The herald., 1894-12-10
NEVER RECLAIMED HIS SENSES,
Death of the Helena Merchant
From Morphine.
He Lay Unconscious for Nearly
Three Days.
Joseph Conrad Was . Brother of the
Prosecutor in the DIR. Graves
Murder Csse-ipqusst
To-day.

Joseph 81. Conrad, the Helena mer-
chant. died in the receiving hospital at
8 o'clock last evening, from morphine
taken with suicidal intent. 1t was the
third and last attempt by the desperate
man.
Six months ago Conrad bought his
family to Los Angeles from Montana
hotel. The family consisted of the wife
and two pretty little children, the very
image of their mother.
Conrad was at one time wealthy
commission merchant of the Montana
capital, where his brother, John H.. is
now engaged in business. He met with
many reversss and came west in a vain
endeavor to again build up in worldly
goods.
He had not been in this city long
when he became more or less despon-
dent ever his failure TO rise or make
more than living. He met men
whom but few could associate with
without drinking or gambling. yet con-
sidering his surroundings and acquain.
tances, Conrad was hearty, liberal and
good man. His heartbroken wife says
he never drank, that if he did she never
knew it. He WAS always a good hus-
band.
Soon afte. Conrad's arrival in the city
from his northwestern home he became
despondsnt, and on two occasions at
tempted suicide. He barely recovered
from the second attempt. for he took
enough morphine to have killed three or
four men. Prompt work by the physi-
clans saved him.
Last Thursday night, or perhaps early
Friday morning, Conrad engaged a
room at the Reed house, on First street,
between Main and Los Angeles, and re-
marked to the landlady that he was
suffering from asthma. This WAS evil
IDENTITY dodge which the landlady
needed not. He had left home as usual
in the morning and no sign of despond.
ency was noticed by bis wife.
About IL O'Clock of Friday the land
lady of the Reed house heard unusually
heavy breathing in Conrad's room. An
investigation further aroused her eus-
picion, and with assistance she burst
open the door. The despondent man
was lying in bed, undressed. bottle
half filled with morphine stood upon the
table by the bedside. That told tne
story.
The apparently dying man was re-
movet to the receiving hospital, where
Police Surgeon Bryant worked night and
day to save him. Late Friday night
Conrad OF course failed to go home and
his vile became uneasy. A friend found
him at the hospital and told the wife
the whoie circumstances. Saturday
morning she went to mis- side and re-
mained with him until he died. Her
devotion was remarked by all, and when
he gasped the last time Last evening she
broke down and cried like child. Her
grief was pitiable in the extreme.
Conrad never regsned consciousness
and wes exactly 56 hours in more or less
agony. He leaves three brothers in the
east and northwest. His brother John
in Helena was the proaecutor OF DR..
Graves, who was sentenced to hang in
Denver for poisoning Mrs. j. K. Barna-
by. A juror in the Graves case. B.
Grubb Of 3l3 West Seventh street, this
city, identified the deceased ae the Con-
rad OF Helena who was mixed up in the
celebrated case, bat he was wrong.
Coroner Gates will hold an inquest on
the body today.