Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-02-24
David Mccormick Died From
Natural Causes
SOSAY THE CORONER'S JURY
Mccormick Drank to Excess But
Was a Man of Cheerful
Disposition

David Mccormick, whose body was
found in the Exchange hotel Wednesday
afternoon, died from natural causes. That
was the verdict of the jury which last
night, inquired into the circumstances
surrounding his death. The fact that
the death was a natural one was so APP
parent that Coroner Julien decided an
autopsy unnecessary.
The body was found by James X. Currie
of Walkeryille. Mr.. Currie testified be-
fore the coroner's jury that he went to the
Exchange hotel Wednesday afternoon, be-
tween 1 and 2 o'clock, to see Mccormick,
with whom he had an engagement. He
went to McCormick'S room; it was dark,
witness lighted the gas, and saw McCor-
mick lying on the bed apparently asleep.
Witness attempted to awaken McCor-
mick, but could not do so, and became
alarmed; he lifted an arm, and the men,
ber did not appear stiff; the flesh was
warm; witness did not think Mccormick
was dead, but was alarmed and notified
Mr.. Fitchen, the landlord of the place.
Fftchen made an Examination and came
to the conclusion that the man was dead.
Witness owned some mining property IN
'eiS No'ihNS yin "iuN NA'ooi him
was going to work; Witness saw him on
Tuesday and Mccormick told him he
would leave for Madison county Satur-
day. When witness saw him Tuesday he
remarked that he had never felt better
in his life. When witness found McCor-
mick he was partially undressed, and his
appearance was perfectly natural, there
being no Indication Of violence or suicide.
Witness considered Mccormick a per-
fectly healthy man, had heard him assert
that he had never paid s. in doctors bills
in his life; he told witness of having just
recovered from a cold, which he contract
ed while working at the Big Hole dam,
when he also said to witness Il am the
toughest man you know. On Wednesday
witness gave deceased 1913 expense mon
ey for the proposed Madison county trip;
the deceased had been drinking since he
came to Butte but not, in witness opinion
to excess.
j. r. McGarry, bartender at the Ex-
change hotel, saw Mccormick about 8
O'Clock Tuesday evening; Mccormick was
drinking, but was not drunk; witness saw
him every night, while he was stopping
at the Exchange, and on some occasions
he was very much under the influence of
liquor; when witness saw Mccormick
Tuesday night, he asked for his key and
went to his room; witness had not heard
him complain of any illness, while in
IDullc, u ~ INN say ooiiiN'ihhS
about his sickness at the Big Hole dam.
w. b. Sapin worked with Mccormick
on the Big Hole dam, knew that he quit
work there on account of having taken a
cold, he was quite feeble when he left Big
Hole; witness saw deceased at the hotel
Tuesday; he was drinking and was APP
parently in good spirits, witness did not
regard deceased as a rugged man.
Alex J. Mckenzie had known deceased
- or IA years, and had worked with him
more or less, had never heard him COM
plain of any serious sickness; saw deceas-
ed Tuesday evening about 5 o'clock; Sun
day deceased told witness of his illness at
Big Hole, but said he had recovered and
never felt better in his life; deceased was
of a very cheerful Dispositions; never saw
him respondent and did not believe he
would commit suicide.
Gus. Fitchen, landlord of the Exchange,
had known deceased eight years; witness
told of the circumstances of the finding
of the body; nothing was found about
the room that would indicate suicide; wit
ness was of the opinion that Mccormick
died while asleep; Mccormick drank a
great deal, and was generally more or
less under the influence of liquor when
witness saw him..
The verdict of the jury was to the eff
feet that the deceased died from
natural causes.