The record-union., 1891-06-09
PHILIP PEYRAN'S DEATH.
No Question But that 1t was Case
of Murder.
The Presence of the Bulldog Possibly
Accounted For-The Affair
Still in Mystery.

In the absence of Coroner Clark, JUS
tice of the Peace Henry presided at the
inquiry held last evening into the death
of Philip Peyran, whose body was found
in the house burned on Sixteenth street
on Friday night last, the circumstances
of which We're told in the RECORD UNION
of Saturday morning.
The examination of witnesses was con-
Quoted by District Attorney Ryan.
George w. Fitzpatrick testified that de-
ceased was born in Villesacht, France,
the baptismal record in the possession of
deceased's daughter.
Andrew Thompson testified to having
seen Peyran on Friday night at witness
house, 1908 III street, where he had lived
for several years :on that night, however,
he went to stop at Olsen's house.
II. NJ. LaRue, Jr., testified that on Fri
day night he was awakened by a loud
noise in the rear Of his place, and on look
ing out saw a sheet of flame burst from
Olsen's house. He called to Olsen, but
got no answer, then ran and turned III an
alarm, and then fastened to the burning
house. When he first heard the noise
referred to he also heard dog barking in
Olsen's lot and found the dog there when
ne reached the place. 1t was a white
bulldog. Witness broke open window
and called out in loud voice, thinking
that Olsen might be there. If there was
any person alive in the house he would
have heard witness in time to escape
The firemen had all departed when the
body was found. Deceased was found
lying on his back with his head near the
window; there was large wound on the
side of the head, from which the brain
seemed TO be ooZing. The dog referred to
was stranger in that neighborhood.
John Olsen, owner Of the burned house,
testified that he had been living alone
there. When the fire occurred he was in
San Francisco. On Sunday, week ago,
he spoke to Peyran about keeping a look
out for the house, and gave him the key
thereto, telling him he might sleep there
If he would. No other person had access
to the house
Officer Gibson testified that on Satur-
day forenoon he examined the burned
house and found no fallen timbers where
the body lay that could have injured any
person. Witness said he recognized the
bulldog found on the premises as belong
ing to K. j. Gordon, who keeps cigar
stand downtown. He was told by Cor
don that the dog had followed a tire-en-
gine of late in the afternoon and did not
return again that night. Witness thought
that was how the dog happened in that
neighborhood.
Deputy Coroner Clarence Clark testi-
| fed to having removed the body. 1t was
! found in the front room, and was lying
| diagonally across the room. There were
no timbers lying across it. Near the
| head were large Jumps of CONCEALED
| blood, which had been dried and hard
ened by the fire. There was wound on
| the head from which the brains had
oozed. Beneath the oilcloth on the floor
was found a quantity of blood in natural
condition. A piece of an undershirt was
| found with cuts in it, and dried blood
around the edges of the cuts; the sus-
penders of deceased also bore blood
stains; nickel watch, knife and match
| box were found in the ashes where the
| body lay, also few melted copper or
nickel coins. Apparently deceased was
| dressed when he died.
The fragments of clothing were ex-
| hibited by witness. and the blood-clots
and cuts in them could be plainly distin-
| guished.
The key to the rear door of the house
| was found under the body 1t was identi-
| fed by Mr.. Olsen.
| The watch was found to have stopped at
| twenty-eight minutes before II O'clock,
midnight.
r. J. Gordon testified that the dog in
charge of the police and which was found
at the fire, belonged to him. 1t has a
habit of following fire engines and pro-
cessions, and ran away late on Friday af-
ternoon after one of the fire engines. and
did not return that night. All the per-
sons who frequent witness place We're
well known to the dog, and he would fol-
| low them when called. On Friday wit
ness did not see the dog with any person.
Captain of Police Lee testified that he
did not arrive at the Olsen place until the
body had been placed in coffin, The
dog had made several attempts to get
into the building: witness had never
noticed the dog at other fires. A man
somewhat under the influence of liquor
was at the fire, and was arrested on sus-
plclon, but witness was satisfied he had
nothing to do with it.
The report of City Physician Nichols.
who made post mortem examination of
the body, was read, describing the condi-
| ton Of the body. He stated that there
were several wounds on the head, the
skull being fractured in number of
places. The appearance Of the wounds
and the fragments Of clothing, the nu-
merous blood stains, and the absence of
timbers about the body, all point to the
conclusion that the deceased was muir
dered before the body was burned.
The jury returned verdict to the eff
feet that deceased's name was Philip Pew
ran, and that he came to his death from
wounds inflicted by some person or per-
sons to the jury unknown.