The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-08

The coroner's fury. az tins inquest over
the remains OF John j. Reed. OF Portland,
found dead on the beach at the Inter-
section OF Railroad avenue and Jackson
street Thursday morning. has returned
a verdict that the deceased came 20 his
death by drowning The jury finds. how
ever. that the drowning was the direct
result Of On attack upon the deceased by
. party or parties unknown.
The inquest was held yesterday at the
morsue. Coroner Sparkling presiding. Ed
ward Wheeler was chosen as foreman of
the Jury. The witnesses examined were
OfYscer J. =. Cameron on whose beat tho
casualty occurred, and Detective NJ r.
Powers, one OF the officers detailed by
Chief Reed upon the investigation. Their
testimony was for the most part. a repe-
titfon OF what has already hesn given In
the Post Intelligence.
oficer Cameron testified to having met
Reed In company with three other men
near the switching tower on Railroad
avenue about o'clock in the morning
of Thursday Reed and one OF the other
men were talking together and both ap-
peared TO Cameron TO be under the in
fuence OF liquor but as they did not ap-
pear ill-natured Cameron thought moth
ing 81 the matter and passed on. The
OtneT TWO nenDSEs Oh inc QutFtettS bUn
nothing 20 say and were not particularly
noticed by the officer.
Detective Powers story.
Detective Powers told OF the finding OF
tho body and It's position and condition
when found. During the course Of his
examination Powers revealed much Of tho
theory which the police now believe In
oorporates the facts Of the case Briefly
this IL TO the effect that Reed went down
on the water front with some chance
acquaintance: that he and at least one
OF tho others were under the influence
OF liquor and became engaged In a quar-
rel which led 10 blows and that Reed
was getting the better of II until his
antagonist pulled out small pocket
knife and began slnshing at him. The
cuts In Reeds clothing were apparently
made by a small knife and though there
scratches on his hands, breast and
back where the knife reached his flesh.
In only one spot was blood drawn; this
was IN the small of the back, and taken
In connection with the fact that most
of the cuts IN the clothing and scratches
on tn. flesh we're In the back. 1t n
thought that Reed turned and ran awav
from his assallant, the latter folio wing
him. slashing and jabbing with his knife
Reeds hat was found on the dock some
distance from the point where his body
WAS ipuHHt ululIhtiHE tiht II Wdd knotk-
cd OF In the earlier stage of the quarrel
As the hat II also cut in the back 1t Is
thought that tho point where ~ was found
probably marks the place where Reed
turned TO run from his assailant. Fol-
lowing this theory II IL believed that
Reed. unfamiliar with his surroundings,
made straight for tho edge of the dock.
stumbled over tho edge Of the elevated
sidewalk and went sprawling down onto
he nd ma Nnra
being submerged In the water Of the hay.
The fall may have stunned him or he
may have been exhausted from the con-
test and running. At any rate he could
not move his head and In GaspinE flied
his lungs with water and died of strang-
ulation.
Ne was Not Murdered.
This theory appears TO have been coin
cided In by tho members of the coroner's
jury, since the verdict brought In yester-
day II In exact accordance.
II has been learned that Reed left
P3rtiand, July 5. with the intention OF
taking passage on q steamer from Seat
tie for Nome, July he wrote letter 70
n frisad In Portland. announcing his ar
rival In this CITY. and saying that the
party whop he expected TO accompany
10 Mend had not arrived here. but that
theS would probably get away July 6
II IN DOT known yet whether or not Reed
hod with him any considerable amount
Of W0ney. In settling hill at tho Rain
isrS2fsna where be was stopping he
chs1ked a so geld piece. but made no
show Of any mora money No ono who
met him here knows OF his having a
watch
An EFFORT is now being made to learn
fran Reeds friends 20 Portland
his exact financial condition when
fs isft that city. and whether or not
he had ~ watch or any vAluahlss with
him. Meanwhile tho fact that no ex-
pevtsd Go meet someone In Seattle with
whsut no was going 90 Nome ia tskcn
20 indicate that perhaps the party was
expected Was "a pay Reeds expenses
Thu faet- en- this point will be devel-
ap~s within the next few DAYS through
ccwespondence with Reeds friends.
Theory OF the reiice.
TNs police 90 NOT accept tho theory q
. aehbarats murder The nature OF tho
wounss found en tbs body IS against such
an iaes. none Of them we're sufficient
20 haNs caused aefteus tulurv There
wese tive slight ahrasious ON the sgalp.
e~Aieney caused ~ blows from cane
or vn,etclia, hut these. 90 Is said. arursr
taT&lx serious ENOUGH ta have tauard
unoe rsrhpsEsaa THE wstrhwen on the
aech ara thc man tn ths switching tower
heard 70 outcrN oR the morning ef tho
occurrence indicating that the quarrel
hefsR suddenly snd was quickly tcrml-
natvd Tha Sound OF Reeds fsU 60 the
sessA would hardy I've noticeable amid
the naises V.ade oy tde ard JsittNc od
under the Sotks
gAe prsenut theory ~ The polio. 10 q,
eatatg ed above. NatA tte additional tdva
that when Ecea feH ts0m ths dock his