The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-28
They Came to the Arlington Hotel
Early i'm the Morning Joking and
I'm High Spirits.
HOTEL KEEPERS STATEMENT
SHE SAID THE MEN WERE UNDER
THE INFLUENCE OF LIQUOR.
Ezekiel w. Pollock and Merriam
PiersOn the observation-disclosures
Said Death Was Accidental.

Asphyxiated by gas, two men were tound
dead yesterday morning in the Arlington
Hotel at 3il West Washington street.
When Mrs. Julia Fouty. who keeps the
hotel. went about her duties yesterday
morning, she was met by strong odor OF
artificial gas. She found that the gas came
from rooms on the third floor occupied by
two men who had come in during the early
morning. With the assistance of one of
the employees efforts were made to awaken
the men, but to no avail. The door was
broken open and on a bed in the room lay
the bodies of Ezekiel w. Pollock and Mer-
Ram Pierson, carpenters from Bridgeport.
Both men were dead.
The investigation showed that the gas
came from open gas jet. The room
when entered by the hotel employees, was
full of gas and windows had to be raised
to allow it's escape before they could work
in the room.
Mrs. Fouty. when she discovered the
bodies did not think the men were dead,
and again made efforts to arouse them.
Finally realizing that the men were dead
she telephOned the police station. The
bodies were taken TO the morgue, where
they were viewed by Coroner Brayton.
L
man and lived with his father on farm
three miles south of Salem. Pierson lived
with his wife and one child three miles
north of Bridgeport. 1t is said they had
been working at their trade in Bridgeport.
In Pollock's coat were found check for
s21 drawn on the Citizens Bank of Plain
field and signed by !. A. Mattern. of Plain
field and draft for $162.0 drawn on the
Kinsley Bank, of Kinsley, Kan. In Pier
sons pockets were found a number of re-
ceipts for dues paid to Lodge No. 90, K.
of p. at Plainfield. A note book also
found contained his name and address in
Bridgeport.
MEN WERE JOKING.
Mrs. Fouty, in speaking of the two men.
said that they came to the hotel about
o'clock yesterday morning and asked for
a room. Both men were slightly under
the influence of liquor. She asked them
to register and in so doing they joked each
other about their condition. Pollock wrote
his name and handed the pen to Person
The latter laughed and said it was not
necessary for both to register. They were
assigned to a room and retired imme-
| diately.
Mrs. Fouty said she gave little thought
| to the two men, except to wonder, per-
haps, If they had recovered from their lit.
| tie spree, until the smell of gas aroused
| her anxiety about o'clock. She though,
| of them at once and went to the door OF
/ their loom. III was locked ana SHOUTS anC
pounding had no effect. The odor of gas
was so strong that she could remain neal
the door only with difficulty. Finally, wher
| the door was broken open, she saw hel
worst fears had been realized.
Pollock and Person it is thought, mus
| have turned out the gas and then in fun
| bling with the jet must have accidentally
| turned it on again. Mrs. Fouty said thai
| she had passed through the hall after tn,
| men went to the room and had noticed tina
| the gas was burning. A little later sh,
| saw the room was dark. The valve cocl
| worked easily and she is of opinion that i
| must have turned too far.
Coroner Brayton declared the deaths t
| be accidental and the police hold the sam,
opinion. Relatives of the men were in
| formed at once.