, 1891-06-27
WAS IT MURDER i?
The Suicide Theory Not Entirely
Satisfactory.
Examining the Body of the Man
Found Dead in the Dugout.
A Strict Investigation TO Discover
If He Wasn't Murdered.

The mystery surrounding the death of
the unknown man found in the dugout
on the Dater ranch is deepening. To all
appearances at present his death was the
result OF a cold. blooded murder, and the
murderer evidently took particular pains
to destroy all traces that might lead to the
Identification of his victim.
The coroner and jury made but a
cursory examination of the remains when
at the ranch on Thursday, aud at first
glance thought the man met death by his
own hand. Yesterday they went out to
the ranch and made a more complete ex-
animation of the remains and the sur
roundings.
The easy and natural position that the
body way lying in dispelled the theory
that he could have committed suicide by
any such violent means as the swallowing
of a quantity Of corbolic acid.
POSITION Of THE BODY.
The body was found stretched out on a
door which mad fallen from its hinges and
lay on the floor of the dugout in a slant
ing position. The deal man lay on the
right side aud face with the right arm
doubled under aud the head toward the
the highest end of the door. About a
foot to the right of the mans lead the
the bottle OF acid was placed on the door
and the Tin cup which 1t is supposed he
drank the poison FROM was Il few inches
toward bis feet away from the bottle.
SOME THEORIES.
The door was on the rough ground floor
OF the dugout and when touched with
the foot had a tendency to rock. The
bottle, if full, would have contained six
ounces of the fluid and as it had in 1t
when found but two ounces it is surmised
that four ounces must have been used by
the supposed suicide. lie could not have
drank a small portion and spilled the rest
as both the bottle ard cup were standing
upright on the board by his side. SUI
eide by drinking the poison would have
been a horrible death and the taker would,
for at least five minutes, have writhed
and struggled in agony and wOul1 not
have been found lying IN such a comfort
able and natural position. In his strug-
giles the door would have undoubtedly
rocked and tipped over the small bottle
and the cup which stood by his side.
III BODY EXHUMED.
Yesterday the body was exhumed and
a more careful examination was made. 1t
was found that what at first glance had been
taken for a delicate moustache was bruised
and rouGhed skin as il caused with a
biudgeon. That discovery led to further
investigation and the head was examined
more thoroughly.
BRUISES ON FEATURES
What appeared to be a bruise caused
by a blow. was found just above the left
temple where the hair and skin were
clothed as if with blood. and a similar
bruise was found on the back of the head.
The body was so badly decomposed, how
ever, that 2 cateful examination will have
to be made To determine whether they
are hrui.es or not.
DR.. Wvman, who was at the Inquest,
removed the head of the dead man and
brought it INTO town and will make a caro-
ful post mJrtcm examination to see
whether or not the man met his death by
foul play. II is surmIsed that there is a
fracture OF the skull where the bruise was
discovered on the back of the head.
o. STAINS.
On the door, where the dead man. was
found, there are stains where his head
lay as if made by blood flowing from
wounds. A few scrapinls OF the stains
were made and will be examined to ascer-
tain their true character.
The use of the carbnlic acid is not
known, it it was a ease of murder. unless
the murderer after killing his victim had
in a cold -blooded manner poured the acid
over the dead mans face in hopes of
burning The features in such a manner
that the dead man could not be recognized
and thereby destroying all trace of who he
was.
THE DEAD MANS CLOTHES.