The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-11-29

lihles Slice complaining of weakness.
Wheeler had symptoms of melancholia
and the doctor advised him to eat
better food as this would be of
more benefit than medicine. DIR.
Bomberger believes that this advice
is what led Wheeler to make the
agreement with the Cottons. He also
testified as to the cuts that were
found on Wheeler's body. These were
described in last Fridays Free Press.
DIR. Bomberger said that none of the
wounds could have caused Wheeler's
death. The chest had dull sound
on PERCUSSION below the fifth rib and
this he considered was due to water
in the lungs. DR.. Bomberger said
that ordinarily man could not
walk the distance Wheeler did, after
losing so much blood but that it was
not impossible. He is of the opinion
that the instrument used in inficting
the wounds was an ordinary jack
knife. There were no wounds on the
body that Wheeler could not have
inflicted himself DR.. Bomberger said
that one of the strange things in
connection with the case was that
the sleeves were down and buttoned
and there were no knife-cuts in the
cloth.
Mr.. James Mclaughlin testified
that he is the undertaken who had
charge of the body of Wheeler. He
is of the opinion that Wheeler came
to his death by drowning, for when
he embalmed the body he could not
inject the proper amount of fluid
in the veins and this he thought
was due to water being in the lungs.
Mr.. L. G. Argetsinger was next call
ed. Mr.. Argetsinger is the attorney who
drew up the contract between Wheeler
and lne Cottons. He identified the
writing on the papers found in the
wagon box as that of Wheeler
Benjamin NIcGregor, cashier of the
Mapleton State bank said that he
thought the above mentioned papers
Mr.. Frank Jones and Will Okaes
were called but their testimony was
unimportant.
At this time the inquest was ad-
journed until four O'Clock so that an
autopsy could be held by Drs. Bishop
and Bomberger.
After the autopsy was held DIR.
Bishop testified that the lungs were
found full of water. The lungs were
badly discolored and this he said was
due to asphyXiation or drowning. DR..
Bomberger was called and he corrob
Grated what Dr. Bishop had said
The jury then adjourned and soon
returned with the verdict that Isaac
E. Wheeler came to his death by his
own hand.
The farm in Nebraska which Wheel
er owned is valued at $1,000 to $4,000,
and will go to his sister, who lives at
Vendale, and who is next of kin.
She is the mother of Charles Will
liams, to whom Mr.. Wheeler desired
that the place go, and also of an
other son.
1t has been developed that Wheeler
attempted to hang himself in the corn
crib before he started for the river
The rafters were high, and being UNI
able to throw the rope over, he
went to another building and brought
bunch of shingles to stand on, but
he was too weak to get the rope
over or could not reach high enough,
so he threw the rope away. The
rope was part of one used to hobble
| a COW. 1t can be argued that if
Wheeler had strength enough to carry
the shingles he was strong enough to
walk to the river.
No one has learned what was in
the letter from Verndale that caused
the old man to be depressed in spirits.
The funeral of Mr.. Wheeler took
place at ten o'clock this forenoon,
services being held at the Sterling
church There was large turn
out of the friends and neighbors
of the deceased, and, the services were
touching.
Besides the Nebraska land, it is
said that Mr. Wheeler had consid-
cradle sums of money loaned out.
He was in very comfortably circum-
| stances.
Coughlin Slightly Injured.