The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-23
FOUND DEAD IN A WELL.
Joe Toole, After a Twelve Days
Drunk, Ends Life by
Drowning.
He Was Good Fellow But
Whisky Got the Best
of Him.
Marks on His Body Which May Indicate
Foul PIay-He Disappeared
Five Days Ago.
"Joe Toole has committed suicide!"

w uHbs IlOt tuo pOVofuOTg
mo, no. Joe Toole who keeps the road
house out beyond the Broadwater."
This dialogue occurred 1,265 times on
Main street last evening between the hours
of eight and ten o'clock.
Yes, it was true. Poor Joe Toole, crazed
by whisky, with body and mind shattered
in twelve days fight with alcoholic de-
mons, dragged himself from his little road
house and ended it all in an old we'll just
back of Wassweiler's deserted plunge. 1t
had been hard battle before Joe's capitu-
lation, but he had been through similar
contests before. When his big hearted gen.
erosity got the better of his judgment and
the cold feeling" came on he would drop
everything and let King Alcohol have his
way. When the siege was finished Joe be-
came himself and not another drop touched
his lips until the next drunk commenced.
Thus it has one for years, and each time
the poor fellow grew weaker mentally and
physically and the drunks came oftener.
Two weeks ago he started in and never
drew sober breath. The snakes filled his
boots and his vision was troubled with
strange sights and he wandered about up
and down the road in front of his place un-
til his old-time partner, Billy Palmer, be-
came alarmed. He succeeded in bringing
his friend to half-sober con 1ition, but
before the tire eatment was finished Toole
dropped back in company with the reptiles.
Charlie.Moore, who was looking after the
business during the proprietor's spree,
heard the bar-room door open at daybreak
Thursday morning and this was the last
known of him alive. His absence for day
or so was unnoticed for it was thought he
had wandered away and would return. 1t
was not until yesterday that any alarm was
felt. Then the boys around the house be-
gan looking for him along the road. Pat
Doran. who has lived along Ten Mile for
many years, came to town and
told Sheriff Jefferis that Toole had
in the search. The sheriff told him TO get
help. He found William Quaid and TO-
gether they found the dead man. They
searched along the bushes on either side OF
the road until Doran proposed that they
cross the bed of Ten Mile creek and look
around the old plunge. 1t was seven O'Clock
last evening when they reached an old we'll
pose of storing hot water for the adjoining
bath. Doran saw hat and coat on the
edge of the hole while his nostrils caught
the odor of decomposition.
HE is there" said Doran, and the next
instant he saw the head and arm of the
dead man reaching just above the water
where his body was submerged. They ran
and carried the news to Coroner Rockman.
The coroner loaded a hack with the
following jurymen: j. M. Mcmahon,
H. X. Oran, +. II. Bowie, W. T. Parker,
Z. G. MoMahon and M. j. Hutchins, DR.. and
started for the road house accompanied by
United States Marshal Furay and Under
taker Hermann. At the road house they
found lanterns and guides and from thence
picked their way through the bushes and
across the creek to the old we'll, the under
taker and two men carrying plain wooden
coffin. The tody was standing almost
erect in perhaps twenty feet of water. II
was extricated with great difficulty because
was Il weird and unpleasant scene. The
moon had just appeared above the oppo.
site ridge SO that the lanterns we're almost
unnecessary. The iurymen and the coro
ner were grouped on little bluff
near by to the windward of the
working At last bv means OF
ropes the body was brought out and placed
in the coffin. 1t had been in the water a
long time. The face was black, while the
limbs we're bloated almost out of shape. One
eye was gone. there WAS bruise on his
head and his mustache was gone, which
was thought by some to indicate foul work
matter which will be fully investigated
1t is not probable that these suspicious viii
be verified. When the lid was finally
nailed down on the coffin and the home.
ward march commenced all were very glad.
Billy Palmer led the little procession. He
wept like a broken-hearted child over the
death of his partne, and would not be con-
soled. The coffin was placed in the un-
de takers wagon, while the jury went in
the bar-room to drink and be sworn. An
adjournment was taken until two O'Clock
t&is afternoon. when the inquest will be
continued at the mo,gue.
The body was taken to the cemetary
where it will be buried today after a medi-
cal examination. This the doctor thinks is
necessary, though it is not probable that
new facts will be developed. 1t looks like
a very plain case of suicide.
Joe Ioole was we'll known to Helenates
and was very popular. His place was ia
vorite resort with the sporting fraternity
1t was the place usually selected for glove
fights for which there were special ap.
pointments in the way of canvas covered
platform and twenty--foot ring. The
owner came to Montana abou,
six years ago from Bismarck where
house. He and Palmer worked for Eugen.
Meyer at the old road house. This was
Toole's first season at the present place, fol
! which he had n ten years. lease. He was
unmarried but has relatives. in st. Paul
He was "a years old. The coroner
placed two men i'll charge of the house last
night hut it is not known what will be done
with the property until Toole's relative,
are heard from.