The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-11-02
Body Of an Unknown Man
Found on the Track.
WAS 1T A MURDER?
Circumstances Surrounding the Case Give
Rise to Rumors That Foul
Play Was Used.

The deal body of an unknown man
was found on the railroad track
about three miles west of town yes.
terday by l.. Sparrows, who resides
near Boorman's mni. Mr.. Sparrow
was on his way to Kalispell at the
time and was walking on the track
when he came across the body, and
on his arrival in the city the author
tiles were Immediately notified and
Coroner Willoughby together with
Deputy Sheriff Therriault, ,accompar.
led by Bee reporter went out to
where the body was found.
The dead man was laying about
five feet from the rails, his head to-
wards the side of the cut; the body
was in such a position that the first
impressions were that he was asleep
He was on his left side, the head rest
ing on his arm, which was Outstretch-
ed above the head. The body was NOT
mangled in any way, as would be the
result If struck by train, and the
only wound discernible was scalp
wound, about two incnes long, on the
left side of his head The wound was
clean cut, such as would be made by
being struck by some blunt instru-
ment or by the corner of car. The
portion of the face that was in con-
tact with the ground was drawn AMI
bloody, but this is accounted for by
the supposition that when he first
laid down he was alive and when
death ensued and his body became
rigid, that part would naturally be out
of conformity. The coroner made q
thorough examination of his person
but discovered nothing that would
lead to his identity. The only clue
discovered was transportation tick
ct issued by the western Employ
ment agency at Minneapolis, MINI,
ISSUED to K. Johnson. the ticket was
dated Oct. "a, 1901, and was num-
Dered 1864. From the card it was
learned that the dead man was boun,.
to Jennings as laborer for A. Guth-
RE 4 Co. Nothing that could lead t.
The discovery of his home or relatives
was found, and he is APPARENTLY a
stranger to all. He will probably bo
,uried in this city.
1neer is considerable mystery
shrouding the maner in which he
NUAS W lilo uSolA, lACiluCh
| many to believe that foul play was
dsed. If he was walking along III,
track and was struck by train i.
would naturally be supposed tn.
would be badly mangled and cut up,
| ou1 such is not the case. The cut on
| mis- head is another mysterious fea-
ture of the affair. 1t is clean cut
wound, such as made by knife or
| Ratchet, or a blunt club in the hands
| OF some person who welded it with
'"adly effect. But the effects of the
blow, unless 1t fractured the inner
skull, was not enough to cause the
| death of healthy man. Then, again,
| ais hat which was picked up a few
,eet from his body, bore no traces
81 cut OF any kind, neither was there
| my blood upon it as would be the
case If it was on his head wnen he re,
ceived the blow. From the position
OF the body when found it was ev..
| dent that the man was alive when he
laid down. 1t was just the position
man would naturally assume anu
it is thought that after receiving the
| blow on the head he laid down and
either became unconscious or was
not able to move, and died from ex-
| posture.
The body was brought to the NOR.
que in this city and DR.. duncan was
| summoned to make an examination
of the body. In the course of the ex-
animation it was discovered that the
dead man had also received a hard
blow in the mouth, as several broken
teeth were found. Nothing could b,
| discovered that would tend to clear
up the mystery of the cause of his
| death, however, and the examination
| developed nothing new. A cOroner's
jury was then summoned and after
hearing the testimony of the doctor,
Mr.. Sparrow and others, they return
ed verdict that the deceased came
to his death from cause unknown,
1t is thought by many that he either
fell off or was thrown OF a train and
in falling received the injuries men.
toned. and not being able to secure
assistance he died from the exposure
to the cold night air Others think
that he was held up while walking
along the track, and received the blow
on the head in putting up a fight.
The fact that no money or valuables
of any kind was found on his person
encourages this belief.
| iie deceased is apparently about
30 years of age, medium sized and of
a dark complexion. His hair and
mustache are black and he Is evi.
IDENTIFY of foreign extraction. On his
right forearm is tattooed picture of a
figure. evidently river driver. dress
d in mackinaws and leaning on q
cant hook. From this picture it is
thought the dead man is lumberm r
or riverman