, 1888-06-21
Coroner'S Inquest.

The Oregonian gives the following
account of the coroner's inquest
which was held over the remains of j.
f. Parks:
The coroners inquest yesterday
leaves little doubt that the young
lawyer, j. +. Parks, who was found in
a dying condition Tuesday afternoon
at the St. Charles hotel, committed
suicide. The most likely theory for
the young mans rash act is that while
in a fit Of temporary insanity, brought
on by losses at the gambling table, a
suicidal fancy took possession of him.
That he was financially embarrassed
the following telegrams, found upon
his body, prove beyond reasonable
doubt.
SPOKANE FALLS, June IL, 1888.
j. f. Parks-Two attachments covering
everything, have been served on you.
l.. +. WILLIAMS.
SPOKANE FALLS, June IL, 1888.
j. F. Parks-Couldn'J raise money; too
many bills sale ordered. Client examin-
ing records. GEORGE III. LEONARD.
The last telegram that reached here
addressed to the deceased, arrived at
3 ;2S p. M, Tuesday, when it was too
late to do him any good, and it read as
follows:
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn, June H. 1888.
j. +. Parks-Make your draft TO reach us
in six days., PARK Bros.
At the coroner's inquest held yes
terday morning, the following wit
nesses were sworn, and testified to
the subjoined facts:
rba rlao w a.,
deceased; he came to my hotel, the
st. Charles, on the Sd inst; last saw
him alive at 8 o'clock Tuesday morn
ing about l o'clock in the afternoon
found him in IA dying condition in his
room, and called DIR. A. 9. Panton."
j. @. Shofner-"I knew the de.
ceased; he was about 2S years OF age
and born near Fayetteville, Lincoln
county, Tennessee. He is single and
practiced law at Spokane Falls, w.
T.; knew him since his twelfth year,
and met him several times since he
came out here. His dependency was
probably occasioned by financial diff.
culties; when he died he had on his
person &.65, which took charge Of"
Mark Mention: sam druggist by
occupation. The deceased came to
the store in which / am employed
Tuesday morning last at 2 o'clock,
when put up prescription for him.
/ think it was for eight one-eighth
grains of sulphate of morphia pills;
also put up liquid prescription.
About o'clock he returned and asked
for one-half grain morphia pills, which
l refused to give him. He professed
to have lost the box previously pro-
cured from me, and upon this repre-
sentation / gave him one dozen one
quarter grain pills, when he at once
left the store. During our conversa-
ton lie spoke of having gambled and
lost Y7O0. He named the house where
he had gambled, but l do not recol-
lect it."
George f. Cole: "Have known the
decea sed about five years. Observed
him closely about week and from
his actions and talk am led to believe
that he was laboring under temporary
alteration of the mind and not re-
sponsible for his acts"
DR.. a. Q. Panton: "Was called yes
terday afternoon about O'Clock to
the st. Charles hotel, where | found j.
Il. Parks (now lying in the morgue),
suffering from morphine poisoning.
Respiration had almost ceased and
death seemed imminent. Emetics
failed to produce vomiting, but
washed out his stomach by means of
the pump and injected several doses of
strong coffee by the same means.
Artificial respiration and careful use of
antidotes kept him alive for some