Evening journal., 1908-04-14
SAY APOPLEXY
KILLED BUTLER
Coroner Galloway Held an In
quest in Strange Case Of
the Two Men
DUE TO BEING
OVERCOME BY GAS

The jury impanelled by Coroner CAL
laway to hold an inquest in the case
Of Lemuel Butler. Of Christiana, who
died one month after being overcome
by gas in the Bulls Head Hotel in
Wilmington, met last night at Chris
tiana and the result of their delibera-
ton was that the man came to his
death by apoplexy caused by inhaling
Illuminating gas.
The jurors were: J. B. Webber, A.
B. currinder. M. D.. George B. Reed.
John w. Morrison, Harry II. Smith,
John c. Singles and James r. Marshall.
The most important witnes was DR..
H. R. Pennock OF this city. He testi-
fed that he arrived at the hospital
ten minutes after Butler and his com
panion, Walter Biddle, arriver, and i'm
mediately gave them attention. He
could see that they had been over
come by gas and said the smell Of gas
and whiskey on the men was very
strong. He was Of the opinion that a
combination of bad whislxey and gas
caused paralysis Of the brain which
resulted in Buffers death.
When the men had recovered suhi-
ciently to talk a little, the physician
said he questioned them concerning
where they had been the night before
they were overcome and Biddle said
they had been in twenty-one places,
principally along Front street.
No Gas at 9 o'clock.
Samuel Griffin, colored, Of No. 225
West Fifth street, this city, who is
employed at the Bulls Head Hotel,
testified that he went to the room oc-
cupied by Butler and Biddle at 3
O'Clock on the morning Of the Sunday
the men were found overcome by gas
and he saw them lying in bed, still
asleep. He was engaged In making
beds and had made all in the house
with the exception OF the one occu-
pied by the two men. He said he open-
ed the door to look in their room and
at that time detected no odor Of gas
I He also said he had walked past the
J door several times but smelled no gas
The witness was asked II he knew
tho odor Of gas, and he replied that h,
did and was also a good smeller.
] Walter Poore. who lives near Cooch'.
Bridge. testified that he met Butler
i'm a Fourth street saloon on the nighl
preceding the Sunday ne and Biddle
were overcome by gas. He said he
bought Butler a drink and the latter
did not appear intoxicated then. II
was 10 o'clock when he met him but
Biddle, he did not see.
William A Hilhnger, of No. 101 West
Sixth street, this city. testified that he
was in the barroom of the Bulls Head
Hotel when the two men came in. He
said they did not stop in the bar, but
walked straight to the stairway lead
ing to the floor above and appeared
to be familiar with the place. They
were stopped by the bartender, who
asked them what they wanted and said
they were after a room. The bartender
then took them upstairs.
James Walsh, the bartender at the
hotel said that he asked the men be
fore leaving them in their room. Il
they knew how turn Off the gas. One
of them replied: What do you think
we are, countrymen, and never saw
gas before"
Butler and Biddle were found IN
conscious in their room by Thomas
Marvin and John Mcbride, boarders
In the hotel. The latter testified that
the room was filled with gas and they
opened the windows to give the men
fresh air. They found S57S4 under the
pillows of the bed.
They found the men sometime aftor
the noon hour but several hours after
Samuel Griffin said he had opened the
door Of heir room and did not detecV
the smell Of gas.