The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-09
FOUND DEAD.
John Mcdonald an Old Soldier,
Died Alone
In Little Room on East Sew
enth Street.
THROUGH A KEYHOLE
The JanitOr Saw McDOnald's
Body Lifeless.
Drew 81, 500 In Back Pensions
a Few Years Ago.

In a dilapidated little room on the
third story of the building at ia East
Seventh street, John Mcdonald, well
known old soldier of this city was
found dead at 10 O'Clock this morning
It is supposed that his death occurred
some time during the night and was
due to heart failure with which he was
a sufferer for years. No one was with
him at the time. as ne lived alone, and
his last visitor left there about o'clock
yesterday evening.
Mcdonald has been i'll for the past six
weeks and was told by his physician a
few days ago that he could not possibly
get we'll. The heart trouble was COM
plicated with asthma and this rendered
breathing, especially during the last few
days, extremely difficult For this rea-
son he kept one or more of the windows
of his room open even during the cold
est nights. one of the windows was
found open this morning and the cold
air of last night had impaired a blush
tinge to the dead body
Frank Savage the iauit0r of the
building at ia East Seventh street was
the first to make the discovery that Nc
Donald was dead. a bout o'clock ne
went to the room for the purpose or
making the fire, as was his usual Gus
tOm but he found the door still locked
He called Mcdonald by mans, but re-
ceived no answer, and thinking that the
{
away In about half an hour he re-
turned, and this time pounded on the
door, at the same time calling .McDon-
AIDS name. There was no answer from
within the room, and Savage stopped
down and peered through the key hole
He could see McDonalds form lying
mOtionless on the bed, and he at once
| concluded that the man was dead
Savage then went in search of an of
| ficer, and met Patrolman Henry Aye
near the corner of Seventh and Kansas
/ and Savage gained entrance by climbing
! over transOm. He then found that his
/ conclusion was correct, as Mcdonald
] was dead.
The body was lying on the right side
on the edge of a small bed in one corner
of the room, and to all appearances the
man had expired while setting into bed
/ The clothes were thrown back and with
/ the exception of the right leg the body
/ remained uncovered. The left arm was
thrown across the breast and the right
/ hand was held against the face. IL is
! supposed that Mcdonald had expert
/ enced a choking or smothering sensa-
I ton, and had left the bed and walked
/ to the window in the hope that the air
would revive him. He had just lain
down on his return to the bed when
| death overlook him.
Mcdonald was about so years of age.
! and had resided in this city for the past
/ ten years. He came here form Ken
/ lucky and so far as known has no rel-.
4 atives in Kansas. He worked at the
!
I Lindsey was proprietor, and also work
/ ed for J. w. StOker. Some years ago
/ he secured a position as brakeman on
/ the Santa Fe. but was engaged in this
work but short time until he was
| stricken with paralysis and lay ser
| iOusly i'll for several weeks The only
| work he is known to have done after
recovering from the stroke of paralysis
/ was tending horses a t the fair grounds
1 in this city during the summer months
Mcdonald is an old soldier and re-
/ ceived a pension of So per month.
/ When his pension was allowed some
/ FIVE or six years ago. he was also grant
/ is thought that this amount he sQuan-
/ dered. He is said to have been a hard
! drinker, and would invariably go on a
spree after each quarterly payment of
/ pensions.
There were no letters found on his
clothing this morning which offered
any information in reference to his re-
| latiOns. 1t is understood. however. that
4 he has relatives residing in Kentucky.
and an effort viii be made to find and
notify them of his death. A ladys
watch was found under the mattress
| of his bed, and 65 cents i'm money in
one of his pockets. Coroner Westerfeld
/ has charge of the body.
Mcdonald has resided in the room in
/ which he died for the past two years
/ He kept bachelors quarters and cooked
| his own meals. During his illness ne
4 had no regular attendant. and depend
! ed upon the assistance of his friends
among whom were several old soldiers.
Many people who did not know Nc
/ Donald by name knew him by sight
/ He had peculiar manner of continual
I " shaking his head due to the stroke
/ of paralysis. which made him partfcu-
/ larly noticeable.