Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-24
SUPPOSED ALCOHOLLSM.

Inquest on William Burt, Who Dies Ua-
Close Investigation.
An inquest was begun yesterday after
moon on the remains of William Burt, who
died suddenly in John 81. Ryan's saloon,
107 South Main street, before noon yes
terday. The inquest took place at the
Office of Judge Dingevon. John 81. Ryan,
his barkeeper, Constable Morshead, Mar
shall Coulter and County Undertaken
Kirby were examined, when the following
state OF facts were elected:
About $50 William Burt, Joshua Liver
sedge and John Shields entered the saloon,
where the barkeeper was alone. He had
never seen them before. Burt called for
drinks and produced silver dollar to pay
for them, receiving in change 76 cents.
They were all three more or less under the
influence of liquor, but Burt seemed the
worst. The other two washed Burt's face
in the bar-room and afterward went into
the yard where some OF them began using
vile language. They remained here about
half an hour: One OF them went for clean
shirt, which he made q great fuss putting
on Burt, who was particularly helpless.
The noise they made awoke Ryan, whose
room is in the rear of the saloon facing the
yard, and he got up to see what was the
matter.
Just as he opened the door OF his room
Shields and Liversedge entered from the
yard with Burt, limp and helpless, between
them, Ryan told them they had no right
to bring a man in his condition there.
They tried to make him sit on q chair, but
as he was too limp they laid him on the
floor and went out. Ryan testified Burt
nl n0nnl1,Io1 To Lat
him have his sleep undisturbed, as he was
not in the way. Hall an hour after the
other men left Ryan was sitting in the
saloon by himself, reading the Portland
Mercury, and the place was still. In the
stiffness he noticed that Burt was not
breathing. He took hold OF his wrist and
found the pulse stopped. he went into
the grocery at the corner OF Galena street
for help, and the men who came in pro-
nounced Burt dead. Burt had never
changed his position after he was laid
down.
DR.. Howard, who was present as physi.
clan to make the medical examination.
asked several questions OF the witnesses.
the result being general testimony that
srsmped se with his snEt Eta4p ap uSG1 ths ooE was
breast, position likely to aid in produc-
ing suffocation:
Undertaken hlrDy SalO tudG Wueu no wnc
called he raised Burt's eyelid and found the
pupil dilated and transparent as in cases
OF morphine poisoning.
The jury in company with DIR. Howard
viewed the body at Kirby's undertaking
rooms and then adjourned for the day.
There were no marks OF violence on the
body and the suppositien at presentis that
II ia another case OF alcoholism. Burt has
been working on the water ditch some
three miles south OF town and it is said has
some effects at Catching's ranch which will
be produced at the continuation OF the in
quest to-day.
The testimony OF the two men Liversedge
and Shields is the most important and
will be given when the inquest is resumed
to-day. It could not be taken yesterday
owing to the fact that neither OF them was
sober enough to give an intelligent account
OF what had occurred. They are under
arrest by the Marshal and will be kePs
where their sobriety to-day will be assured.
The only efforts found on the body in the
saloon after Burt's death were some old
gloves. worthless meal tickets, some pref
zeIs and cheese and twodim es. From the
time the barkeeper gave him the Six bits In
change until his death he had spent nothing
in the house and was too helpless to nave
gone anywhere else. The question OF Inn
nortance to the jrrv - What occurred In
the yard? Burt 80 ~ Walk wei
enough when he entered the saloon. he
WAS limp and helpless when he returned De-
tween Shields and Liversedee.