Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-04
JOHNSON IS DEAD.
Expires With the Story of the
Circumstances of His
Fate Untold.
Man FoUND IN LOG WAY IDBHr1r1ED

0eAookoo ee hockforo, lows, and Was
Presumably on HIS Way Home From
Chicago When Struck Dowa-Mothsr and
Brother Here-Authorities to Mako .
Thorough Observation-Disclosures
Alfred N. johnson, of Rockford
Iowa, died at st. Anthony's hospital
at O'Clock yesterday morning with
out regaining consciousness from the
blow which laid him PROSTATE in the
log way of the old mill, and leav-
ing the authorities and his famil Y in
utter darkness concerning the cir.
cumstances of his fate.
Johnson's Identification was estab.
lished through the finding Of q letter
in one OF his pockets late Saturday
afternoon by Chief OF Police Fender,
who Immediately telegraphed to
Rockford, Iowa, to Mrs. Harriet
johnson, the mother, and F. c. John.
son, brother OF the unfortunate man.
They arrived at the hospital about
an hour before he breathed his last.
The body Was taken to Knox's un-
dertaking rooms, where post-mor-
tenn examination was made by Drs.
s. G. Plummer and s. B. Hall. They
found fracture at the base Of the
skull. rupture of the arteries and
. hemorrhsge into the brain.
Coroner l.. V.Eckhart held an in
quest over the remains, empanelling
a jury composed Of NJ. F. Archer,
foreman;Fred Hilinger, George La
mont. George Sutcliffe, Oliver Beck
and c. H. Writ. The testimony OF
Louis Tones, who found johnson,
b. A. Lohse and o. Dumbald, the
officers who took him away in the
ambulance, and F. C. johnson, de.
ceased's brother, and Drs. Plummer
and Hall. was taken. The report of
the latter, after describing the MUIR
les, says: 1--WE give 1t as our opin.
ion that the injuries are not the re-
suit OF q fall or other accidental
cause. but the result of a blow with
sandbag or something else that left
no external mark except contusio n j"
States Attorney Searle was pres
ent at the inquest, which it was de-
cided to postpone until next Wed nes-
day evening at 7:3O. In the mean
time the police will endeavor to C ear
up the mystery in which the affair is
shrouded.
Visited in ChicsRo.
+. c. johnson said his brother was
81 years Of age, and had been living
with his widowed mother. 1T is
about three weeks since he left Rock.
ford" he said. Il do not know how
or when he got here. He went to
Chicago from home to see Leon K
Leigh, an old schoolmate, who was to
graduate from a medical school
there. do not know when he left
Chicago. My mother received let
ter from him stating that he would
be home Saturday. April 2. To my
knowledge he had no watch or val
uables-he might have had about
$40 in money. He went to Chicago
with a car Of stock over the Milwau.
kee railway" Mr.. johnson stated
that James Murray, for whom his
brother took the stock to Chicago,
sent him $40 after he had reached
that city. Mr.. johnson said tina,
his brother was not drinking man,
and was not subject to fits or hear,
trouble-the theory having been ad.
vanced that he might have been
seized with an attack of some sor,
and fallen into the log way and re-
ceived the injuries which resulted in
his death.
The remains Of johnson, accom-.
panied by his mother and brother,
were shipped to Rockford this morn.
ing for interment.