The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-23
Edward Mckibben Dies Under
Mysterious Circumstances.
His Body Shows Many Horrible
Bruises.
CORONER is PUZZLED.
Told No One of Having Had an
Encounter.
Had Been Employed on the
Union Pacific.
CORONER is PUZZLED.

Edward McKibben, a Iaborer about
so years of age. died last night at
Keith's hospital, as the result of severe
injuries received from an unknown
source. The primary cause of death
was severe blow over the heart,
which caused congestion Of the heart
and lungs.
McKibben came to John Niedens'
boarding house, at 113 Adams street,
about o'clock Saturday evening. He
was carrying a heavy telescope valise
and an adze handle. He said he was
not feeling well. and asked the keeper
of the boarding house to telephone to
DR.. Davis of North Topeka.
DR.. Davis came and prescribed for
the man. but did not notice any
bruises except a small sore on his lip.
McKibben was around the place until
$3.50 Sunday night when he became
unconscious, and DR.. H. H. Keith was
called. DR. Keith immediteIy called
an ambulance and removed the man
to his hospital. When McKibben's
clothing was removed it was found
that his body was covered with
bruises. His head, arm and chest were
blue from settling blood. The heart
region was black from the effects of
bruise, and although the physicians ad-
ministered restoratives and artificial
respiration, McKibben died without re-
( gaining consciousness.
4 Sheriff Lucas, Detective Ross and
Dr. H Fl. Keith coroner, made an IN
vestigation this morning, searching Nc
Kibben's valise and questioning the
people around the boarding house, but
secured little information. They found
that McKibben had boarded at the
place before, when he worked in the
~ ia Ta14f n 1axT
knew nothing of his habits or personal
history.
Saturday night when he arrived at
the boarding house, he handed $40 to
John Niedens, the proprietor, and told
him to take care of it. He also asked
another boarder to write a letter for
him, as his arm was stiff and he didn't
feel able to write He dictated q letter
to Nose Boydston of Eslu1oHt, Kansas,
in which he said that he was sick and
wanted BOydston to come and see him.
He explained that Boydston was his
nephew.
About 9 o'clock Saturday night he
got up and went to a drug store on
Fourth street, where he purchased a
bottle of iniment When he returned
he asked Levi Cunningham, a young
man who slept in the same room, to
assist him in removing his clothes
McKibben complained that his shoul-
der hurt him. The boy assisted him to
remove his coat and shoes and re-
+ turned to Ded-
No one around the boarding house
knew that NfcKibben had been injured.
He talked little, and said nothing about
his sickness except that he felt bad,
and had come to Topeka to spend a
week in "doctoring up"
When he first came in, he said that
/ he had been out on the Northwest
ern,' which is taken to mean that he
had been working on the Union Pa
cific cutoff.
The ofFicerz were rnvstified by the
( statement of Chris Cunningham, who
lives at 112 North Adams street, about
a block from the boarding house. He
said that McKibben was his cousin.
He also said that the boy, Levi Gun
ningham, was a second cousin to the
dead man. AS the boy had told the
officers that he had never seen McKib-
ben before he was put in his room Sat
urday night, they returned and ques-
| toned him.
The boy declared that he did not
/ know McKibben, and it was discovered
that as the dead man had been a wan
derer all his life, and the boy had been
away from home for several years he
had never heard of his kinsman.
An autopsy will be held by Coroner
Keith. 1t is evident, from the external
4 bruises that AIcKjbben had been beaten
| severely with some blunt instrument.
His right arm bore the imprint of a
| hammer. The right hand was bruised
and badly swollen, and DR.. Keith can
not understand how the discolOration
from a blow on the forehead escaped
the notice of the other boarders at the
/ Niedens place