The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-24
A VERDICT OF SUICIDE
John Riley Killed Himself With
a Keep-Edged Knife.
WAS MENTALLY DERANGEO
Testimony Introduced at the Coroner's
Inquest Went to Show That Riley's
Min Was Unbalanced From
the Effects of Liquor.

terday from Coloma, where he went
to hold al inquest on the body of John
Riley. who was found dead in Coloma
on Tuesday with his abdomen ripped
open and his intestines protruding
through the wound. The coroner. after
a hard trip. arrived in Coloma at IL
o'clock at night. He impaneled a jury
at once, summoned his witnesses and
completed the inquisition by 5 o'clock in
the morning. Mr.. H~ardenbrook says it
was showing and raining hard during
his trip.
There could be no doubt from the
evidence introduced hat Riley had
committed suicide and that he was
mentally ~deranged at the time. He had
been on a protracted spree for a week
prior to his death, and the effects Of
the liquor affected his brain. The knife
with which the suicide was committed
was a large one, and the blade was as
keen as a raZor.
c. f. Hench Of Bonner, a laborer, tes-
titled that Riley had been a resident OF
Bonner for eight or ten years. Riley
had been on a spree, drinking whiskey,
for about a week. He had never been
respondent, so far as the witness knew.
He a never heard Riley say anything
that would lea the witness to believe
that he committed suicide. Riley had
been dissipated to a certain extent, and
I ad drunk more or less since Hench had
known him, four or five years. The
deceased was reticent when drinking,
always kept TO himself. The witness
had never known Riley 10 have trouble
with any one. The witness did not sus-
pect foul play.
When Riley got on sprees he had al
ways stayed at Bonner, except this
time. when he left Bonner in the night.
Witness did not believe that Riley had
much. II any, money on his person.
Hench expressed the opinion that Riley
was deranged when he left Bonner, as
he was under the impression that some
n was trying to kill him, notwith-
standing the fact that he had no en-
emies.
A. J. Wilson of Coloma. a miner, was
another witness, who testified that Mr..
HARDWOOD came to his house on Tues
day morning and informed him there
was a dead man lying under a tree
back of his cabin. The witness was
asked to keep a watch on the body. He
went up and saw the man lying on his
right side, with his right arm under
his head and some dirt clutched in his
right and The witness saw no knife.
The witness helped Mr.. Stairs, who first
recognized the dead man. turn the body
over. His intestines protruded from the
wound in his abdomen. There was no
sign of a struggle. 1t was the witness
opinion that Riley committed suicide.
william Harwood, also a miner, tes-
titled that Riley came to his abin
about 6 O'Clock on Sunday morning. He
asked for a drink Of water, which was
given him. Witness saw he was very
80 - A-I--1 H.
loon. where he was given a drink of
whiskey.
After leaving the saloon he went out
on the Camas road and that was the
last the witness saw of him until he
saw him dead. Witness thought he was
suffering from the effects of liquor.
Riley told the witness there was some
one after him. Witness asked him
where he came from, and Riley replied,
I've been out under a tree all night"
Asked why he didn't go to bed. Riley
said: Il was afraid to go to bed; they
were after me all day yesterday" The
dead man did not say who was after
him.
Harwood saw Riley dead on Monday
morning. When he first saw him he
was lying on his stomach, with his head
resting IN his arm. There was no sign
of a struggle. 1t was the opinion of
III nv AAoN iNilts IDliiiliiNNtu SUI
eide.
Richard Christie a V about the same
evidence as HARDWOOD about finding the
body, but he added hat he saw him
alive on Monday morning, when Riley
was sitting on a pile of timber.
Charles Cox, the first man who found
the body, added nothing to the evidence,
except to say that when he found him
he thought he was asleep, and shook
him gently. Upon seeing he was dead
he called assistance.
Frank Holm and T. p. Connors were
also sworn. but added nothing to the
testimony already adduced.
The jury ound that Riley came to his
death from a wound in the abdomen.
and from the evidence, were led to be-
tina the act was committed by his
hand, with a knife found in his
possession"
The jurors were H.. w. Martin, Mes
tor Broullett, ]. w. Gilbert, Frank
Boles, Hugh Christie and Charles c.
Young.