The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-05
A MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE
Joseph T. West of Helena In
hales- Illuminating Gas.
HIS BOOKS ALL RIGHT
He Was Chief Clerk to Superintendent
sommers OF the Rocky Mountain Tel
ephone Company-Took an Opiate.
Coolly Prepared for Death.
Special Dispatch to the standard.

Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Helena, Dec. 4.-Locking himself In
the basement of the Rocky Mountain
Bell Telephone company building, Jo-
seph T. West. chief clerk to Superin-
tendent Sommers. sought death by TAX
ing an opiate and inhaling Illuminating
gas. about 3 o'clock this morning he
was discovered in an unconscious con-
dition. How long he had been there
waiting for the dread messenger Is not
known. When the janitor came to work
this morning the telephone girls In the
exchange room upstairs complained OF
the odor of escaping gas. and suggest
ed that he see what was wrong down.
stairs. The janitor tried to unlock the
basement door. but found that a key
on the inside prevented him from using
his key. He crawled through the win
dow. but was stopped at the next door.
which appeared to have been nailed,
while the glass portion Of the door was
covered with paper. He called in a
friend and the two, concluding the cir
cumstances were suspicious. sent for an
officer. The latter pried the door open
N the three men were nearly knocked
down by gas which was escaping from
the jet. the burner of which had been
taken off. Lying upon a wooden box
they found West still alive, but breath
ing very heavily. They hastily re-
moved him to a hospital, where two
doctors tried all day to restore con-
seriousness. Word comes from the hos
pital tonight that he Is still uncOn-
scious, with the certainty of his recov-
cry questionable. When found some OF
the pills he had taken were in his hand
He had coolly prepared for death.
He had nailed the door. placed a piece
OF paper over the glass opening. taken
off his coa and arranging II upo the
box for a pillow. taken some OF the
drug and unfastening he burner from
the gas jet. laid down to await the eff
fects of the poison or the deadly gas.
Near by was n letter addressed to Su-
perintendent Sommers and marked
Personal" superintendent Sommers,
who returned last night from a trip
over the state. was the most surprised
of Vests acquaintances when informed
OF the attempted suicide. He knew OF
no cause. West had a good position.
received a good salary n stood well
with the company. He had no bad
habits. was of a frugal disposition and
was the last sort of a man to be ex-
pected to attempt anything of the kind.
Asked as to the contents OF the letter
West wrote, Superintendent Sommers
said hat the matters treated were
largely Of a personal nature. Mr.. SOM
mers said that the writer gave sick
ITS as Nv u ANdN BIoilB1th iiiii
to seek death. Mr.. Sommers said also
that so far as he was able to ascer-
tain, from a hasty examination of the
books and accounts. which were in
Vests keeping. they were all right.
The books were balanced up to Nov.
90, at which time West had made the
last deposit at the bank.
In the absence of Mr.. sommers from
the city. West was virtually acting SUI
perintendent, having power to open
Mr.. Sommers' letters and transact bust
ness for him. He Is an expert cleo
trician and enjoyed the confidence OF
the company in every respect. So far
as can be learned. no affair of the
heart led to the act. West had been
i'm the employ of the company here for
four years. coming to Montana from
Utah. where he worked for the COM
pany. He came originally from Iowa,
where he was employed in the tele-
phone business. He was 81. unmarried
and had no relations in Montana. He
carried n life insurance policy for 81, 900.
He was under an indemnifying bond for
81. 600 to protect the company. The
mystery surrounding the affair appears
to be a deep one.
Later-A report from the hospital late
tonight says that the doctors have given
West up and that he will probably die
before morning. In his letter was the re-
quest thai the remains be buried here, as
II would be a needless expense to ship his
body east. In case OF death. however, his
last injunction will be disobeyed.