The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-09-02
M0RToN'S WORK.
His Employer Believes His Death
Was Not Due to Eating
Fruit.

There seems to be no doubt but the
death of William Morton. of No. State
street, who died Wednesday August 2S.
was caused by Asiatic cholera. Sub
stantial evidence was CLEANED by JER.
sEY CITY NEWS reporter last night from
Mr.. Abijah E. Bodine, Of the firm OF
Bodine & Hutcheon. by whom Morton was
employed. Bodine q Hutcheon conduct
a large produce business in West WASH
ington Market, New York. Their number
is No. 26 Lawton avenue. Mr.. Bodiue
was found at his residence at No. 277
Clermonr avenue, Brooklyn. last night.
A drizzling rain made things outside
gloomy anu uncomfortable. Inside Mr..
Bodine's residence, however, quite
pleasing contrast greeted the reporter,
VINO had became well oampened BY the
saturated atmosphere outside.
Mr.. Bodine was perfectly willing to
tell all he knew about Morton's case. He
spoke of the man in high terms AS to his
reliability and capabllity in the fruit
business, The reporter asked Mr.. Bodins
il he had the least suspicion whatever
that Morton died of cholera.
= YES" he answered. Il have" He then
contiuued;-
: -"Ihe first intimation had of Merton's
sickness was on Tuesday morning, August
~. | generally reacn my Cft1ce ABOUT
twelve O'Clock. Ibid SO on that day,
aud when arrived one of my employees
told me that Mr.. Smith, brother-in-law
OF Morton's, had called in the morning
early. My man told me that Mr.:
Smith, who is the man whose wife died
Of supposed cholera, seemed to
be in great anxiety over Morton. He said
that early on that Tuesday morning Nor
ton had suddenly become sick. He had
a severe diarrnoa. Smith said. He want
ed me TO go over to Jersey City and see
Morton. When reached my office I was
given that information just AS have told
it TO you,
MoRToN's SYMPTOMS.
1.-The driver OF truck in a stall near
mine in the market was personally ac-
quainted with Morton. As soon as I
heard of Morton's predicament 1 asked
the driver to go over and see Nor
ton, / being unable to make con-
nections. The driver. whose name
have forgotten, went out
This. remember, was on the 22i. When
he came back l inquired how Morton
was. Mr.. Bodine,' he answered. reflect
lively, Bill Is a sick man, l never saw
such change in SO short time in
| man. Poor Bill, I don't know what it
can be- l questioned the man further
and he said that Morton's eyes were
sunken far In his head, aud he had
vacant stare. The flesh, he said. had
| changed TO a dark color, repulsive In
| appearance. Smith said to my workman
when he came that Morton had cholera.
He did not say this in a jocular way, but
| appeared to thoroughly believe 1t. l mSs
| self believed it, from the description
given by the driver and Smiths decided
| opinion"
| Mr.. Bodine, in answer to q question. If
| Morton was addicted to drinking heavily.
| answ ered:-
He was not. 1 suppose he used to
| take glass occasionally. but he never
] left his work to do it,"
| do you think that the cholera germs
| could in any conceivable way have been
contracted in the marEet?"
| Decidedly not. There is never an
overripe piece of fruit in our market.
| The West Washington market is the
cleanest 10 the city in respect TO that"
do you suppose that the germs might
have been conveyed from the foreign
| fruit you handle"
"Well, as we handle no foreign fruit
| 1don'r really see how 1t could. No,
am convinced thKt he did not get the
| germs from our market; IN fact, might
| say know 1t positively"
How do you suppose he got the dis
ease. then?"
Don't know" was the curt reply.
| Mr.. Bodine further said that Morton
seldom ate any fruit, and when he did it
| was, so far as he knew, always 10 the
| best condition. All the fruit which ia
| handled Is kept at the longesL only day.
| Large consignments come in at night,
and are sent out TO retail dealers the next
DAY."
Then you think, Mr.. Bodine." asked