Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-20
Badly Decomposed Body of Gus
R. Peterson Discovered In
South Third Avenue Room
PROBABLY DUE TO DRINK
Strange Stencil Attracts Attention Of
Ernploye of seely Restaurant Who
Kicks in the Door, Finding tho Body
in Fearful State of Decomposition
Was Last Seen Monday Morning.

feafluliy dlScolofeu, ana tu0ateu al
most beyond recognition, due to an adj
vanced state of dec imposition the dead
body of Gus r. Peterson, "a Swede.
thought to be a former bridge carpen-
ter for the Iowa Central, was found in
room over the Seely Restaurant
ComIany's place of business on South
Third avenue this morning at 10
o'clock. The man was last seen in a
drunken state Monday morning, and
Judging by the condition of the body
must have died some time during that
day. AS soon as the body was found
Coroner n. ii. Nichols and Sheriff Hut
son were summoned, and an inquest
was decided upon. It is supposed that
death was due to over Indulgence in
alcoholic liquors.
Mrs. Belle Merritt, AN employee Of the
restaurant was attracted to the room
this morning by the peculiar stnd terri
BILE oGor emanating from 1t. She said
she had noticed the same small Tues
day afternoon, but thought 1t came
from the ground below. She tried the
door, but found 1t locked, and ,altho she
peeped thru the key hole could see
nothing. She summoned H. E. How
ard. the restaurant cook, who kicked
In the door. Fully dressed. the body
was found lying on the bed, with the
face upturned. one arm thrown UP over
the head the other stretched at the side.
The face was black. and the body bad
~ bloated. Upon the arrival of the
officers help was secured and the body
brought up town to Wilbur & Sons es-
tablishment.
Last Seen on Monday.
Joseph kesner, a former section man
of the Central, Mrs. Merritt, Mr.. How
ard. c. A. Seely, and A. I. Elder are
i've South Third avenue residents. who
are known to have seen Peterson on
Sunday and Monday. On both days he
is said to have been drunk, in fact
Howard and Mrs. Merritt stated that
he had been drunk most Of The time
since he had taken room over the
restaurant, which was about three
weeks ago. Monday morning he Went
to the A. T. Elder drug store and
asked for something to steady his
nerves. Mr.. Elder gave him a small
dose OF elixir of bromide potassium.
Peterson swallowed 1t from the spoon.
which shook violently in his trembling
hand. He was seen In the restaurant
about o'clock Monday morning. There
1t was said that he had kept his room
constantly locked, and had lett word
that he would take care of 1t himself
For that reason he was left untlisturb-
o,aA h nd n c.
ed He appeared to have money or at
least he paid for all that he received.
Believed to Live in Mason City.
1t is thought that Peterson has
wife and family living in Mason City.
One Gus Peterson, who up to few
weeks ago had been working as bridge
for the Iowa Central. had
been seen about town during the past
few weeks. In his clothing was found
A letter addressed to Gus r. Peterson,
at Coalfield. The postrnark bore the
stamp ,of Homestead. thought to be
Pennsylvania. In his pockets was
found $3.50 in money. and in the room |
were three bottles OF whisky, all OF
them partly emptied. The clothing |
OH the body gathered up in the room |
was very respectable. Peterson is
thought to be about 80 years of age,
" short and stout build, with smooth
shaved face and light hair.
inquest Tomorrow Morning.
Coroner Nichols has set 10 o'clock
onorrow morning as the time for the
inquest. Jurors, in the persons of w.
? Maulsby. Engineer e. G. Brown. of
he Central, and Councilman John A.
sieg, OF the Sixth ward. have been Sc
ected. The body will be buried to-
light at the county farm. Coroner
Nichols has discovered that the man is
married., and that letter from his
wife was written him recently from
filford, Mass.