The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-20
HIS Love TO GRETCHEN.
Otto Hanneman Undoubtedly Took
Poison in . Fit Of Mel
Anoholia.
Evidence Before the Coroner's
Jury Did Not Show Any
Cause Of Death.
Letter 10 His Brother. Fouud After the
Inquest. Throws Some AddisienaS
Light ON the Case.

Coroner Plsasnnts and . jurv ysateTday
held an inquest on the body Of Otto Han.
nsman, the mar picked mp on The west side
by Officer Smith, Sunday night, and who
died bsfors he could be taken 10 police
headquarters Owing 70 ths peculiar or
cumstances attending tho mans death no
coroner decided TO have . post mostsm ~
animation Of the body. D.. Barbour being
called 10 perform that dnty. Az shs nsas.
ing Dr.. Barbour testified that % = fssuls ot
his examination hs had found nothing thas
he could attribute positively - the eaass
Of death. The hssTt wns found pesfscsIy
hsalthy and the liver and blood we're ALSO
In good condition. he found there had
been intense congestion Of the stomach.
This might have caused death. and the con-
Rsstion might have resulted from alcohol
ism. He said there WAS nothing to indi-
cate death from poison. though an analysis
Of the contents Of the stomach might show
the presence OF poison.
Officer Smith told about meeting Hanns.
man At 11:8O. Hanneman was sitting on
the sidewalk on Ming street with his back 10
thu wall. Said The officer. u supposed he
was drunk, and asked him what hs vsss do.
ing there. He said he was siok. ! tried 20
got him on his feet and asked him whore he
lived; he said dawn town, at the Central
Beer hall. He said he wal stiff al over.
got a hack and whom " put hin in The
hack there was life in him. but be did not
speak. When we rot 10 the station he vas
dead, He told mo he did not know how he
got to the place whore I found him. and
did not know what was the matter with
him, He Dried some. but did not sesm to
10 suffering any pain. There was no
laborsa b,sathins .as be .,. t.'k re- p p q,
carriage to the station. and I do not think
he was conscious at any time during the
time"
Grant Gordon, the hickman who
answe ed officer Smiths call. COZ oboraSsd
the lattet's testimony. ~ did Sergeant
Frey.
ID. +. Mckay. who had known Hanne.
man for about five months, testified that
the last time no saw Hanneman was about
$3.50 Sunday night in the Central beer ball.
He said the deceased had been drinking
some. bit vas not drunk that Just before
bottle OF water from the barkeepsr, saying
Ae was going to walk ont to Bloasburg.
where he was employed on . briokyark. and
ho might want q drink on the road. He then
shook hands with all his friends aud bade
them R%ood-by
The most important witness was John
Harter. Who testified that he had known
Hannemnn for five years. He said Hanns-
man would get on a spree for q day or two
and then 20 back to work. always being
sick aftsr u drunk. The last lime Harss.
O'Clock sunday night. in the Gem
t,al beer hall whore he got bottle
of water ON the bsrkceper and started
for BlossburQ. Hannsman went to Har-
tsr's cabin about four O'Clock Sunday morn
ing n staid there unit! noon. when he
Ter met him on tho street. Hanneman
was q little full and vas crying. II
asked him. continued the witness.
what he was crying about.
md he told me not to ask him n ques-
tions. never before knew him to not that
way. He had his handkerchief out all tho
time and was CRYING. He asked me to take
a walk. He told me he and his brother had
had words, about a loan OF ~ he asked
from his brother and which he said the lat
ter refused. He was very downheartsd.
but did not hint of suicide. He complained
of being sick on sunday"
Hannemnn's brother had been summoned
ma a witness but he did not appear. As
there was nothing to indicate foul play.
md the dead man had NOT intimatsd any
intention to kill himself. and the testimony
Of Dr.. Barbour did not show the cause Of
death. the jury rendered q verdict of death
from causes unknown to the jury.
The body was turned over to Undertaken
Flaherty. after the inquest. The latter OK
, mined the pockets In the mans clothing
md found the following letter. wilton in
German:
My Dear Brother: This respected letter
on you. ] pray you to give my best to your
friends and all others. am going to leave
all that is mine. Tell your wife my best
regards. Go and give my girl the news,
that l have loved her very much. My life
was n poor one. therefore, let me die. Bury
mo If you find me. Tell my relations about
it. Give my best regards to my best be-
loved Gretchen. f. Orro HANNEMAN."
Il would seem from the above that
Hanneman had taken poison OF some sort.