Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-25
DIED BEHIND THE A R
Sudden Ending Of q Worthless Life in
the City Prison.

The following appeared on the Polio,
Court book or August 18th:
John Doe, drunk and sleeping on side
walk. A vagrant."
Such announcements are f.equent on the
police book, but few persons meet the SAM
late as brfell the poor creature whose
arrest WIS recorded in the above manner.
Last evening, about 9:45 o'clock, a
MINER reporter visited the Police Court to
look over the list OF offenders since our last
Issue. While there. a loud knocking was
heard below. Upon proceedi g to the foot
OF the stairs he was met by the young man
who sleeps in the hose cart room, directly
over the city prison cells. who hurriedIy
told him to run VI an officer as there was
a man dead in the prison below.
Ot1cer Smith was summoned, and to-
geth> + with the reporter visited the Jail.
Upon the lower cot on the leit-hand side of
the prison. by the light OF a fiji, kering lamp,
u man was discovered lying half-naked and
apparently dead. His eyes were closed as
if in sleep, but his general appearance was
that nj a man h had quietly passed into
the great beyond, without a murmur OF a
struggle. When examined by the officer
his flesh was slightly warm and pulsation
DR.. H"ugh, the city physician, was sum-
moned, and upon arriving at the Jail a
short time afterwards, examined the body
and pronounced life extinct,
From the prisoners in the Jail it wat
learned that all day long the deceased was
lively and in good spirits. About 3 o'clock
in the afternoon he felt sleepy, and
retired to his cot. From this time until
about 9:45 no notice was taken of him, as
he appeared to be sleeping, when one of his
cell mates approached the cot to awaken
him a tell him to do some OF the routine
prison work.
was his surprise and horror when
discovered the apparently l~ifeless body
OF the man who a short time before had
appeared to have a long lease OF life. The
startled prisoners at once gave the alarm,
as before mentioned.
The young man.. who appeared to be
about 2S years OF age, went by the name
OF Lafayette Slim His real MANS is un-
some OF his co-prisoners stating |
that it was Kelly and others that it was
Hogan. An examination OF his clothes |
no evidence OF his name or relations, |
but two checks ON the Mechanics National
OF Helena were found in his coat, one |
2,234,O57, for $500, dated No.
vember 18, 1885, and the other $40, 2S7, |
dated November II, 1885, for 500. One
was payable to Wm. C.. Doughtery or
and the other to VIM. C. O'Donnell,
Endorsed by the above parties, and
both signed by James Forbear. Chief Cody
took charge OF the checks and delivered
Them to the Coroner.
1t is said that the deceased has wealthy
'elhtives i'll Lafayette, Indiana.
lie has been q frequent offender against
he law, and has been many times behind
he bars. He is reputed to nave been a
drinker.
An inquest was held this morning at /
''clock in the prison cell. The testimony
the prisoners was to the effect as above
After hearing the testimony,
he jury retired to the court room IT, con-
ider their verdict. 1t was decided that no
Intelligent verdict couli be delivered until
pOstmOrtem examination was held by
he Coroner. which examination will be
to-day at l o'clock p. m.