The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-10
WAS HE MURDERED?
Dan McKenzie's Mysterious
Death a Puzzle.
coRoNER's JURY SAYS HE WAS.
Evidence Disproves the Train AccIdens
Theory-Drunk on the Night He
Was Killed.


The inquest over the remains of Dan
Mckenzie, rho was found IN n cabin az
the corner of Commercial and King
streets Tuesday morning. was held at
Bonney & Stewards yesterday afternoon.
| There were no startling Developments. but
the jury considered the evidence sufficient
20 return verdict of murder by unknown
persons.
The first witness was Joe Baker, the
coal shoveler who found the body. He
said the shack in which Mckenzie lay was
formerly occupied By Dan Mahoney as
cigar store. The day before. workmen
had commenced TO take 1t down. The
windows had been taken out and put in
side. and the door had been removed from
its hinges. He did not notice traces of
any one having crawled from the pool of
blood north of the tack to the house.
Near the door was a second pool of blood.
Police Patrol Driver Frank B. Johnston
stated that he looked at the mans wounds
and was impressed with the idea that the
cuts on the hands and wrist had been made
with knife during row.
d. +. Noble, city jailer, said Mckenzie
lay about seven feet from the door, paral-
lei with il. head to the south. A couple of
glasses in the windows that were in the
house had been broken. It was possible
for Mckenzie to have cut himself on the
glass.
K. c. Griffith, policeman, testified that
from the looks of things Mckenzie had
moved about the room. There was blood
on the broken glass. He could not find
traces of his having crawled into the house,
although there were two pools of blood.
one near the track, the other in front of
the door. In the house there were four
pools of blood.
W. III. Johnson. q laborer, said he met
Mckenzie Monday night at IL O'clock on
King street, near South Third. Mckenzie
fell down on the track, but got up again,
refusing aid from johnson. On returning
home later Johnson met Mckenzie on
King street, near Commercial. He was
apparently very drunk.
A. J. Erisman, the Lake Shore yardmas-
ter. testified that if Mckenzie had lain
where the blood was found, near the rail,
he would not have been touched by any
train that came in or went out after IL
O'Clock. The blood was not near the main
line. but on the switch from the broad TO
the narrow gauge track From what he
AhcN "a dCClQtnLs, the Injuries 10
Mckenzie were not of that class. He did
not notice any bolt. pin. link or stone that
Mckenzie might have fallen on.
After a half hours elaboration the Jury
returned the following verdict:
Eve. the undersigned coroner's jury in
the case OF one supposed to be Dan Nc
kenzie, from the evidence do find, TO the
best of our knowledge and belief, that he
came to his death by injuries received at
the hands of some persons unknown to US.
m. VI. TEATER Foreman.
III. A. BENSON.
&c. Il. BATEMAN
GEORGE t HARDIN.
IN. J. CALDWELL.
20. j. TREEN."
Coroner Horton said the verdict was in
accordance with his belief He thought
Mckenzie had been ''sandbagged.
Deputy Coroner Green would listen to no
other theory than murder. He believes
the cuts on McKenzie's hands and arms to
have been made with knife.
4 peculiar thing about the affair is the
long-contiaCed delay in learning some
thing about Mckenzie. who he is, where
he came from and who his friends are.
OF the latter the only one known is Matt
Bell, who came from Monte Cristo with
Mckenzie. The next day Bell fell vic
tim TO the bunko men on IAN ace full'' for
$780, On the next boat he went TO San
Francisco. Mckenzie had a silver watch.
l.. X. Tatro, proprietor of the Alaska
hotel. saw him have it. 1t was not on his
body and has never been found. although
q part OF his watch chain was dangling
from his vest.
Coroner Horton thinks he may learn
something more of Mckenzie from Ever
EFT, as J. G. Mitchell sent a communication
yesterday asking if Mckenzie was bridge
carpenter and Odd Fellow. Such person
bearing the name of Mckenzie went from
Everett to Monte Cristo.
Mr.. Tatro said last night that he saw
Mckenzie have an |. o. O. f. card. Where
it Is now no one knows.
When Chief of Police Jackson heard the
result of the inquest he Vas astonished
and made no effort TO conceal il. why"
said he, what evidence was there that
justified such a conclusion? Uuless some
thing was brought ont that | have not
heard of il seems TO me ridiculous. Ey-
ervthing points 20 accidental death, The
cuts on his arms and hands could have
been made by the broken glass in the
shack. There was blood on the glass 10
sustain this opinion. The triangular cut
on his cheek could haze been made By the
corner of car. He moved about in the
shack. he could have walked or staggered
toward 1t. Death was not sudden, accord
ing 10 the autopsy. For myself. can't
see any motive for killing him. OF course,
now that the verdict has been rendered.
We will investigate further. but unless
something extraordinary develops | can
not be made to believe a murder was COM
mitted."
The fact that McKenzie's hat was run
over by the cars does not appear TO have
been considered by the grand jury.
Don't mis-. TIE 25o chicken lunch a. tas Royal