The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-23
STRANGER DIES ON TRAIN NEAR.
ING BILLINGS.
END DUE TO CONSUMPTION
Body Identified as That Of Frank
Hodges, an Actor and Ad-
vance Agent.

When yesterday mornings Northern
Pacific passenger train No. 3 arrived
from the east the body of a dead man
taken off. 1t was that of Frank
Hodges, who died in his seat. The
spark of life that had been animal
ing him went out between the rail-
road bridge, a couple of miles to the
east, and the city.
Coroner Rinehart was notified and
gave the body in charge of Under
taker Smith, who removed it to his
establishment. There search of the
remains was made and it developed
that the man was Frank Hodges. A
small suit case was the only hand
baggage the deceased had carried.
On his person were found a number
of letters and also $65.6O in cash.
These were taken in charge by the
coroner, who sumomned a jury and
prepared OF hold an inquest at $3.50.
Albert Morrison, conductor, and E.
C. Bell and G. L. Bills, the brakemen
of the train on which Hodges died,
were ~subpoenaed as witnesses. Their
testimony was heard Immediately, as
they had to return east on the North
Coast Limited, which arrived shortly
afterward.
Mr.. Morrison stated that when he
was passing through the train after
it had left Custer station he saw
the deceased entering one of the day
coaches with the porter of the tourist
sleeper. The porter had told him
to look out for the man, as he was
bughouse" and had been taken out OF
the sleeper, where he had acted
strangely and kept the other passen-
gers awake. The man had talked to
him, continued the conductor, and
said a lot of men were after him for
the purpose of killing him. He said
a niger had knocked him down
and that he had got onto the train to
escape those who were trying to take
his life. The man said he was 60
ing to Billings. Mr.. .dorrison said he
had tried to pacify him and told him
he, too, was going to Billings and
would look out for him.
After talking to the man a while
the witness said he went to another
part of the train, but not before he
had instructed a brakeman to keep
his eye on the man, as he was sick,
The last time he saw him alive was
a short distance beyond the bridge.
At that time the man was tanning
himself with a handkerchief. When
the train reached the station the man
was dead.
Although not certain, Mr.. Morrison
thought the man got onto the train
at st. Paul. He told the witness that
he had a letter to Frank S~avaresy,
Mr.. Bell testified that he first saw
n man at Forsyth, where he en-.
tered one of the day coaches from the
tourist sleeper. AS he acted strangely
the witness said he watched him to
e that he did not attempt to lump
off while the train was in motion
Finally the man fell asleep and lust
before the bridge across the Yellow
stone was reached he awoke him.
telling him that they were getting
into Billings, where the man had said
ne was going. When this side of the
bridge the witness thought the man
a fallen asleep again and went to
wake him a second time. When he
approached he saw the mar was dead,
but to assure himself on that point
felt his wrist and found that the pulse
had ceased beating. Being satisfied
that the mar was really dead the wit.
ness said he had notified the con.
ductor.
Witness Bills testified that the con.
ductor had told him to watch a man
In one OF the day coaches and see
to it that he did not jump out of the
window. He found the mar actine
in a peculiar manner and verv rest,
less. as he would remain seated g
little while and then would get ur
and walk up and down the car. Thu
porter of the tourist sleeper had told
him that the man had tried to jumr
OF at Forsyth and they had put him
into the day coach, SO as to not annoy
the other inmates of the car, VIII
were asleep.
At Huntley the witness got off t.
flag behind and did not see the mar
again until Billings was reached. Their
hn Woc hood Tho NooD1o &, ~. %,