Morning journal and courier., 1893-04-03
AsPHIxIArEp IN A HOTEL.

A Guest at the Globe Found Dead In |
Red Yesterday Nor nfnE-He ReGfs-
tered as John Comminzs, but the
Name Was Probably Fictitious
While Drunk He Probably Turned
ON the Gas-No Clue to His Identity.
John Commings, aged forty-aix years,
was found dead In bed In his room In the
Globe hotel yesterday morning, about
o'clock, his death being caused by as
phixiation. Late Saturday night, about
11:30 O'Clock, Commings went into the
hotel in an intoxicated condition and was
assigned to room IS. He WIS 30 much
under the influence of liquor that he was
unable to write his name on the register,
and this act was performed ct his dicta-
ton, by the night clerk Of the hotel,
James Burns.
Commiugs was then shown to his room
by the clerk, who lighted the gas for him,
turning the cock on about half way. Be-
fore leaving him the clerk asked him If he
understood how to turn off tho gas and
received an affirmative answer. he then
went down stairs and thought no more Of
the drunken man in room 10.
EARLY yesterday morning, about
o'clock while Clerk Burns was calling
some of the guests of the hotel, he no
ticed a strong smell of gas and traced 1t Il
the room occupied by Commings. The
door of the room was locked but the clerl
managed to get 1t opened by means of hi
duplicate pass key and found the room
filled with gas and Commings dead on thu
bed. Commings had thrown himself OF
the eide of the bed after throwing off bill
overcost and urdercoat and when discov
cred had his boots, trousers and q cardi
gan jacket on. DR.. Stephen ]. Maher o
Orange street was at once summoned t.
the scene and worked over the man To-
over an hour but without success.
| Medical Examiner White was then called
and after an investigation pronounced
death due to asphyxiation and ordered tn
removal of the body to Cox & Henzs'
undertaking establishment. The body wa
removed, but up to late hour last nigh
had not been claimed by any of his rels
tives or friends.
When Commings entered the hotel snt
| registered he gave his residence as thi
city, but 1t is not believed that he live
here. He was, 1t is thought, a Joiner, q
several nails used in that business wer
found in his pockets. He is about Eve an,
one-half feet in height, wore rubber boots
1 AAAAcA SA0y bAouSoAby Sokoikah JhcACs uh'
dark coat and overcoat There were n,
papers in his possession which gave an
clue to his identity. The coroner was nc
tilted, and will hold an inquest to-day. /
is believed that the name given by the ma
| was fictitious one.
The room occupied by the victim was
small one, being 8 by 10 feet and about
feet in height and is nearly air-tigh!
there being no trAnsom over the doc,
When the man was found the window wa
| tightly closed and the gas turned on sbou
half way. At first 1t was thought that th
man had committed suicide, but after th
Investigation it is thought that Commin
while in q drunken condition turned ii
gas off, extinguishing the light and the
accidentally turned the gas cock half wa
on again.
II The dire Glory fails to record the nam
| of anyone the same as that given by Il
a | man and 1t Is therefore believed that /
did not reside in this city.