Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-02
CORONER'S JURY
PRON0UN need
CURRY DEAD
GOVERNOR OFFICIALLY
DENIES THE REPORT
Was Naturally Surprised at the
News of His DemiSe-Story
Of the Executive and Cow
boy Jury,

boy Jury,
Governor George Curry Of New
Mexico was officially declared dead by
a c%oroner's jury i'm Las Animas county,
col. in the early eighties.
The body of a man was discovered
on the plains about fifty miles west Of
Trinidad. The only Justice Of the
peace in that part of the county was
notified, and, having gathered a jury
of e%oWpunchers an inquest was duly
held and a verdict rendered according
to law: THAT George Curry came to
his death from sunstroke."
In the pocket Of the vest of the
corpse was found an honorable dis
charge from the United States service
and other papers showing that the
man had been one George Curry, and
as there were two baggage checks
from the Trinidad hotel, the first time
that the justice Of the peace came to
town he took them in and laying the
down on the counter before
the clerk, asked him If he knew any
thing about the man.
The clerk glanced at the papers
and calculated:
That's me-"
What do you mean?' said the JUS
tice.
why, that's my name. I'm George
Curry, said the clerk.
Then you are a dead one. for the
Jury said YOU were" was the statement
Of the startled justice.
At that time Mr.. Frankcl, a Trini-
ded ieWeier, was the coroner for this
county, and after consultation it vas
decided that as the dead man was
alive, il would be better TO eXhume
the remains and hold another inquest
and give it another name.
So Mr.. Frankel had a party take
the trip to the eastern part Of the
county and dig up the corpse and take
1t to Trinidad. Another jury was inn
paneled and Governor Curry was the
star witness. He positively stated that
the corpse was not George Curry, but
was man from Cleveland, Ohio, Ia the
name Of John Lynns. The jury be-
iieved his statement and the second
verdict read that: "JOhn Lynns. of
Cleveland, Ohio, came to his death
from sunstroke while on the plains
cast of Trinidad"
This satisfied Mr.. Curry until a few
years afterwards a report was circu-
lated that he had cen killed in the
Red River mining district in New Mex
leo.
George Ellsworth. now marshal at
Il am writing to ask If you are the
ticc of the peace who held the first in
quest, and as this was the only Off
cial act he ever performed. IL hurt
his pride to think that he had killed
the wrong man. Every once i'm a
while he would grow reminiscent and
tell his friends that il was hard to be-
lievc that the roommate of Curry had
taken his vest and died on the plains
as the second coruners jury said he
did.
When Curry was appointed governor
he received the following letter: :,
"Segundo, Col. Aug. p. 1907. !
Hon. George Curry. Governor OF the
Territory OF New Mexico.
Dear Sir:-Back in the eighties
held an inquest over a corpse supposed
Ia have been one George Curry. In q
pocket Of the coat found on the corpse
there were letters of recommendation,
also papers showing honorable us
charge from the United States service.
This happened in Las Animas county,
Col, east Of Trinidad, about thirty
miles. We afterward found out that
the name Of the victim was John Lyn1
from Cleveland, ohio. Death was
caused by sunstroke.
Il "a mwriting to ask If are the
George Curry we reference TO-
II YOU are the man, allow me To con-
graduate YOU upon becoming governor
of two territories since this inquest
was held.
EENlAE TIA kIL - 80
death. If YOU were the man, was
greatly exaggerated
Il had learned since that George
Curry had been killed In some man
ner.
M you can spare the time it would
a great favor II you Will answer
this letter at your earliest conVen-
fence, %obliging,
yours very truly,
GEORGE 4. ELLSWORTH,
marshal
Governor Curry promptly answered
follows:
Department Of the Interior, Territory
of New Mexico, office of the ENecu-
tive.
Santa Fe. Aug. "a, 1907.
Dear Sir:-The corpse you reter 10
WAS undoubtedly supposed To be my-
self. as at that time 1 lived In Ration
and went TO Trinidad To play base baii
My recollection Is that a man named
Lynns and myself occupied the SAM
room. and that when we got up the
next morning he put on my vest
which contained some letters IN its IN
side pocket. Therefore ! had tho
pleasure Of reading an account OF my
own death after my return home. An
incident Of this nature happened in
the Philippines when 7 was governor
of one Of the provinces there. White
in a fight | became cut off from my
men aud was MISSING for several day
and 20 was reported that I had been
killed. but turned IN all right.
"Will be pleased 10 hear from you
at any time. and with kind regards 4
remain.
Respectfully YOURS.
GEORGE CURRY.
George W. Ellsworth. ESQ Segundo'
Colorado"