes-and had been 80 for
some six years. He, Price, had come to the
laboratory at about half past 8 the preceding
morning, and found Wilcox at work there; didn't
remember what he was doing; didn't notice at
the time About quarter of an hour later,
near 9 o'clock Wilcox had stepped over to speak
to him about the work he was engaged in, when
suddenly the former fell to the floor. without q
word. He raised the body, but found him SEEM
ingly dead Upon this he sent for doctor, and
laid the body on one of the laboratory tables.
Had no idea as to what the cause of death was.
Was no doctor himself. Thought it might be
apoplexy, but would venture no definite opinion.
The next witness called was one of the en-
ployes in the laboratory. He testified as to his
position in the place. Mr. Wilcox had been
talking to him, he said, shortly before his death.
A question arose as to the necessity of a new
supply of ether, he thought, when Mr.. Wilcox
stepped over to speak to Mr. Price about it.
Witness then resumed his work. Didn't see any
thing else until he heard the fall of the body,
and had then helped Price to lift Wilcox and
lay him on the table. Did not know anything
was the matter with Wilcox; had never heard
him complain Of illness by iuror:) "How
long had Mr.. Wilcox been in the laboratory be-
fore his deathp Witness:) II do NOS know
that is, remember. About two hours, I think;
1t was not his usual habit to come down so
early, but lately he had done so. He appeared
to be very busy with some experiments; do
not know just what they were. When not
working in the main room, Mr. Wilcox was in
his Office. This was in the further end OF the
1aboratory-the west end Mr. Price and he
both had Offices there Each opened into the
xhem"
Some other employees were called, but only
corroborated the prior testimony. The last wit
ness was DR.. Stewart, who testified: II am
physician and surgeon: At about $40 on Tues
y-yesterday-mornine.. was called to the
laboratory of Wilcox & Price, on Drumm street.
went at once, and heard that Mr. Wilcox had
dropped dead. l made an immediate examina-
ton, but found all efforts at resuscita-
ton useless: Death must have ensued imme-
diately. For my part think heart dis
ease was the cause of his death-aneurism of
The aorta. 1t could not have been poison-the
appearance of the body. as I saw it, left no room
FOR doubt as to that There were no marks of
extreme violence, either. examined the body
at the time as said, but could find nothing but
q small open wound about the size of half dime
upon the left wrist. 1t looked to me like phos.
phorus or acid burn, or something of the sort
acid which had been accidentally spilled by him
che day before while making nitro. It could
have been caused by that. No. this could have
had nothing to do with the death" Price was
sailed, and verified the Doctors statement.
This closed the testimony and the case was
submitted to the jury. They returned in few
minutes with their verdict I'VE, the jury. find
that John Wilcox. the deceased, came to his
death from causes unknown" This was &C
cepted by the coroner and the jury discharged.
MY intention was to visit Wilcox's rooms next
to obtain the means of clothing the body more
suitably for the grave On the previous night
! decided to bury Wilcox in the Laurel Hill
cemetery, and, leaving orders at the undertak-
er's to send q casket and the proper attendants
in the afternoon following, FASTENED to Will
cox's rooms.
The landlord. with whom had once lodged,
On amorphous product of San Francisco. unsexed
into an infinite resource in conversational topics,
was garrnlons. Tuesday about noon Mr.. Price
had come to announce the death of his poor
young man. He wished to lock up Wicox's pa
pers and yaluables, and arrange them before he
anu m0t IuoKo Al Inc evening. ne (ndr. YAM
had no objection, and Price spent an hour at
bis work. To describe the digressions in
this information, the minute circumstances
connected with past and present of all parties
concerned, would double the length Of this mar
rative Mr.. Van was that shocked he remem-
bered every word they said. And Mr.. Price car
rfed sseripsackr too, like the one had. With
Mr.. Vans help, had by this time filled my bag
with the needed articles and beating hasty re-
treat lost forever full and exact account of the
IN and ad n
convenience in the house
As l returned to my rooms in the afternoon,
the first editions of the evening papers were for
sale at the car stands, and from the converse
tlons could gather that Wilcox, whose family
connections and genial manners had made him
well-known and liked was the main topic Of
interest
1t is consistent with the tabled California gen.