The times., 1898-12-05
DIED IN A LODGING HOUSE.
A Stranger Concerning Whom Lit
tie In Known.

"a SOnCCEmhnk
tie In Known.
Theodore Boucher. thirty-six years old,
died suddenly while in bed at the lodg
ing house of William Godshalk at 1O06
Pennsylvania Avenue northwest. at 10:30
o'clock last night. The cause of death is
not definitely known, but as Boucher was
a sufferer from consumption, it is sup
posed that his demise is attributable to
that disease. The coroner was notified.
and will view the body this morning.
Little or nothing is known of Boucher.
He came to the lodging house for the
night on the Soth of October. Since then
he has been a regular patron. He gave
his name as Theodore Thomas. and, as he
was taciturn. nothing more was learned
concerning him. He seemed to have
enough money to live on, and always paid
as he went.
Last night he entered the house as
usual at about $50 o'clock, and retired at
once to his room. Previous to that time
he visited an adjoining lunch room, where
he was casually known and drank cup
of coffee. While. in the lunch room he
complained to the clerk of pains in his
limbs, and said he felt in unusually poor
health. The inclement weather, he said,
had been very severe on him. He re-
marked that he would go to bed, as he
anticipated getting very little rest and
needed considerable of it.
In the same room occupied by Boucher
was Albert Schalk, young German, who
had been lodged for the night. He states
that Boucher, whom he did not know,
was in bed when he entered the room.
They greeted each other. but had little
conversation. ..AftersI got in bed," said
Schalk, Il asked the man to call me at
O'Clock in the morning IL he were awake,
and he replied that he would. Shortly af-
ter that l fell asleep, and knew nothing
until awakened by two sharp cries.
Jumping from my bed, l grouped about
the room until found the lamp, which
j lighted. Glancing toward the bed occu-
pied by my -fellow-roomer, i saw him
stretched across il with his feet dangling
out on the side near the door. ] spoke to
him, and receiving no answer, opened the
door and called to the proprietor. When
he arrived we saw that the man was
dead
Mr.. Godshalk lifted the body and turned
it around on the bed. He then went to
notify the police, and call was sent in
for the Emergency Hospital ambulance
from No. / station. The physician In
charge of the ambulance examined the
body and pronounced life extinct. Po-
licemen Sampson and Oriana arrived
about this time, and, after closely ques-
toning Godshalk anad Schalk, took
charge of the meager personal effects OF
the deceased.
They found a brown suit of clothes, a
pair of shoes and stockings. a hat and
overcoat anad few collars and cuffs
The clothes were neatly folded and rest
ing on a chair. a search of the clothes
revealed $40. pawn ticket for an over
coat, four laundry, tickets. a pocket-knife,
two keys and three letters addressed in
a clear, well-written feminine hand The
address in each instance was the same
and read: Mr.. Theodore Boucher. 1873
Thirty-fifth Street. West Washington, ID.
c. They were postmarked Denver. Col
orado, and were signed Your loving sis
ter, Maggie. The most recent letter was
dated October 80 and among other things
referred to the death of mother
An effort will be made to communicate
with the sister. notifying her of the death.