The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1894-10-02

Another has been added - Guthrie's
comparative long list ofmurders, with
the difference however, that most all
of the murders heretofore committed
in this city have been openly done
upon the streets while about this one
hangs at present veil Of deep mys-
terry which the officials have not as
yet been able to dissipatc.
II was we'll along toward dusk on
Sunday afternoon when William
Markwood and two young ladies who
were boat riding on the Cottonwood
were Mortified to discover human
body in the water about three. quar-
ters of a mile north of the city. As
they rowed along one of the oars
struck the corpse and caused it to
move and come partly to the surface.
They at once repaired to j. B. Mays
and received assistance and returning
removed the body from the water and
then came to town and notified the
police.
City Marshal Baxter aud Officer Bas-
sett with others at once repaired TO
the scene, brought the body to the
city and toelS 1t TO the office of Justice
Adams. acting coroner, who decided 70
hold an inquest at once.
The body proved to be that of Frank
Ledgers, a young Englishman, who
came 10 this city about two and half
months ago, coming direct from Buck
ingham, England. He was distant
relative of the wife of W. II. Thorne,
OF Division street, and had made his
home with them since coming here.
He had worked for Coyle & Smith and
at several other places but a week ago
had rented the room recently occupied
by the Racket store on Oklahoma ave-
nue. and fitted it up for a meat mar
ket.which he, contemplated opening
this week. Thorne, who conducts a
real estate and loan Office over Ram
says dry goods store, states that
Ledger did not come home Friday
night and lac was ont looking for him
Saturday and Sunday with MIR. Seely
bat could find no traces of him. w.
l.. Carver, the plumber, who knew
Ledgers well, thinks however that he
saw him on the street Saturday morn
ing.
After the corpse was taken to Justice
Adams office Sunday evening DIR.
Charles Smith stripped the body and
made Il thorough examination OF it,
finding no bruises, marks or abra sions
whatever beyond slight discolora-
tion low down upon one side of the
neck. Some blood was oozing from
the nose but this had been caused by
the blow from the boat oar and the
dragging Of the body from the river.
DR. Pinquard later laid back the scalp
from the skull but no injury to the
skull or brain could be found. A
thorough examination OF the whole
body by both physicians failed to
show any signs of outward violence or
of drug action Of any kind, but the
condition of the lungs and tissues Of
the body demonstrated beyond
doubt that the young man was dead
before the body entered the water
which completely explodes the theory
OF suicide which was at first advanced
by many, The redness of the blood in
the veins and arteries of the body also
indicated that death had taken place
within of forty-eight hours.
After the examination of the body.
witnesses were called, but up to 1880
o'clock Sunday night nothing had
been elected TO throw any light upon
the manner of the young mans taking
off
The jury was again convened Mon
day morning and remained in session
all day, adjourning at night until this
morning, when the inquest will be con
tinued.
Much of the day yesterday was spent
in running down various rumors,
chief among which was one that the
yonng man was present on Friday
night at negro resort in the south
part of town, when two negroes cut
each other in quarrel oyer a girl,
and had helped separate the combat
ants. IL was at once the belief OF
many that he had met foul play at
this place. Some of the inmates state