The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-26

Inquest Iseo the Death Of james ".
Murphy.

Murphy.
Coroner Tremblay began an inquest
las evening to inquire into the death
of James w. Murphy. who was found
dead in Browns gulch. or Meadow
gulch. an offshoot OF Browns gulch, by
Italian wood choppers last Sunday. He
was Unable to complete the inquiry.
owing to his being called away by the
sudden death of John Bowen on the
B.. A. 4 p. tracks. but the evidence OF
the principal witnesses was taken.
after which the inquest was adjourned
to to-day. From the evidence adduced
II seems hat the cause OF Murphy's
death will always be . mystery. as
nothing was brought out to throw any
light upon 1t. There was some slight
suggestion of foul play, but nothing
tangible was offered. Coroner Trem-
blay is of the opinion death was due
to either heart disease or exposure.
Joe Martini. one OF the w~oodchoppers
from Browns gulch. testified that Louis
Mans came to his place last Monday
morning and said he had found a dead
body In Meadow gulch. and the witness
hitched up q team and brought him to
town to notify the coroner. He saw the
body before IT was brought to town and
knew II to be that Of J. w. Murphy. The
witness was well acquainted with the de-
ceased. when asked by the coroner II he
thought the deceased had been murdered,
the witness said:
II don't think anyone would kill Jim
Murphy"
the 2lth OF last December. He remembered
the date from the fact that he went to
Anaconda on that day. He did not be-
lieve anything was the matter with the
mind Of the deceased. He could form no
conclusion as to how the deceased came
to his death.
Louis Maxza was next called and the
witness Martini was sworn as an inter-
prefer. Through the interpreter the wit
ness said he found the body of Murphy in
the hills In Meadow gulch last Sunday.
He said he was frightened and went and
got a countryman, Bernardo Bonzonni. to
20 back with him. They went and looked
at the body. They then saw it was the
body of Murphy. He could not tell from
the face. as the body was badly decom-
posed. but in a book In a coat pocket OF
the deceased he found Murphy's name.
The body was found about a mile and a
half from witness cabin. and about 20
minutes walk from Murphy's cabin. The
body was found lying face down.
Bernardo Bonzonni testified through the
interpreter that Louis Mazxa came to
his place Sunday morning n said he
had found a dead man In Meadow gulch.
They went together to look at the body.
NV lSll Yin boog NO NV 'etta ~ NV
witness went home and Mazza started to
notify the authorities The witness could
not tell whether the deceased had been
killed or not.
Thomas Brazzell. a resident OF Browns
gulch. knew Murphy. The last time he
saw him was Jan. /. He was notified by
the Italians of the finding of the body
and accompanied by a n%eighbor named
Jordan he went to see the body. II was
impossible to recognize who IL was. ow-
ing to the advanced stage OF decomposi-
ton. From the stature of the dead man
he thought IL was Murphy. When author
lied by the coroner to look through Muir
phys cabin, he found the usual outfit of
prospectors' and woodchoppers' tools.
From the witness investigation he could
form no idea as to how the man died. He
did not believe Murphy got lost, as he
was too well acquainted with the coun-
try. From the position OF the body when
found the witness must have been knock
ed down or have died very suddenly. as X
he had laid down he would naturally have
laid his head up hill instead of down. as
the body was found. The witness said he
had talked with two men who had paid
Murphy money on the 18th OF January.
but he had found no one who had seen
him since. No none was found on the
body or in his cabin. The witness said
Murphy had been missed. but II was sup
posed he was working N Deer Lodge val
ley. as he had told Thomas De Lodge.
one OF the men who had paid Murphy
money on the i2tb Of January. that he
was going there 10 work on q ranch. Wit
ness never heard Of Murphy failing in
or having anything at all them mat
ter with him from which he might have
been suddenly overcome In the noun
tains.
Thomas Jordan, q brother-in-iaw Of the
deceased, who lives In Telegraph gulch.
said the last time he saw Murphy was