The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-08-31
THEDUCKRATH MYSTERY
A Union Hill Jury Make a
Finding.
sUFFOCATED TO DEATH.
The Stomach Contents Not Analysed
Because Of the Cost 1t Would
Put on the County.

The Buckrath mystery is a mystery nd
longer-at least in the minds of the twelve
intelligent jurors that the classic pre-
cincts of Union Hill furnished to hear
the testimony. After carefully review
ing the evidence they brought in YER
dict of death by asphyxia, pocketed their
quarter and were discharged.
But eleven jurors were present last
evening when DR.. Taylor, of Union Hill,
was put upon the stand.
THE AUTOPSY
The doctor testified that he had been
present at the autopsy performed by
County Physician Converse on the body
of George Buckrath from the beginning
to the end. He noticed small bruise
under the right eye and the mark of an
old wound under the left.
There were no marks of violence on the
throat. The lungs were intensely con-
gested, and the other organs in less de-
gree. The right ventricle of the heart
was filled with fluid blood. There was
great quantity Of fluid blood in the body
The stomach was slightly catarrhed, and
contained small quantity of fluid that
smelled like sour beer.
My opinion" said DIR. Taylor, 'sis that
the man was overcome by the heat, and
that that. combined with the result of
stimulants, caused his death 2
HIS FACE IN THE GRASS.
Then Waiter Dempf was called, and
testified that on the closing night Of the
fest, he with two others, Zweeke and
Run. had noticed Buckrath lying behind
Waas' stand, that the three of them had
examined him by candle light taken from
Chinese lantern
The man was cold and lying on the
h 1ic Il foot
benches. AT half-past four Thursday
morning he noticed the man living in the
same position with his face in the grass
WAS HE DEAD THEN?
Rudolph Zweeke, the waiter whom
Coroner Brackner had placed under ar
rest, saw the man lying on the ground
and helped to put him in a more COM
Portable position. He felt his head; it
was cold. Witness could not say if the
man was alive when he saw him or not.
Witness noticed cut on his face and saw
blood on the ground.
Witness returned to the park early in
the morning with Dempf to look for
money. He saw "de blokie," as he ex-
pressed it. lying in the same position as
he had left him the night before. He
found a hat in the closet, and threw it
beside the body. He had noticed the
bloody handkerchief hanging on bush;
also some beads. hairpins, and pink bow
on the ground.
THE POCKETS RUNMAGED.
Jacob Ruff corroborated the testimony
of the two witnesses that preceded him.
He had noticed that the mans pockets
were turned out.
WAS the man alive when you saw
him?" asked the Coroner.
NO" answered the intelligent witness.
f'He was drunk.
Dr. Warden, of Union Hill, who was
next called could not certify cause of
death from the examination.
One of the jurors asked the Doctor if a
poison could be purchased in a drug store
| that would deprive man of conscious
ness for time. Witness answered yes.
| DIR. Converse asked the witness a num-
| Der of technical questions in regard to the
properties of poisons and their effects
DIR. CONVERSE TESTIFIES.
County Physician Converse was the
last witness called. He told the result Of
| the autopsy.
IN my opinion" said the doctor, .'the
man died from asphyxia. There was no
mechanical violence used / have no
reason to think that the man was
poisoned. Alcoholism and the over
| heated condition of the mans blood could
account for his death"
THE STOMACH NOT ANALYZED.
| Coroner Brackner said to the jury that
| it would be necessary to get an order
| from Judge Knapp to analyze the con-
! tents of the stomach, and would put the
county to great expense.
The jury remained out for five minutes
| and then returned verdict of death by
| asphyxia" "the new disease as one of
them called it. The walters Zweeke,
Dempf and Ruff. grinned with delight
| during the evidence, and read dime nov
| els when it grew m0notOnOuS.