The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-01-01
HIS FALL TO DEATH
E1itOr McCullagh Found on the Stone
Pavement Under His Wlndlw
HADN'T BtEN WELL LATELY
II Is Supposed hat He Went to
the Window to Breathe
Fresh Air and Fell to
the Ground.

ST. Louis, Dec sl.-Joseph j. McCul-
lagh editor of the ST. Louis Globe-Demo-
cIat and one OF the st-known neWspa-
per men in the country, Is dead the re-
suit OF a fall OF % feet from second
story window of his apartments al the
residence OF his sister-in-law. Mrs Kate
Manion. at No. 3SS7 West sine boule-
ward. The body. which was cold in death
and clad only i'm II nightgown, was dis
covered by Mrs. Manion's colored servant
about o'clock this morning.
Immediately on being notified by the
servant Mrs. Manion dispatched her
coachman to summon DR.. G. II. Hughes.
who resides In the neighborhood and who
was McCullagh's physician during his
last illness. DIR. Ilugrs' conclusion rom
the condition of the body when he exam
inrd 1t is that McCullagh plunged head
first from the window about $50 O'Clock.
ON the ground around the foundation OF
the house is a stone water table. In the
fall McCullagh struck "A sharp corner of
this stone with the left side of his head,
trrcturing the parietal bone. The physi-
elan IL OF the opinion that death followed
Immediately after the shock of the fall.
The victims head was lying in Il small
pool of blood which had dripped from the
wound. Just how McCullagh happened to
fall out of the window can only be n mat
ter OF conjecture. lie had been IN sew
eIal months and lattcrly was compelled
TO keep TO his room. He passed his last
mis- lit unattended, as he had always slept
drring his illness.
Wednesday evening he was In the best
Of spirits. although he complained OF not
being quite so well. Tho smothering aen-
sation which had troubled him at inter
walls during his Illness had returned TO
him In II mild form ana rendered him Ian.
guid and drowsy. He retired 10 bed about
Z o'clock. leaving word with the house
hold that he did not wish TO hc disturbed
unless 1t was. by his physician. DR.
Hughes made his customary night call
about 1850 o'clock and expressed surprise
to McCullagh at finding him in bed at
srch an early hour.
II am very weary" McCullagh said.
''and thought | would set as much rest
rs possible Tonight" The physician al
ministcrcd to his patients needs. saw
that every Thing in the room was rArd
| for the night ana that the north window
was raised about an inch for ventilation,
Then he babe MCCulash goodnight
turned Off the electric light and retired.
Before going TO bed Mrs. Manion looked
| into MCCullagh's room She saw that
| everything in the room was in order aud
| then retired 10 her own apartments.
About midnight she woke up and detected
| an odor of escaping gHs. She investigated
| and found burner in the combination
| gas and electric light chandelier which
| hangs suspended in the corner of Me-
| tullagh's room, open. Mrs. Manion turn.
| ed on AN electric light and shut of the
gas. McCullagh woke up ''Joe," She sad,
| odd you know gas VAS escaping in your
| room you would have been IL dead man
| IN the morning il had not discovered 1t.
/ McCullagh was apparently too drOwsy
/ tJ realize what his sistcr-in-law said. lie
/ muTmured an iuaudiblc reply and fell
4 asleep again. Mrs. Munion raised the
open window 4 little higher so that the
fumes OF the gas could leave the room,
and then returned To bed. Indications
seemed TO hc that McCuliaGh had got out
of bed for something and In trying TO
torn on an electric light he turned on the
gas lie lid not notice IN" odor and re-
tired again, uncons,l lous of danger.
Careful investigation warrants tho con
Cluslon that he WAS awakened later N
the morning by smothering attack and
B climbing out OF bed again. nervous and
| unsteady from the spell, went TO The win
dow for more mir. AS he threw the sash
up TO its full height he was probably
overcome with wcnkucss. lost his balance
and rolled out over the sill and fell To MS
d,rth.
The funeral Is set for o'clock Satur-
day afternoon at Mrs Maniou's residence
Rev. DR. W W. Boyd pastor of the Sec
ond Baptist church. and Rev. John Snv-
DIR. = prominent Unitarian minister oi
this city, will conduct services.