The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-18
w tn KA1 IL IKAIN
Mysterious Death of an
Unknown.
HE DIED ON THE STREET.
Cerebral Hemorrhage Caused His
Death.
HAD BEEN ON A LONG SPREE
The Police Mystified as to the Mans
Identity and How He Got
His Injuries.

Upon the slab in the Morgue which is
set apart for the unidentified dead is the
body of a middle-aged man, whose death
is shrouded in mystery. While there are
no evident signs OF deliberate murder the
indications are that the man died from the
result of wounds received in fight with
somebody.
The man was first found yesterday
morning about o'clock on Harrison
etreei. between Seventh and Eighth. He
was first seen by boy named William
Shelley, who lives at II Chesley street.
The latter SAW the man staggering alOng
the south side of Harrison street, going in
the direction OF Eighth.
When near Hayward street, small
alley running off Harrison, the mans hat
fell off and he made an effort to pick it up.
In doing so he staggered forward and
finally fell to his knees. The boy went to
his assistance. thinking he was drunk, and
got his hat for him.
AS he did so the man murmured: 81 AIN
sick, take me to the saloon" AS he said
this he pointed toward a saloon on the
other side of Harrison street. 1t was out
of the question for the boy to help him in
any way. as while he was speaking the
man fell completely over on the sidewalk.
Mrs. Werner, who lives at Harvard
street, and w. B. Mexican of 2071a Lang
ton street. who was passing at the time,
assisted the man to nearby step. The
Shelley boy lett then, and C. j. Taggar:,
who lives at 1l49 Harrison street. stOpp ID
to assist Mexican. The man, however,
who had been helped to the step was dead
On - hn hnr Tod ttln ufr
search of an officer and met Policeman
Whalen. to whom he told the facts.
Officer Whalen al once notified the Coro-
ner aud the body was removed to the
Morgue. There, after a hasty examina-
ton of the body. 1t was deemed necessary
to investigate the case. The body pre-
sented a sorry spectacle. Both of the
dead mans eyes were blackened, his fore
head had the marks of severe bruises on
it and there were blood stains around the
mouth. A search through the steel
blue suit which the dead man had on re-
vealed nothing which would show his
identity. In his vest pocket was a cheap
nickel watch attached to a brass chain
and in his necktie was Masonic pin. He
wore a soft black hat and a neglige whi;e
shirt with small black stripe through it.
His clothing were not much worn and his
appearance generally was that of a man
who was in fairly good circums ances.
Deputy Coroner Carew and Policeman
Whalen made an effort to find some clew
10 the mans identity as we'll as to the cir
cumstauces under which he received the
injuries which il was thought were the
cause of his death. Inquiry in all the
neig hbOring saloons and resorts failed to
show that the man was known In any of
them, or that there had been any trouble
whereby he might have come by the dis
figuring marks upon his face. Many of
the saloup-keepers and residents viewed
the body, but could not recognize it as
that Of any one whom they had ever seen.
Late yesterday afternoon Dr. f. x.
Emerson made an autopsy upon the body.
and reported that the cause of death was
cerebral hemorrhage. The wounds, he
said, which had hlackened the mans eyes
aud caused the abrasions upon his FORE
head were two or three days old, but they
probably brought on the cerebral affection
which resulted In sudden death. There
was every indication that the man had
been on prolonged spree. ana that dissi-
patton was also material factor in bring
ing about his death.
The mystery comes in as to how the
man came by his injuries and who and
what he is. 1t is not thought that he was
engaged in any row in the vicinity as
some of the people living around would
know of IL if he had. The police think
that the man while drunk got into some
saloon fracas either on the water front or
In that neighborhood and received the
worst of it.
The injuries which he received were in
filcted by some ones fists. They show no
evidence of any instrument having been
USED.
While the blows may have caused the
cerebral hemorrhage, DR.. Emerson also
says that the man may have had a sudden
attack of apoplexy. or his death may have
been the result OF physical exhaustion,
brought on by the stimulants he had drunk
while on the spree.
The police, however, are still investi-
eating the case, and it is thaught that to-
day some of the deceased's Mas chic friends
may Identify him.