Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-08-14
SUICIDE
OF GEORGE
GODFREY
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
George Godfrey was found dead II
bed at room In the Mountain View
motel, conducted by Mrs. Nellie Col
lier. Mrs. Collier nor any of the EN-
pioyes OF the house had any idea this
morning OF the cause of death, unless
IL be heart failure. No theory could
be advanced for self f-destruction OF
suicide, Godfrey was to have gone
this morning TO Salt Lake, accom-
panied by Miss Nellie I.andis, re.
Gently OF the Strater, and the young
lady was at the Union depot with
trunks and baggage waiting for his
arrival when the expressman to car.
ry his baggage returned to the depot,
informing her that he was found
dead
Fred Godfrey. brother. slept with
George last night, as he had frequent
ly done before. and arose about q
O'Clock this morning, leaving George
In bed Fred. before having his
breakfast, talked to Mrs. Collier. tell
Ing her that he had talked to George
about certain business matters.
When the expressman came for
Georges baggage. son OF Mrs. Col
Her was sent to the room to wake
him, and opening the door the boy
discovered him dead. lying across the
bed. with his head on one arm and
his feet resting on his satchel at the
side OF the bed.
The body was still warm and limp.
but life was extinct. George had said
to those about the house during the
previous day that he had been drink
Ing heavily. He had admitted that
the young lady mentioned would ac-
company him TO salt Lake ana That
they intended to be married.
The time Intervening between Fred
Godfrey arising and dressing and go
ing down stairs and when the ex-
pressman came for the baggage could
not nave been more than an
hour. as II IL said Godfrey would
have had 10 minutes In which to
make the 7:40 Southern train had ne
not been dead. That George was not
dead when Fred arose is evident in
the fact that he had changed his po-
sition from lying In the bed to aris-
ing and falling across the bed, on top
the covers and all. So 1t must ap-
pear that whatever is the cause of
death. George Godfrey was alive
when his brother left the room and
that death occurred within half an
hour.
Physicians advise that only prussic
acid would induce instant death.
Nothing was found in the room to in
dicate that poison had been used.
When Miss Landis was informed OF
the death she went to the Mountain
View, and while there made the state
ment to Mrs. Collier that she had let
Godfrey have $50 of her money. ask
ing II any money was found on mis-
body. Search had been made and no
ed Mrs. Collier the previous evening
that In looking after his brother he
found that he had 313 In cash. Be-
fore departing this morning for Salt
Lake the dead man was to have paid
Mrs. Caller the remainder OF bill
amounting to so or S12.
Mrs Collier was deeply affected
when seen by reporter. She said
she had suffered greatly through the
poisoning cases reported In her house
during the past few months. both
through humiliation and financial
loss Since she had been advised that
ptomaine poison in the food was the
cause at least in one occurrence she
had not regarded these matters with
80 much mystery as at hrst, but the
mysterious and sudden death OF God
frey seemed 80 strange as TO make
her feel that her house had been
sought by the fates.
The body was taken to the Duran
go undertaking establishment thi'
morning and at IL O'Clock post
mortem examination was begun b,
Drs. Turrell and Lefurgey, the stom
ach being taken at l1:25. An inques
will be held this evening at which al
the evidence in information which
may show the cause OF death will b
sought by the court OF inquiry.