The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-18
he LAY DOWN AND DIED
MADE NO FUSS ABOUT IT
After Swallowing the Drug He Refined
On His Bed and Read . Magazine
Until He Fell Asleep. Never
to Awaken.

cdio Jdmes d. SIMPSON,, ex-ueputy rev.
enue collector. Wednesday afternoon to
his friend william d. Burbage.
On that day the sheriff Of this county
served papers in divorce proceedings
upon Mr.. Simpson. In which Mary N.
Simpson Of Helena is the plaintiff.
That was the straw tha broke the
camel's back" Mr.. Simpson. evidence
shows. went to a druggists. procured
a box OF morphine. went to his room
in the Morier building. took of his
coat. lay down on the bed and died
while reading the Cosmopolitan.
The last time Mrs. A. Bowen saw
Simpson alive was about 8 O'Clock
Wednesday evening. when he passed
through the hallway leading up to his
room. He stopped at the parlor door
and spoke a few kind words to a little
girl that was playing about the room.
He hade the child an afectionate good
night n went to his room.
Yesterday at noon Mrs. Bowen re-
marked to her mother. Mrs. Morier.
that Mr.. Simpsons door was still
locked and that the lamp was burning.
1t occurred to both ladies that some
thing was wrong. as Mr.. Simpson had
been in the habit of retiring early and
rising early. He had roomed in the
III Wv Asti Oh Ottcot ~
had often been said by the dodgers that
Mr.. Simpson was a great reader. He
spent most Of his time in his room
reading.
o. f. Kenyon. a roomer in the house.
was called and later Officer McGillic.
through the transom. This was
some time after IL O'Clock. Acting Cor
oner Laurandeau was at once sum-
moned. He and a number of reporters
entered the room where lay the cold
form of the suicide. He reclined on
the bed. his feet hanging over the side.
a position which indicated that he had
carelessly thrown himself on the bed
as IL weary OF travel n only sought
temporary comfort. His glasses were
over his eyes. the magazine lying
across his left arm. which had fallen
to his side when sleep overlook him.
There were no signs of struggle. The
countenance was as peaceful as that
of a sleeping child.
The mi of a box of morphine
on the table near by told the story.
j. b. Simpson had for nearly two
years prior to July / last been resident
deputy United States internal revenue
collector. His office was with Attorney
Burbage in the Columbia block Early
in July he suffered a protracted siege
of brain fever. Since then he had lone
little work. In fact he had been try
ing to secure employment for some
time. Recently he had been in a very
respondent mood, and when he re-
ceived the summons to defend himself
i'm IN action instituted by legal process
by his wife, the blow SEEMED to be
more than ne could bear. and that. add
ed to the increasing weight of de-
s~pondency induced by failure to obtain
| work. crushed the life out of the man.
He was not a drinking man, and IL
he had any peculiar vices his friends in
this city RETAINED from mentioning
them.
His trunk had not been disturbed
since he took possession of the room
in which he died. II being by
rope. His other effects were a grip. a
few collars and cuffs in the bureau
drawer and some books.
He leaves a wife and a young daugh-
ter in Helena.
Undertaken Sherman took charge of
the body n removed IL to his morgue.
Under the pillow of the bed on which
the man died was found his watch, a
cheap one. with an oxydized case. In
his pocket was found SO cents la silver.
There were also in his pockets several
doctors prescriptions. orders for tonics
and the like. Nc addressed letters were
found.
At s o'clock in the evening Acting
Coroner Laurandeau conducted an in
quest with the following jury: Thomas
Cody. w. Il. Headings. j. T. Perron.
Peter Johnson. H.. j. Harrington and
George Fftzgibbon.
DIR. p. j. Sheeran was the first wit
ness. He examined h body. He
found no external marks OF violence.
The pupils of the eyes were enlarged.
indicating that coma existed. He iden-
titled the drug in the box found on the
able as morphine. The only thing
that indicated that he died from poison
were the dilated pupils. Morphine pro-
4 I..oN- @@n, 49,. I.a
Officer McGillic told about being
asked by Mrs. Bowen to force an en-
trance TO the room. He climbed to the
transom and saw a man dead on the
bed. The corpse was cold. He told
Mrs. Bowen to guard h door pending
the arrival of the coroner
officer walsh's testimony was cor