The morning times., 1897-02-15
DIED AT HIS POST OF DUTY
Watchman Kline Expired Suddenly
in a Bank Building.
Murder Was at First Suspected,
But Investigation Showed That
Heart Disease Caused Death.

Joseph c. Kline, fifty-three years old,
who lived at No. 6O3 street south west,
was found dead about 0:30 O'Clock yes
terday morning in the basement ofthe Citi-
Zcns' National Bank on Fifteenth street
where he was employed as a watchman
and engineer. The circumstances surround
ing the discovery of his body at first sug-
gested that murder had been committed
for the purpose Of robbing the vaults but
Il later investigation pointed To the fact
that the man had doubtless died of heart
disease in great distress and agony.
Kline had for number of years been
in the employ OF the bank as night watch
man, and was also accustomed to remain
ing in the building during Sunday. The
last seen OF the man alive was shortly after
5 clock this morning, when he went to
one OF the all-night lunch rooms in the
vicinity and purchased a cup of coffee to
drink While he sat down and ate his
| lunch. He was apparently well and in
good spirits when he left and returned to
the bank.
Shortly after 10 O'Clock this morning
| his sOu came down TO the building with
| his fathers breakfast, as was his custom
| on Sunday mornings. After rapping at the
| outside door for some time, and being un-
able to gain adInJtanCr, he became alarmed
! lest something was wrong with his father
| inside the bank, and notified Policeman
| Emmert, whose beat is along Fifteenth
street. The two made another effort to
| enter, but were unsuccessful. The only
| response made to their repeated knocking
was the barking OF Mr.. Kline's little dog,
| which was in the habit Of remaining with
! its masterin the bank. The kno wing animal
| would run first to the front door, then to
| the stairway leading to the basement, then
| down the stairs and up again, all the time
| barking and whining, as much as to say
! that something had happened. The CANNES
| maneuvers still further convinced those
on the outside that all was not well with
| the night watchman.
Mr.. Fitzgerald, the day engineer, was
| sent for, but as he only had the keys to
| the outside doors it was impossible TO
| gain an entrance 10 the bank until Sergt.
| Acton pushed small boy over the transOm
and the bolts on the inside doors We're
| released A search was at once begun
| for the missing watchman and it was
| some time before his body was found
] In the basement of the building, which
| is dimly lighted, are Il number of arches,
/ and in the shadow of one of these, half
| undressed, the body lay. In a pile Of
| ashes about fifty feet away were the
| mans trousers, and some distance further
| on behind one of the arches was sirOe,
| and scattered about were other articles
| of clothing.
| There We're many evidences OF a fierce
| struggle, and the first suspicion was that a
murder mad been committed while "A
| thief was attempting to rob the bank.
| The only articles of clothing on the body
| were his undergarmentS and one shoe.
| President johnson and several other Of
| ficers of the Institution were at once
| summoned and an examination made OF
| the vaults and every nook and corner of
| the interior, to see If a robbery had been
| committed. Nothing had been removed and
| everything was found in proper condition.
Coroner Hammett was notified of the
| finding of the body and sent Deputy Cor
| oner GlaZebrook. His examination resulted
, in the issuing of q certificate of death
| from heart disease, as there were no marks
OF violence on the body, except where the
man had dragged himself some forty or
fifty feet to the foot of the stairway in his
efforts to get TO the fresh air. 1t is believed
that Kline was taken with severe pain
| in the region of his heart and in his
agonies tore his clothing from his body in
the manner described. The remains were
removed TO Lees undertaking establish
| will be announced today.