Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-02-15
Suicide Of 1ookkeeper for Montana
Lumber Company Comes ~ the
Result Of q Protr1cted Spree.
LAID HIS PLANS CAREFULLY
Left Letters 70 Wis Brother and
Frienos-Was Hiuhiy Connected
-Arsdk Df Inquest.

through his apparent inability to let
liquor alone, William b. Morrison,
bookkeeper for the Montana Lumber
company, brought prolonged spree
to an end Monday afternoon by COM
hitting suicide.
The act had been carefully planned,
and was the result of much brooding
on the subject. Morrison went to Hell
ena about month ago as witness
in the Bridgeman case, and while
there began drinking. He continued to
drink on his return to Lewistown
three weeks ago. and while he made
several spasmodic efforts to take up
his work again, failed each time and
went on drinking harder than ever.
Secures a Room.
Shortly before 2 o'clock Monday he
went to the Suprenant rooming house
In the Sloan block, and asked the
fandlady if he could secure a room.
He was we'll known to Mrs. Supre-
nant, having been roomer there at
one time, and she complied with his
request. This arrangement concluded.
Morrison left the place, and after an
absence of quarter OF an hour re-
turned and went to his room. About
2:3O he called for the landlady and
asked her to give him drink of
water. When she returned he had
fallen off the bed, but was assisted
back, and made an effort to drink the
water. Mrs. Suprenant had been abb
sent from the room but a few min
utes when he again called for her to
give him a drink, and this time she
was somewhat alarmed at his appear
ance He seemed to be in pain and
his breathing was somewhat labored
and the landlady concluded to stay in
the room to give him any assistance
she could. He rapidly grew worse,
and fearing that his condition was
serious, although not suspecting the
truth, Mrs. Suprenant telephoned for
his closest friend, Mortimer Lewellin,
clerk at L. C. Wilson's drug store,
! who arrived on the scene about 3:35.
He found Morrison lying on the bed
breathing heavily, his nose somewhat
bruised by his fall.
What have you been doing?" ask
ed Mr.. Lewellin.
/ 81 took some stuff" was Morrison's
reply.
What stuff?" persisted his friend.
"Oh. some morphine or cocaine, or
something. It's there on the window"
Finds the Poison.
Mr.. Lewellin then noticed a paper
on the window sill, and, opening it,
found that it contained a white pow
der The truth at once flashed across
his mind, and taking the powder with
him, Mr.. Lewellin hurried back to
the drug store, where brief exami-
nation convinced him that the sub
stance was cocaine. He lost no time
in returning to the room, taking DR..
Foley with him. On reaching the
room. the physician quickly made
preparations to administer an anti
dote. but it was too late. Within
minute after they had entered the
room, Morrison gave gasp and was
dead. The poison had done it's work.
| his spree was ended and his troubles
over.
oDroner's Jury Visits Room.
Coroner F. F. AttiA was at once
notified, and impanneled a jury con-
sisting Of E. B. Harvey, Samuel Weav-
er, Alex. Lehman, Daniel Delzell, p.
C. Wey1ert and R. G. Marsh. The jur-
ors with the coroner and County At.
tOrney Ayres, at once visited the
place and viewed the remains, and
the investigation was continued until
Tuesday.
In Morrison's room were found sew
eral letters, one addressed to Mr..
Lewe1fin, another to James E. Lane,
manager of the Montana Lumber COM
| tn thn nH
me deceased All of these writings
expressed the idea that was uppermost
in MOrrison's mind-that it was "all
off" with him. and left doubt what
ever that the deed had long been
contemplated, and was carefully plan
ned.
.ne inquest proper was held at the
county attorneys office yesterday
morning. The testimony of the wit
nesses brought out the facts stated
above and little more. 1t was shown
that the deceased was what is known
as periodical drinke1, and although
he had never before exhibited this
tendency in Lewistown, it had caused
him trouble at other places.
The most important witness was un-
doubtedly C. B. Noble. Morrison ask
ed him on Sunday to come to the
lumber company's Office Monday, as it
would be the last chance for meet
ing.
when l arrived there" said Mr..
Noble, Morrison was cleaning things
up and I knew he had been drinking.
L said, Billy, you have been at it
again
"'Yes.' Morrison replied. but
won't be at it tonight
i The witness saw what the deceased
meant, and told him he had very
bad idea in his head.
| "Yes," replied Morrison, land moth
ing you can say will get it out. My
mind is made up. This is a hard
world and l shall be better out of It
and am going. l have got the right
dope for 1t and am going to use it."
He Had "the 0sos."
To several Of the witnesses. Nor.
rison stated at different times that
he had "the dope" to end 1t all and
was going to use it. Where he got the
poison 1t is not known. but It 10 like.