The Delta independent., 1906-03-09

The inquest resulting over the finding
of a skeleton of a man about three
miles west of the town of Cedaredge in
this county, returned verdict on Tues
day last, after having been in session
since the previous Saturday. can un-
known man killed and concealed by an
unknown party or parties" was the
official wording.
The first session of the inquest was
held at Cedaredge on Saturday, Coro-
ner Burgin and County Attorney Ste
phan conducting the proceedings. w.
NJ. Gill, Malcolm Patterson, Louis Will
cox, w. J. Brewer. II. II. Whipple and
Luther w. Rood were selected as jur-
ors.
The evidence heard on the first day
was from parties who were intimately
acquainted with William Alexander and
knew as much about his disappearance
as any know. The one fact that in
duced the county authorities to hold an
inquest was the fact that the skull
found was possessed of set of molar
appearing teeth in front as well as be-
hind. This condition was one of the
working bases OF the investigation and
witness after witness was repeatedly
asked concerning them and whether
they look ed like those of Alexander as
remembered in life. There was de-
cided difference in opinion. No wit
nesses were entirely sure or positive
that the skull before them WAS that
of Alexander but there were witnesses
who swore that II WAS NOT. The
reason for the latter statement being
that Mr.. Alexander was supposed to
have had DR.. Dorsey, one time dentist
Of Delta, extract two molar teeth from
left hand jaw while the skeleton or
skull showed that such was not the fact
IN this case.
During the investigation the relations
which existed between Richard Forest,
the former partner of the man Alexan-
der who disappeared, were thoroughly
gone into. A difference of testimony
was evident in the case. Forest claim
ed that at no time we're their relations
of such a bitter nature that any hard
feelings remained while other witnesses
claimed that bad blood was between
them continually. 1t was also proven
that on the day Alexander left for Del
tn he had received at the hands Of
whom is now county assessor, Sam l..
Cockreham, an order for provisions for
the ranch on the mesa. That the bill
of goods which were purchased at Jack
Gales store did not coincide in one in
stance with what Cockreham had or
dcred, that bar or so of hard water
soap was included in the purchases,
that Alexander or none at the ranch
would have use for same. That a rifle
was borrowed from Jack Gale and that
Mr.. Alexander was not in the habit of
corrying or using rifle. That Mr..
Alexander had drawn from the Delta
County Bank all of the funds of the
firm of Alexander & Forest, that he
had borrowed nearly three hundred dol
lars besides and that he had repeatedly
told different parties that he intended
to leave the ranch on top and travel to
New Mexico, n state he had formerly
lived in. Also that while n resident of
Wet Mountain valley he had disap-
peared and no one had heard from him
for ten years. That he was in the hab-
it of saying little about his personal
affairs and relations and that he was a
man who had little fear of anything.
The finding of the body on a trail or
a road that was seldom used in travel
ing between Delta and the lakes was
explained by one witness only, c. d.
johnson, who says that Mr.. Alexander
had told him, on the day last seen in
Delta, that he was going to take the
..,A .,y La..,. TIL, ,,;aca of ovi