The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1902-10-08
AND THAT OFFICIAL Is ABLE TO
TAKE STEPS TO SAVE THE
WoULD-BE SUICIDE.
MAN ABOUT TO DIE LETS
JOHNSON KNOW BY MAIL
Tells Where His Body Will Be Found
and Gives Direction as to His Funeral
But That Celebration May Not Be
Necessary, as Help Reaches the Man
in Time to Staunch Flow Of Blood.

Coroner Johnson received letter
through the mail this morning, shortly be-
fore noon, that sent him scurrying off to
prevent, if possible, tragedy which was
foretold with studied exactness in tho
epistle.
The letter was signed by August Mueller
and it informed the coroner that tho
writer was about to commit suicide. Tho
writer also told the coroner where to find
the body and what disposition to make
Of it.
Here is the way the letter ran:
TO the Coroner of Silver Bow County,
Montana:
Upon or near the great outcroppings
of Manganese, about 700 or 800 feet north
erly from the Travona mine hoist and
perhaps about one block westerly from
Jackson street, Butte, you may find the
corpse of the writer Of these lines, IL you
look for it. l have decided to end my
life, and il / may have my choice in the
matter, l would prefer to have Mr.. Joe
Richards take charge of my remains.
As to His Burial.
~ ask to be buried in the clothes you
find on me they are good enough for me.
II also ask that the city or county
take charge and pay for my funeral. 1t
is the first and last favor ask of them,
although l have spent nearly every cent
of my earnings for the last I8 years in
this city and county.
II was born in Switzerland, October "a,
1860. l leave no money or valuables be-
hind, excepting few articles of wearing
apparel in my fathers house in Walker
vile. Please do not take my body to that
place, but keep me i'll the morgue or
undertaking shop until my burial My
father resides about ~ miles from here,
near the Ruby mine and mill, in the Low
land district, Jefferson county, Mont. It
is for him more than all else that. feel
any regrets. also have a brother, Alfred
Mueller, at Livingston, Mont. His adj.
dress is p. o. Box a74, but as he is sick
at present and has been SO nearly all
summer, | prefer that he shall not be
notified at once of my deed. The same
is my desire in regard to my sister, Mis.
w. r. Hodgkins of No. 2o2o East Sixth
street, Los Angeles, Cal, at least not
until | am buried. | was brought up a
Protestant, but | suppose | am not
Christian, else | could never have come
to this"
Coroner Acts Promptly.
The letter was signed August Mueller"
Immediately on reading the letter Coro-
ner Johnson informed William Knight of
Richards undertaking establishment, and
Mr.. Knight hurried to the scene mentioned
in the letter, in a buggy.
W hen he arrived at the spot where Muel-
Ter lay he found the man lying on his back
unconscious. His left wrist had been
gashed by a knife and the arteries sew
cred. Mueller was rapidly bleeding to
death and Mr.. Knight, after first binding
up the wrist, brought the half-dead man
to town. He was taken to County Physi-
clan |. Donnelly's Office, where the needed
attention was given.
Up to late hour this afternoon Mueller
had not reganed consciousness, but DIR.
Donnelly stated he had an even chance for
his life.