The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-26
DRINK WASHISD DEATH
Saloon Keeper Mulcted for
Heavy Damages.
RESPONSIBLE FOR 4 SUICIDE.
Widow Hansen Awarded %. s7B-Litisa-
tion 0ver Land Titles--Nsv Suits
Eilsd-Blottsr ana calsndar.

The Hansen-D elfsl damage suit was
brought to close yesterday and the iurv
awarded Mrs. Hansen damages 70 thu
an cunt OF 1855 The amount asked for
Was 81. 600 for losses sustained by reason
OF the death Of her husband. which piain-
I'm charges 20 Delfel The jury evidently
ntiieved the allegations of the complaint;
tnas john Hansen. for whose death the
damage were awarded. was made drunk by
liquor bought of Delfel, and that his death
was the indirect result Of his having taken
TOO much liquor there; that had he not
Deen respondent from drink and under
the influence of liquor at the time of his
suicide he would never have taken the
deadly drug.
Delfei's hash treatment of the deceased
while the latter lay in dying condition in
the saloon, was also conSidered by the
jury and doubtless had Its weight in In
huencing their verdict.
IAe attorneys in tho case made gallant
Hight. and authorities were quoted in great
numbers by both sides. Judge STATIONS
instructions to the jury were carefully
prepared and very exhaustive, covering
every feature Of the case. A new trial will
% asked for by defendant
The circumstances connected with the
death of John Hansen. according to the
plaintiffs statement as given in the COM
plant and on the witness stand, show that
he was very much depressed in mind from
the effects OF drink at the time he took the
fatal dose of morphine in the I. X. L. sa-
loon. He had been doing his drinking
there. and when Dslfel saw him take the
poison he had him put outside for the rea-
son, IS he stated. that he had already had
two suicides in his saloon and did not pro-
pose having any more, for it injured his
business. He claimed to have had Han
sen taken out in gentle manner, but the
complaint states that he threw Hansen ont
the back door, and the physician who ex-
amined the dead man says that there were
bruises upon him.
The plaintiff also alleged that Delfel,
knowing thrt Hansen had taken poison,
lett him to lay out on the ground under
the steps for five hours without making
any effort to save his life. and DR.. j. N.
Williams, who was called to attend Han
sen, stated that if medical aid had been
promptly called in the mans life could have
been saved. Officer Jacobs, who had Han
sen carried into the saloon and placed on
billiard table while resioratives were being
applied, stated that Delfel cursed and
swore at him for bringing Hansen there,
and ordered him taken outside, because he
did not want his billiard table soiled.
The grounds on which damages were
claimed were that Hansen was an habitual
drinker at Delfel's |. x. L. saloon, and had
gotten drunk there when he took poison:
that the poison was taken by reason of de-
preston from drinking at that place; that
Deifers III treatment and neglect of Ham
sen while he was in . dying condition led
to his death.
The defendant denied all i'll treatment
and sought to prove that Hansen was in
the habit Of drinking elsewhere as we'll as
at his place, and that he took morphine
with the deliberate intent to commit sui
eide. owing TO family troubles.
HEAVY LAND LITIGATION.
Tho 5000 damage suit of Ho bart NJ.
Wheldon against w. w. Beck, on trial in
Judge Humes' court for the past two days,
went to the jury late last evening. Beck,
it is said, came to Seattle as Bible agent
and preacher, but finding an opportunity
to speculate in real estate, purchased
large tract near this city, which he had
surveyed and cut up and proceeded to SELL
The plaintiff alleges that on March Is,
1883, he bought of Beck sixty-acre piece
OF land, for which he paid 500 down, and
agreed to pay $500 month thereafter un-
til the entire purchase price of Sl3,50O was
paid. That there being cloud upon the
title. Beck was given ninety days in which
to perfect his title. He claims that de-
PENDANT represented to him that the title
to the property was good, and that, labor
ing under that impression, he expended
considerable money in having the land sur
veyed and plated, and in erecting inn
provements thereon; that he soon discoy-
cred that there was $4,000 mortgage on
the land, and. on finding it thus incum-
bered. he demanded that Beck pay the
mortgage. and, as Beck failed to do SO,
plaintiff brought suit for 5000, which he
claims he has sustained by expenditures
and improvements.
The defendant claims that the incum-
brance would have been removed from
the property in the time stipulated, and
that plaintiff violated the purchase con-
tract by refusing to make any payment on
the land except the 500 paid at the time of
purchase; that he has kept his contract
and is ready to do all he agreed to, and
plaintiff has no cause of action.
The case elected considerable interest,
and, as the property involved is very valu-
able, there is considerable at stake in the
issues pending.
OTHER NEW sUIr3.
Clausen-Sweeney Brewing Company VS..
A. Osier-Action to recover $500 for goods
and merchandise sold and delivered
Western Mill Company VS.. Byrne &
DECENTRALIZATION for the recovery of
$2.590.6 balance due on lumber and man
ufactured wooden materials.
Toney Lehman VS.. The Maple Lumber
and Manufacturing Company-Suit for
balance due for labor performed by plant
i'll and others. whose claims were assigned
to him, tor 1901. 10.
Columbia & Puget Sound Railway Com
pany vs.. John Doe McCorry-Action of
ejectment and for s27, due on rent.
Columbia d Puget Sound Railway Com
pany VS.. NJ. J. Corcoran-Action of eject
ment and for $3.50, due on rent.
Oregon Inipi ovement Company VS.. Mar
garet Harmon, NJ. Brannigan. I. Ryan
and the German Savings Bank, for 81, 755. 40.
alleged to be still due for material fur.
nished in building what is now known as
the New England hotel.
Columbia & Puget Sound Railway Com
pany VS.. w. J. 0rteil-Action OF eject
ment and for $50. 81, due on rent.
Columbia & Puget Sound Railway Com
pany vs. Olaf Eehlin-Action of ejectment
and for $27. due on rent
Columbia & Puget Sound Railway Com.
pany vs.. Louis Malberg-Action of eject.
IN m