Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-04-25
CAUSE UNKNOWN

The coroners jury impaneled to hold
an inquest regarding the sudden death
Of Myron j. German, the Santa Fe Pa.
| cific brakeman. who was found dead in
the caboose OF his train crew, Mon.
day morning, returned verdict at
IL. 80 this noon that death resulted
from cause and causes unknown to the
jury.
Conductor Frank A. Murphy, who
was in charge OF the crew with which
German was connected was the first
witness to testify. He stated that the
crew came in at $40 Friday night and
that German was perfectly sober when
they arrived here and had always been
sober and Industrious on all previous
trips; that the story circulated init.
mating that German had been drunk
for two weeks and was habitual
drunkard was absolutely false and
without any foundation whatever. as
on no occasion while German was on
duty had he ever seen him in an inc.
briated condition.
He further stated that when the
crew reported for duty at 10 O'Clock
Saturday morning, he talked with Ger
man in the Office. German was asking
for lay OFF, saying he was not feeling
well, and when informed by Mr. Muir
ply that the entire crew had been re.
leased until Monday morning he de
parted for his home.
Conductor Murphy had an affidavit
drawn up to the effect that German
had been sober and industrious man
while in discharge OF his duties, which
was up to within forty hours of his
mysterious death.
Ed. Levitt, the rear brakeman of the
crew, testified that he had entered the
caboose between 10 and IL o'clock
Sunday morning, to clean up the ca
hoose, but seeing German laying on q
bunk at the other end OF the car, and
surprising he was asleep, he left the
caboose without disturbing German,
not even going to the part OF the car
where German was lying
When the reports, which were circu.
lated, that German had been drinking
at various saloons, were investigated
they were found to he without any
truth whatever. 1t was stated by DR..
Elder, who examined the body, that
the little over a half pint of whisky,
which he is supposed to have con.
sumed, would not have affected him in
any way. The only thing found near
the bunk on which ne was found dead,
was two half-pint bottles, one entirely
empty and the other over half full.
Inc stories regarding the amount OF
money he had In his possession when
last seen and the amount when found,
have caused mystery to center
around the affair. One party, whose
name could not be learned, passed the
mark among a few people that he
had seen German Friday night with
over $500 in his possession; another
story, which was spread by gossip. was
that he had $25 Saturday morning.
When these statements, II they be
truths. are placed under consideration
with the two bits found on his dead
body, II looks mysterious.
His friends are anxious that post
mortem examination be neld, as they
fear that his unexpected death might
have resulted from foul play. But such
an examination, at the countys ex.
pense, is considered by some as i'm.
possible. since statements have been
made which, II they are true, would
not gain the support OF county in
post norton examination. The re-
mains are sill at the undertaking par
Tors of o. W. Strong q Sons, and will
undoubtedly be sent to Mrs. Germans
home in Eldon. Iowa, some time this
week.
The verdict rendered by the jury has
for the present cleared up the matter
as nearly as can he accomplished, and
unless more evidence can be brought
to ligh; the verdict rendered today
will rerNain as final