The herald., 1898-05-14
WAS II SuICIDfl
THE PECULIAR AND SUDDEN
DEATH OF DIR. R0SSON
He WAS HEAVILY INSURED
And a Number Of Physicians Found
No Trace Of D1sease-A Rigtd
Investigation

An autopsy was held yesterday over the
remains Of DR.. r. L. Rosson, whose death
is surrounded by rather mysterious circum-
stances The doctor came here from Ari-
zona early In February and took UP his
residence, with his family, at 612 South
Flower street. He was man of fine physi-
cal appearance. ana upon receipt of his
applications for insurance the numerous
fraternal organizations were willing and
anxious to allow him the limit. In the
short space of six weeks he had taken out
policies aggregating $50 900. Before coming
here he was insured in the knights Of Pyth-
las for $4,000 and in the A. o. u. w. for $1,000.
Since his arrival in this city he became q
ell sos, National Union, $1,000. on March 18th.
member of Banner tent q. X. o. T. M, taxi
Ing the limit for $1,000; of Los Angeles coun-
On February 22d he took out $4,000 in Los
Angeles council /, Fraternal Brotherhood,
and 5000 in Court Angelina 1922, Independ-
ont Order of Foresters, the certificate Of
which was delivered the day Of his death.
In addition to this, he lately took out pol
icy for $4,000 in the Travellers and like
amount in another company.
DR.. Rosson was member OF Phoenix
court Q. X. Of p, and, having been reported
as being sick, was being taken care Of Ivy
the members Of Marathon lodge 1872 of this
city. It was reported by them Tuesday
night that he was improving.
When the above facts were reported to
President Dandy of the Fraternal Brother
hood, post-mortem examination was or
dered for the purpose Of revealing whether
1t was case Of suicide. All the other orders
involved sanctioned this movement.
In the autopsy which was held yesterday
It was shown that all the organs were in
an exceptionally healthy condition, nor
could any signs Of poisoning be traced. The
various organs have been preserved and
will be subjected to a rigid analysis.
1t also appears that previous to his death
Rosson had been attended by DR.. w. 8.
Phillips for q complicated disease Of the
stomach known as gastro-enteritis, but It
seems that no cause Of death had been
mentioned in a death certificate, In fact,
no death certificate had as yet been is
sued. These facts were made known last
night by the undertakers, Orr & Hines,
who have charge of the body. 1t was stated
that the certificate had been drawn up and
was awaiting the Doctors signature, but
that efforts to locate him yesterday were
of no avail.
DR.. Phillips in an interview last night
stated:
II had attended DR.. Rosson from the
21st of April until the 90 of May. He was
apparently suffering from an infiamma-
ton of the stomach and bowels. I ceased
attending him on the latter date, and when
I left him he was convalescing very
rapidly and attending himself. On the
evening of the 18th insA I was hastily
called, and was notified that he had sud-
denly had relapse of his former troubles.
He died very suddenly Thursday morning
much to my establishment"
In answer to the question, DO you Their
think, doctor, that his death was due to
the stomach trouble, as against the suicide
theory?" the doctor replied: Eyes, do;
though the end might possibly have been
FASTENED by a weak heart"
A declaration to the effect that the
organs were in an exceedingly healthy
condition and that there was no indication
of disease was signed by the following
physicians, who were present during the
examination: DR.. F. D. Bullard, professor
Of chemistry in the medical college; DR..
W. w. Hitchcock, DR.. c. L. Sexton, DR.. w.
s. Phillips and DR.. F. K. Ainsworth.
1t is evident from the above that DR..
Phillips, by signing the above declaration,
refutes the theory that death was
the result Of the stomach and bowel trou-
BILE.
A rigid examination will now be made
for the purpose Of ascertaining whether
any trace of poison exists.