The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-01-12
INQUEST HELD.
McCloskey's Death Occurred Six
Weeks ago.
The Maccabees of Deerfield, Mich, Iele
graph Instructions for the Proper
Care of the Body.

Very little new light has been shed
upon the death of Patrick j. Nc
Closkey, whose body was found in the
Minnesota river Friday. 1t has
been established to reasonable GER
tainty that he fell into the river on the
night of Nov Goth or within a day or
two thereafter.
McCloskey came to Mankato on
Thursday, Nov. oath. and and made in
ouiries at once for member OF the
Maccabees. He was directed to DR..
Joscelyn, who entertained him at
supper and invited him to stay that
night with him, but McCloskey pre-
ferred to go to hotel, and got lodging
that night at the Commercial House
He remarked to DR.. Joscelyn that he
was short of money. On the morning
of Nov. Goth, man answering the de-
scription of McCloskey met Chas.
Ritter in a North Front street saloon,
and said that he was out of money and
had pawned his watch with which to
procure meals, and would have to go to
work. Mr.. Ritter directed him to go
to the stone quarries for employment.
but the man said that he was not used
to.that kind of labor as he was a horse
sheer or blacksmith by trade
Chief Bruels, after having a talk
with Ritter, called at L. Salet's pawn
shop and there found that P. j. Nc
Closkey had signed a receipt for $3.50
for the watch, which was nickle
cased one. This receipt was dated
Nov. 27th, but might have been dated
one day ahead. This was the last that
anyone remembers of having seen Nc
Closkey.
McCloskey's receipt for assessment Do
in the Maccabees indicates that he was
about thirty five years of age when he
ioin-d that order. The body is in such
condition that its age cannot be
judged.
A reply to the telegram sent Fri
day afternoon to Deer6eld, Mich, was
received stating that no such person as
McCloskey was known there. 1t de
yeloped later that there are two towns
in Michigan named Deerfeld, and 2.
P. Scott sent dispatch to the Mac.
cabees tent in the other Deertield and
this forenoon received the following
reply:
Give body proper care and hold for
further instructions.
It is thought from McCloskey's re-
ceipt that he carried $1,000 life insur-
ance in the Maccabees.
Coroner Kennedy summoned the fol-
lowing jury and held an inquest at the
CITY hall that forenoon: w, II. Fay,
Murray Pierson, J M. Newton, j. +.
Reynolds, H. G.. APPEL and Michael
FuquaY.
The witnesses examined were Alex
Thuemmler, Chauncy Fowles. James
Shoemaker, Geo. May, Chas Ritter and
DIR Jocelyn. The evidence brought
out was the same as mas Already peen
related and threw no light on the most
essential feature of the case. the cause
of McCloskey's getting into the place
where he met his death. 1t is still the
general opinion, however, that ne fell
in while in the state of intoxication,
and smoothered in the mud before ne
was able to extricate himself. NO
marks of violence were found upon his
body.
The jury brought in the following
verdict: ''We, the jury, find that Pat
rick J. McCloskey came to his death by
drowning in the Minnesota river below
the pumping alton in Mankato,
Mimi, on or about Nov. 9th, 1872.
The remains are being held for fur
Their instructions from Deerheld.