The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-17
'WHISKEY AND DEATH
Fred Anderson Ends His Spree By
Taking Strychnins.
HE SWALLOWED a. GRAINS
Dependency Brought on BY Ex-
cessive and Prolonged Drink
fng--He Died In His Lodging
Room = The Inquest.

Fred Anderson swallowed A grains of
strychnine yesterday morning about 10
o'clock. In less than one hour he was
dead. The body was found about II
O'Clock lying on the bed in his cabin.
which is in the block bounded by Com
mercial. Front, Alder and Birch streets.
A vial containing 10 grains of the drug
and note on the chair beside the bed
told the entire story. The note was to
his brother Aren, who roomed with him.
1t Is disconnected and rambling, written
in Swedish. 1t said: Dear Brother Aren
Nov l quit, the last day. Fred tough.
send my best regards to everybody knows
me and tell them Fred was tough
The reason for his deed was despond-
ency and remorse for dissipation, 1t il
supposed. as he had often threatened self
destruction after periods of drinking such
as he had passed through during a few
days of this week.
The body was found by the brother of
the deceased. who summoned help at
once, but life was extinct.
Justice of the Peace f. M. Fox, as act
Ing coroner. took charge of the remains
and after they had been viewed by jury
gave the body to Ehret's undertaking es-
adjustment. '-atft
At the inquest held yesterday afternoon
but little was developed. The brother,
Aren. told of finding Fred on the bed and
the surroundings as described He last
saw his brother alive yesterday morning
at o'clock. Fren said he was sick and
would stay at home. but Aren went up
town. His brother had been working until
recently within two or three days. He had
been drinking some. He was % years OF
age.
Isaac Johnson. who sleeps In the same
room. said that he and Fred got up at
the same time $50 o'clock. Anderson
went up Commercial avenue and he went
up Birch. Did not see Fred again till af-
ter his death. Deceased often threatened
suicide when he had been drinking, and
wanted his brother to buy strychnine for
him. They did not think he had serious
intentions.
DR.. Spelman, who was called said that
he Judged from the size of the vial that
that was found by his bed that Anderson
mad taken A grains of the poison, which
was crystals of strichnine. There were 10
grains left in the bottle, which, when full.
would hold 81 grains.
When he saw the man first the body
was warm, but rigor mortis had set in.
which was an indication of strychnine
poisoning.
The Jury inquired about the law on the
matter of the sale of poisons by druggists
and the doctor read II in full. The code
is to the effect that no poisons shall be
sold without labelling the bottle with the
of business of the seller Nor shall il be
lawful to sell poisons unless the pur-
chaser is aware of its character and rep
resents that IL is to be used for a legiti-
mate purpose.
The bottle was not labeled but witness
was not prepared to say that any law had
been violated from the surroundings. as
1t was quite possible the label had been
removed.
Andrew Anderson, John F. johnson and |
Herman Fine, for whom the deceased |
worked. gave additional testimony but |
of no material effect.
The jury returned the following verdict: |
That we find that the deceased was |
named Fred Anderson and that he came |
TO his death on May 16. 1896, by strych- |
nine poisoning said strychnine being ad- |
ministered by his own hand with Suicidal |
intent (Signed)
u. II. Hoy. Foreman,
IN. H. Mosley.
&C. A. Mayer.
Russell Sawyer,
"Chas. Norewman,
Hugh Murray