The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-04-28
SATURDAY. E. April 2S. 1888
INQUEST.
The Supposed Suicide Identified as
John swanson.


Yesterday morning, Justice of the
Peace. Thomas ID. Dee, emparelled a
jury consisting of George w. Larkin,
L. H. BAllantyne, and Moroni F.
Brown, to investigate the cirUum-
stances leading to the death of the man
who was found in the Ogden River on
the night OF Thursday las, by a COM
pany of men searching for the lifeless
bodies of the two little girls and the
young man who were drowned in the
canyon that afternoon.
Valasco Moore testified that he was
loo sing for the bodies of the Wilson
children in the Ogden River. when he
ran across the body of man on a
gravel bar which he supposed to be
that OF the young man Newly. He
sent word to some of the other people
around, who instructed him to get the
man out, which he did, when he dis
covered he was person FOREIGN to the
object of their search. The body of the
man was brought to town by Marshal
Ballantyne, who deposited it in the
office OF the city sexton, on Main Street,
on Thursday evening, at about ~
O'Clock.
William Lowe identified the body as
being that of John Swanson, a neighbor
OF his. He also identified some papers
found on his person, which he bad pre-
Vtously handled in transaction which
| the witness had managed for the de
ceased. He had noticed that the man
had been suffering, apparently, from
fits OF melancholy, although he had no,
heard any expression from him as to
his intention to commit the rash act
| by which he departed this life.
In accordance with this testimony
the jurors submitted the verdict, OF
which the following is a COPY:
An inquisition holden at Ogden City,
in Ogden Precinct. Weber County, on
the 9th day of April. AID, 1883, before
Thomas D. Dee, justice Of the peace in
and for said precinct of said county
upon the body of John Swanson, there
lying dead, by the jurors whose names
are hereto subscribed: The said Jurors
upon their oarhs, do say, that the said
John Swanson came to his death by
drowning in Ogden River, between the
10th and 25th days of April, 1888, and
that whether the same was accidenta
| or Intentional we have no means Of
| knowing.
In testimony whereof the said Jurors
| have hereunto set their hands the day
and year aforesaid.
GEORGE w. LARKIN,
L. ID. BALLANTYNE,
M. F. BROWN,
Jurors.
THOMAS u. DEE,
Justice of the Peace.
1t appears that the deceased wa:
aged about 60 years, and was a native
OF Sweden, having resided in this
country about twenty years. His wife
died about year ago, since which time
it is said he has never appeared in 8
normal condition. He was very
peculiar man in his habits, and hence
made but few friends. Last fall he had
quite spell of sickness and was at
tended by his neighbors, WilIi"m Lowe
and wife, who were = fal
intimate with him. . little
while ago he decided to II his
land, with his little home upon
| it, and gave an option on it OF
| 1906, which expires on the Sd OF next
month. The consideration money had
to be 81 $50. The place is situated on
tbs southwest corner of Third and East
Streets, and contains two and half
acres. Since having given the options
in question, he appears to have become
Respondent, and especially brooded
over his action in selling his home, ap.
parently regretting having done so. 1t
is thought that his weak condition,
brought about by sickness and
his wifs's death, led him to seek self
destruction; but, of course, no other
evidence of this than what we have
given can be ascertained, His relatives
nearest this city are residents OF
Sweden.