Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-27
SAY INQUEST
LS}A FARCE
RECORD
DEATH OF STRANGER REMAINS
A MYSTERY
Residents of Duarte District Are Con-
WINGED Unidentified Man Found
In Cistern Was Murdered
for Revenge


This was the verdict returned by Dep
uty Coroner Sage in the case of the
unidentified man whose body was found
floating in the old cistern near the Santa
Fe tracks at East Duarte Thursday
morning.
For lightning inquest the one held
over the body was a record breaker,
while for lack of evidence obtained it
holds a prominent place in the annals of
the coroner's office.
This verdict was rendered despite the
fact that no weapon with which the
deed could have been done was found
in the cistern by the men who drained
1t under the instructions of City Mar
shall Miller of Monrovia, or at the spot
where the first sign of blood is found
twenty-five feet away.
This verdict was rendered despite the
fact that great bruise with a deep
cut in it's center is plainly visible on
the top of the head and that such a
bruise could only have been caused by
a blow from some outside agency.
This verdict was returned despite the
fact that the hat owned by the dead
man was found on the opposite side of
the cistern~ from that over which the
large blood stains
The alleged investigation appeared
farcical to those who were present and
who do not hesitate to condemn the
methods followed by Deputy Coroner
Sage in this instance.
Say Inquest Is a Farce
According to those who were present
the deputy coroner consumed only ten
minutes in taking evidence and making
out his reports. He then hurried from
the building where the inquest was held,
stating he had to catch his car.
The man who found the body was not
summoned as witness, those who had
investigated the case in all it's details
were not questioned and the case was
hurried through as If a dead man more
or less amounted to nothing.
Despite the fact that verdict of
"suicide" was rendered by Sage the
police and residents of Monrovia and
East Duarte are not satisfied, and say
they will run down every clew which
develops until the identity of the dead
man is fully established and 1t is learned
positively whether he committed suicide
or was murdered.
All yesterday the watch, jewels and
clothing of the dead man were on ex-
hibition in Marshal Miller's office in
Monrovia and were examined by more
than hundred persons who thought
they might be the property of some
friend.
Residents Believe 1t Murder
In no case was any of these persons
able to give any clew to the identity
of the owner, but it is hoped that within
a day or so some person may appear
who will recognize them.
The fact that the watch and ring
which were found in the pockets of the
} dead man were exceptionally expensive
ones and that s62 in money was also
found. makes it appear the man was
evidently in fair circumstances, and his
description has been sent throughout the
country in the hope that it will be rec
ognized by his friends.
In Monrovia and East Duarte 1t Is the
general belief that the man was MUIR
dered by an enemy some distance from
the cistern where his body was found,
and that he was then carried to that
place and pitched in
1t is thought revenge was the motive
for the reason that the watch, ring and
money were allowed to remain in his
pockets, but no paper of any description
could be found in his clothing.
Beneath the band of the hat which
was found near the cistern was a small
slip of paper on which the date July 81
appears, but there is no other writing
on it,
1t was at first thought that the bruise
on the mans head might have been
caused by the body striking the side of
the cistern, but according to those who
saw the wound 1t was of such a length
as to make this almost impossible.
The residents of the vicinity scott at
the verdict of suicide and are continuing
the search for clews.