The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-19
DEATH ON THE FLATS.
Joseph A. SissOn Found Near
Washington Iron Works.
WHAT klLLEDHIMis NOT KNOWN.
Reported Alteration With Another
Mantle Had Bought Whisky-Cor-
oner's Card I'm His Pocket.


carpenter. aged about IS years, WIS found
on the tide flats about a block beyond the
Washington Iron Works at s.i5 o'clock
yesterday morning. From the condition
OF the body il was evident that It had been
in the water number OF hours. but how
10 got there is still a mystery. There IS
not a sign OF violence so far as can be
noticed, and the fact that the dead man
came 10 town 10 purchase a gallon or
whisky for Mrs. p. Lillis, OF the Hyde
Park house, may throw some light on the
cause OF death. Coroner Askam and Dep
uty Sheriff Tom McCory put in considera-
bic time investigating the case. but reach
ed no conclusion. II is known. however.
that they received information last even
ing that a man named Ed Lanphier. who
lives on Grant street bridge. made the
statement that he saw the dead man en-
gagged in an alteration with an unknown
man not far from where the body was
discovered
Sisson was a carpenter by trade and
made his home in the Duwamish precinct
south OF the city. His age is not known
exactly. but from his appearance II may
be judged that he was past 50. He wore
small iron gray mustache and chin
whiskers and his hair was thin on the
top OF his head. About a year ago his
wife died, and was buried here. Sisson
attended the funeral. but a matter of
fact had not been living with her for a
time. owing to matters OF a private ma
ture.
So far as known Sisson had no children
or other relatives In this state. When the
fancy took him he would come from HI.
home in Duwamish 10 town. II there wO
an election going on he would take some
interest in that. and do what he could for
his friends. He was acquainted with Mrs
Lillis. who keeps the Hyde Park house,
her husband having died a few weeks
ago. From discoveries made yesterday
by the coroner and McCory it appears
that he came TO town about o'clock in
the afternoon. and brought along dent-
john for the purpose of purchasing whis-
Ky for the hotel. Il Is stated at the bot
Ting works that ne stopped in there aboN
O'Clock and after ordering some Ice sent
TO the Hyde Park house continued his
journey to the city. He purchased the Ii
quor. as proved by a bin found in his
pocket. from the A p. Hotaling Company
for Mrs Iillis, and evidently started
homeward.
At this point the case become shrouded
in a mystery, which the inquest viii prob
ably clear up Flagman Norris, who is
on duty at the Grant street crossing, told
the coroner that he thought he saw Sis
son going home with the demijohn of
whisky about 3 or 800 O'Clock in the after
noon, but as the people at the hottling
works were positive in their statements
it Is thought Morris may have been mis-
taken as TO the direction Sisson was go
ing However that may be. at s:b o clock
yesterday morning. as John Coons, who
is employed at Bemiss' Saddlery Store, on
South Third street, was passing along the
bridge he saw the body OF a man close
TO the Grant street electric line trestie,
on the tide flats. The water being at low
tide had exposed the body. Word was
immediately sent to Coroner Askam. who
haf n
Deputy Sheriff McCory. The body was
there. but the distance down made secur-
ing it no easy matter. The coroner
scratched his head. and then suggested
that c. Blakney shiny down a pile.
The suggestion unexpectedly found favor
with Mr. Blakney and down he went.
making the trip in safety. A rope was at
tached 10 the body. and then Ii was haul
ed up The same rope hauled up Blak-
ney.
The following jury was Immediately i'm
paneIed: c.. 6. Donate j. NJ. Bruce, II.
McCollum. Nathan Anderson, j. a. Cos
tello and c.. VI. Butterworth. The inquest
was set for o'clock this afternoon at
Butterworth's undertaking rooms, after
which the jury was dismissed.
Slsson's body was examined last even
ing but no signs of violence could be dis
covered. His clothes were also looked
over but there was nothing 10 Indicate
that he was engaged I'm a scuft1e when he
went from the bridge or trestle into the
water In his pocket was lone nickel.
a few papers used by carpenters and
some cards with the following significant
inscription
For coroner. o p. Askam."
Add TO the above the whisky bill. and
the list is told So far no trace of the
demiiohn has been discovered. Ii was
generally supposed that Sisson had either
fallen off an electric car or the bridge,
but c. s Sherwood called at Butter
worth's undertaking rooms in the even
ing and stated that I'd Lanphier.
Northern Pacific car repairer. said he
saw Sisson quarrelng with some one on
the bridge. This OF course placed a new
nhasa on the case, and VIII necessitate
further investigation.
II IS said that Sisson has a wealthy
brother living at Sisson, Cal.
News reached the city last night from
the HYDE Park house that Sisson had been
working around the place and came TO
the city with the demijohu as previously
stated He never returned and they had
no idea what became Of the demijohn.
Deputy Sheriff McCory was AT work last
night on the clue about a quarrel.
kilograms We're sent by Butterworth TO
the dead mans brother at Sisson. Cal,
and hts son at Milwaukee, Wis The son
works for or Is a member OF the Golden
Eagle Clothing Company.