Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-03-06
DEAD MIN IDENTIFIED.
Proves to Be a Criminal From
Lansing Charles Camp
bell By Name.
WAS BURIED IN RIVERSIDE
BOARDED Train at Cadillac and Died
Eu-Route-Body Said to be In
Filthy Condition.

The coroners inquest in the case OF the
stranger who was found in the refrigera-
tor car. was concluded Friday Prose
cutting Attorney Everden examined the
witness before Justice Chadwick.
Conductor Geo. Bradley was the hrst
witness sworn and he told his story which
was as follows: His train left Cadillac
about twelve o'clock the previous night
and TO his knowledge no one was with
the train excepting the regular tram
crew of three men beside the engineer
and fireman. The switchman in the
wards at Cadillac notified him that the
notato car had been heated by stove and
the stove removed. Bradley also stated
that the bill called for a man III the car
but evidence had been brought to light
proving that no one WAS sent. The tram
stepped at Clare, Marion, Mt. Pheasant
and Alma, reaching the latter place al
6:2s Tuesday morning, Feb. 20. While
the train was i'll the Alma yards the con-
ductor climbed upon the top OF the train
to watch his signals. While there he
observed what he thought was steam
leaking out of the trap door on refrig-
orator car. Raising the hatch he saw the
man lying in the bottom. In his opinion
the man had been standing with his back
to the wall and pitched forward on his
face, striking the partition and lacerating
his face. He also testified that the man
could have easily escaped from the hold
had he stepped on the broken air tight
tran door which lay the bottom leaning
against the wall of the ice box, and mad
full possession of his faculties.
brakeman Farr was sworn next and his
testimony conceded with Bradley's' be-
vond the point where the latter had
called him to view the dead man.
DIR. Lamb was called to the stand and
testified that he had made superficial
examination Of the body and that 1t had
been dead for several hours. His theory
was that the man had contracted pneu-
mouia travelling about as he did and that
the excessive heat of the place III which
he was found had brought on heart
failure. He stated that the face was not
in the least distorted as it would have
been in case of suffocation, but was per-
fectly peaceful. However, he was not
certain of the heart failure theory as his
examination was not thorough enough.
Section Foreman Shaw who was the
third man to see the body, stated that he
had been called over TO the freight train
nv the conductor who said: Come over
to the refrigerator car, I'll either show
YOU dead man or else he is awful drunk.
Shaw did not see any steam but said he
noticed radiation of heat from around
the tran. To be certain that the man
was dead he touched his forehead. Mr..
Shaw stated that he detected the fumes
of gas and in his opinion the man had
been asphyxiated by gas from the car.
CITY Marshal Button was sworn and his
testimony brought nothing new to light
O. l.. Convis testified that he hae
lifted the man out of the hatch. HIS
description Of the man was as follows
About q years of age, medium brown
hair. light grey eyes, prominent iron
teeth which were all present and III goo'
condition. medium forehead and weigh
about I45 pounds. lie stated that TIT
body was very filthy and dirty. He toun'
no marks whatever on the body and III
belief was that the man had died
heart failure.
The evidence being all in the jury re
tired and after IS minute deliberatioi
rendered the following verdict:
THAT said stranger whose body wa
found in a refrigerator car came to hi
death from an unknown cause and tina
said stranger was stealing ride at tn
time OF his death. His residence am
destination unknown also i'll our jnde
ment he was nonresident Of the Stat
Of Michigan"