The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-28
WAS DUE TO APOPLEXY
An Investigation Into the Death
Of f. +. Keller.
AN EXCESSIVE DRINKER
The Testimony OF the Witnesses Sum
moned by the Coroner Leaves
No Doubt of the Cause of
the Death.

Sherman's undertaking rooms last even
ing on the body of Ralph +. Keller, the
man found dead in a cabin at the rear
of e7s South Montana street Monday
evening. The jury found that death
was due to a~ppoplexy.
Arthur ID. Hartwell, a carpenter living
at as East silver street. was the first
witness. He said he had known keeler
about five years. He had never now
him to be sick. but had heard him com
plain frequently Of headache. Witness
said Keller was in his employ, and he
saw him Saturday last. Wishing TO see
Keller. Sunday, the witness went To his
cabin and found the door locked with
the key on the inside. Witness supposed
KeeIer was sleeping off a drunk, as he
had previously had the same experience
on going to see Keller, SO he went
away. Again, on Monday evening, the
witness went to the cabin to see keeler,
and as the house presented the same
appearance as on the previous occasion,
a window was broken and the terrible
stencil told him Keller was dead. The
matter was Immediately reported to the
county coroner.
The deceased, when found. was par
TALLY undressed, and was lying on the
bed. a Jack of crackers sat on the Ia
BILE and his pipe was on the window.
When the witness last saw Keller he
was intoxicated. Witness did not be-
lieve there had been any foul play.
w, G. Pfouts, who owned the cabin
in which Keller lived. testified that he
had known the deceased about 30 years.
He had never known him to be In Ill
health. but he did not have a strong
constitution, and the witness had taken
him up on several occasions almost dead
from excessive drinking. The last time
the witness saw Keeler was about a
week before his death. He had been
drinking very hard, and witness told
him if he did not straighten up he would
certainly die. Keeler said he would do
better and asked for money. Witness
gave him a dollar and did not see him
again. Witness was satisfied death was
the result of the spree.
James ]. Dougherty. partner In a gro
Gerry store at 6S1 South Montana street.
saw Keller about $3.50 Saturday even
ing. He was very drunk. He had once
been interested i'm the store with the
witness, but got out through drinking.
Witness was present when an officer en-
tered Keeler's cabin after his death was
discovered. He did not see any signs OF
anything but natural death.
Joseph Grenon, a carpenter contract
or who had known Keller well. was
next called. The last time he saw the
deceased was a week before his death,
They met on Main street. and keeleI
said he was not feeling well. II was he
who suggested taking out the glass OF
the window when the friends went to
investigate. The witness said:
Il was talking with Mr.. Hartwel and
others in front Of Dougherty's store
They said nothing had been seen OF
Keller for a couple Of days. j said We
had better look into the matter, the
man may be dead. and we went To the
, cabin. | knew when We were % fee'
away the man was dead. for ! could SEE
big flies on the window and | could also
detect a bad smell. Mr.. Hartwell took
a pane of glass out of the window, anc
sure enough | was right-the man wa'
dead as a mackerel. He was lying or
his left side on the bed and was blacl
in the face and had bled considerably
from the nose. I Judged the man diec
while trying to get into bed
Rod Mccormick, an employe OF Gro
Ger Dougherty. was called, but coult
throw no light on the Investigation.
Edward Burns was with HartWel
! when he went to Keeler's cabin to se'
him Monday evening. His relation o
/, the circumstance corresponded with tn
! statements of the other witnesses. Wit
! ness had been at the cabin on Thur
. day preceding the death. and when tn,
! dead body was found everything was II
= the same order II had been at that time
4 Coroner Tremblay stated that from
5 ALI the appearances the man doubles
= died from apoplexy. the result of alec
I holism. The jury accepted this theor,
and returned its verdict accordingly.
i