The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-23
HIS DEATH A MYSTERY.
David Mccormick Found Dead at the
Exchange Hotel.


There is much mystery as to the
cause of the death of David McCor-
mick. a carpenter well known about
the city, who was found dead in bed at
the Exchange hosel, No. IA South Main
street, about half past l O'Clock yester-
day afternoon. Though past middle life,
Mccormick was strong, robust man,
who, on Tuesday. said he never felt
better in his life, yet he passed away
either in the night of that day or yes
terday forenoon and under circum-
stances about which there appears
nothing upon which to base an opinion
as to the cause. He was found
dead in bed in his room by
a friend. There was nothing
to suggest suicide or foul play. His
friends never heard him complain of
heart trouble, and in fact, his appear
ance was anything but that of a person
who might be afflicted with any kind
of organic trouble. 1 is known he had
it is possible this might have produc-
ed apoplexy. though there is nothing to
indicate it and his friends scout the
idea that the drinking he had been do
ing was sufficient to produce such a
result. 1t is probable the coroner will
order an autopsy to find the cause of
death.
MCCORMICK came 10 butte d week ago
Tuesday from Big Hole, where he mad
been working ON the Montana Power
company's dam for some time. He took
a room at the Exchange hotel, where
Proprietor Gus Fftchen states he had
stopped off and on for the past eight
years. He was preparing to go to Mad
isOn county to do some work on some
mining properties, in which he and
James Curry of Walkerville were inter
ested. On Saturday last he informed
persons about the hotel he had finished
time, he drank quite freely, but as
far as learned, was not greatly intox-
Gated at any time. The last seen OF
him, as far as known, was Tuesday
evening about 5 o'clock At that time,
Alex Mckenzie talked with him al the
Silver Bow brewery. He told McKen-
z.e at that time that he never felt bet
ter in his life.
II is not known what time Mccormick
went 10 his room as no one appears
to have seen him, but it is supposed
to have been some time Tuesday night.
Yesterday afternoon about 1:S0 Mr..
Curry, McCormick's business associate,
called at the hotel to see him. McCor-
mick was not about and Curry was
sent to his room. Getting no response
to his rap. he pushed the door open.
He saw Mccormick lying on the bed.
He had on his shirt and underwear.
his trousers and one sock. 1t took but
an instant to ascertain that he was
dead. The hotel people were notified
and Coroner Julien was summoned.
That official made a careful eXamina-
'tion of the surroundings. The partial
ly clothed condition of the body indi-
Gated death had come suddenly. while
the man was disrobing, but from what
cause there was nothing to show. The
coroner found nothing to indicate sui
eide, there We're no evidences of vio-
lence, and though there seemed little
doubt death was sudden, there was
nothing in the appearance of the corpse
to denote disease calculated to car
ry a person off quickly In looking
through the dead mans effects, Cor
oner Julien found a new silver watch,
a new jack-knife, % cents in money, a
memorandum book, containing a card
showing the deceased to have been a
| member of the Carpenters union of
Butte, and in his valfses, a considerable
quantity of new shirts, underwear, etc.
After the coroners investigation was
completed, the body was removed to
Shermans undertaking rooms. An in
quest will be held, and unless other
means develop to ascertain the cause
of death, an autopsy also
The deceased was 81 years of age
| and a native of Buffalo. N. Y. 1t is
said he was, never married, and as far
as known, has no relatives in this part
of the country. He had been in the
| West a considerable portion of his life
| and much of his time in later years
was spent in Butte