The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-01
PATROL WAGON NEEDED
Suggested That the Jury Embody
the Fact in It's Verdict.
BUT THE JURY DID NOT
Also Asked to Exonerate the Officers of
the Charge of Roughly Handling Old
Man Rogers, the Jury Didn't
Say Word About It.

IA coroners inquest was held at Sher-
mans undertaking rooms last evening
on the body Of William 4. Rodgers, the
man who died Friday evening at the
county Jail. as County Physician
Brooke stated. from apoplexy. The in
quest was held for the purpose of exon
Grating the officers who took Rodgers
10 the county jail on a charge of va
grancy. Rodgers was delivered over to
Officer Wilson by a young man named
Frank Moran. He was believed then to
be in an intoxicated condition, and as
he was very old and for other jnstifi-
able reasons he was taken 10 the eoun-
~ Jail ON a charge Of yagrancy. lie
was unable 10 walk and il became nee
essary To call in three police officers to
assist in carrying the man before the
county building was reached. Rodgers
was unconscious when he reached the
jail and DIR. Brooke was called. lie pro-
nounced the ease apopleAy. Rogers
died about o'clock in the evening
without regaining consciousness
A report emanating from some source
which has not been exactly determined,
was circulated in the evening 10 the
effect that Rodgers had been roughly
treated by the officers. Coroner Trem
blay hearing il. began an investigation
TO ascertain If an inquest was neces-
sary. The facts came To the knowledge
of the Standard and statement to that
effect was published Yesterday Ger
tain county and city officers thought an
injustice had been done and asked the
coroner to hold an inquest for the ex
press purpose Of generating the ofil-
GERS and the jury was asked To return
a verdict expressly stating that the
officers were not responsible for Rod
gers death. But the gentlemen COM
posing the jury evidently did not think
any one had been done any serious in
jury and eontented themselves with
sxonerating the officers To the extent of
not mentioning them at all. They also
ignored a request of the coroner that
they express ii as the sense of the jury
that a patrol wagon should be pur-
chased by the city. The inquest COM
meneed at o'clock.
Jerry D. Murphy. under sheriff, testi-
fled that he saw Rodgers brought To the
court house by Officers league and
Wilson. The man was unconscious and
the witness called the county physician.
He saw no marks on the man to indi-
cate that he had been roughly handled.
The man died about three hours and
half after his arrival at the court house.
The man had been in the county Jail
several times for insanity and two or
three times for yagfancy or disturb
ance. He never regained consciousness
after reaching the jail. Witness saw
the officers carry deceased up the steps
10 the court house.
Frank Moran Of 32S Dakota street.
testified that Christmas eve Rodgers
came to his back door and asked for
aims saying he had just arrived from
Des Moines. Witness got him a room
in the Barrett X Jaclkey block and then
went to the Associated Charities to see
about getting him transportation to
Missona. Thursday Rodgers came To
his fNitness1 home again and WAS in
all he n VII No
saw him fall and strike The back Of his
head. He went out and picked him up
and turned him over IL officer Wilson.
Together they took MIN 10 the city Jail
The witness saw no abuse by the Off
GERS.
officer Wilson related the cirenm-
stances If taking Rodgers 10 the city
jail Tor vagrancY. Witness Moran had
turned Rodgers over To him and he had
suggested taking him Ia the county jail
Witness had helped take him 10 the
county Jail. ON the way up Rodgers
got weak and officers Fogarty and
league came II his assistance. On the
way to the city jail Rodgers fell, but
mot hard. Witness thought he WAS
drunk at that time The officers We're
careful in handling him. Policeman
Peter league testified he saw Officers
Wilson and Fogarty taking Rodgers 10
the county jail. He was heavy and
they asked him tn assist them, which
aaee>did Witness did not see him
slsedIed roughly.
Policeman Fogarty WAS on his beat
when Policeman Wilson came along
with Rodgers. lie VAS having difficulty
getting the man along, as he Was
heavy. and the witness took hold 10
help when he saw Rodgers fall. Later
officer league Joined them and helped
carry him. The witness thought at lie
nifne Rodgers was drunk.
Turnkey Peter Walsh, at the county