The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-05
HE WAS FOUND DEAD.
James NJ. Lewis Supposed to Have Beer
Dragged.

Dragged.
James Lewis. an old soldier, died last
evening in blacksmith shop near the
corner of Main street and Central ave
hue.
Mr.. Lewis was taken from the black
smith shop to the home Of his sister,
Mrs Worrell, 1919 North Waco avenue
and was supposed to be drunk but when
he was taken in the house was found 10
be dead.
Coroner McCollister was notified and
went to the house and he and Dr. For
dyce made an examination and came TO
the conclusion that the man died or
over stimulation.
Upon searching Lewis pockets moth
ing could be found except a pocket
knife and a new shaving brush. Mr..
Worrell was very much surprised at
this as Lewis had left the house in the
morning with a check for $50.
1t was suggested that he had been
GrugSed and robbed and MessrS Nc
Collister and Fordyce agreed that there
was a peculiar odOr from the mans
mounth which in their opinion was
caused by drugs Of some kind or very
bad whisky. This was corroborated by
the fact that neither money nor check
was found on the body.
Somebody suggested that the man
was not dead but all tests which could
be applied indicated that he was dead.
A mirror was held in front of mis- mouth
to ascertain if the lungs were acting.
This is considered a sure test but SHOW
ed that life was extinct.
After finishing their investigation
Undertaken Dunbar was telephoned AMI
he took the body to his establishment on
North Main street. He was instructed
not to embdlm the body as there was
a possibility that he still lived, though
everything pointed to his death.
Coroner McCollister was seen by an
Eagle reporter at Mr.. Dunbar's office.
He said that while he was satisfied that
life was extinct it is better not to run
any chances and for that reason did
not have the body embalmed. When
asked his opinion concerning whether
Lewis was Grugged and robbed Mr.. Nc
Collister said:
'.In my opinion there is no doubt Of
the mans being robbed. He went down
town for the purpose of cashing the
check and although We do not know
where it was caShed ] am satisfied that
it was cashed because in searching the
body new shaving brush was found
in his pocket. His relatives state that
he had no money when he went down
town and he could not have purcha sed
4
sufficient evidence to prove that he got
the check cashed. When we went through
his clothes we could not find a cent of
money
Yesterday morning Lewis started to
town to get his pension check cashed
1t is supposed that after getting the
money he had concluded to have a lit
tie spree all by himself and a colored
man named Banks stated that he saw
him in a joint yesterday morning. Lew
is went into a blacksmith shop near the
corner of Main and Central yesterday
about o'clock and sat down. The men
in the shop Supposing that he was
drunk did not say anything TO him and
he went to sleep. When they went
to close up the shop at s o'clock ne
was still asleep and they did not think
he was in a tit condition to go home
alone and so ordered a buggy from
Ed Cones livery stable on North Main.
Cone went up in q buggy to the shop
and when he arrived asked the ques-
ton as he dead?" to which he got a neg
alive answer. Lewis was still supposed
to be sleeping when he was put into the
buggy and the negro, Banks, offered
to go along with Mr.. Cone to hold
Lewis in the buggy, which PROPOSE
ton was accepted.
When they arrived at the house 1919
North Waco avenue where Mr.. Lewis
had lived with his sister and her bus
band James A. Worrell, Cone and Banks
carried the man into the house and laid
him on the bed. Mr.. Cone then took
off his gloves and laying his hand on
Lewis forehead. came to the startling
conclusion that life was extinct. After
satisfying himself that such was the
case, he announced to the surprised
people who were in the room that Mr..
Lewis was dead. The negro'S face
turned white as possible and for a few
moments nothing could be heard or
done for the excitement that prevailed.
When he had partly quieted the friends
he left, saying that he would send the
coroner up, Just as soon as he could see