The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-08
The Proprietor Of the Helena Cafe
Suddenly Expires Of Heart
Disease.
His Death Came Without a Word
Of Warning to His
friends.
He Leaves = Wife and Three Children
His LILO Well Insured-The
Funeral.

One of the saddest occurrences in Helens
for q long time was tho sudden and I'M.
timely death last night Of James Roger.
He was the proprietor of the Helens
Cafe, a restaurant only recently establish
ed. On account of Mr.. Rogers popular.
ity the place enjoyed probably the largest
and best patronage in the city. Mr.. Roger
seemed to be always on hand to care for hi
guests, and every one Of them looked upou
him as = personal friend, took a great in
terest in his welfare and there is probably
not a person who knew him that did not
love Jim" Roger for his kindly bearing
and manly qualities.
It was therefore a great shock to the
community when he dropped dead last
evening about seven O'Clock in his restau-
rant. He was a man of short, heavy stat
ure, quiet and u~nassuming. lie Was in the
act of making change for a guest and in
dulged in some trivial pleasantly with j.
p. McCabe, who occupied a seat at a table
sions from his throat as if something was
choking him, and the next instant dropped
to the floor. The restaurant was crowded
with people at the time and half a dozen
rushed to Nj. Rogers assistance. It was
only a second until it was known on the
outOCV IN q kt0hU CIOWu u DeODIG
surged to the scene. Drs. Head and
Steele were hastily summoned. while willing
n applied such remedies as suggested
themselves. An electric battery was secured
and the eyes and muscles of the face con-
tracted from the effects Of the powerful
But no; 1t was only the electricity that
caused the facial movements. The eyes
bore a deadly glimmer, the body rapidly
cooled and at 7:15 DR.. Steele pronounced
him dead.
Heart failure is the cause assigned.
no been feeling we'll for the past month.
Whether heart disease was the cause of
death will not be definitely determined I'M
til to-day when the inquest will be held.
All business was Immediately suspended
at the restaurant and the windows were
draped with curtains. The body was re-
moved to one OF the private boxes and
tenderly laid out. Coroner Rockman sum-
moned a jury, which. after viewing the
body adjourned until 1890 this morning at
the court house. Undertaken Flaherty took
charge of theb body.
The task Of breaking the news to the
wife and children was not a pleasant one,
and it was with sorrowful reluctance that
Mr.. August Fack and a friend, accompanied
by Mrs. Fack, related the worst to the
Rrief-stricken wife,. She has three young
children. Charley aged nine, and two
k1Il6, one ABOUT tnreo ana the other
a baby one year old. Mr.. Roger was about
40 years of age and was a prominent mem
ber. of the Odd Fellows lodge. He leaves
his family fairly we'll provided for. His
friends say he carried $4,000 life insurance
$4,000 with the Odd Fellows Insurance
association at Galesburg, ILL.,, and $1,000 at
Piqua, Ohio. He was insured with the A.
0. U. w. until recently, and drew out be-
cause he thought he was carrying too much
insurance. His business here was good and
was just reaching a point where he was
making money. He was u Canadian by
nent family. His brother is government
printer of the Dominion. No arrangements
have yet been made for the funeral, but 1T
will be handled by the Odd Fellows ana
will take place Monday afternoon.
For fully ar hour after the sad occur
renee people swarmed around the restaur-
ant. and many sincere expressions of regret
were heard.