The San Francisco call., 1909-03-23
COMES IN TINE TO
HEAR HE IS DEAD
Cyrus Foster Greeted With
Headlines About Himself
as Murdered
Niece Had Partially Identified
Body Found in a
BOXcar

OAKLAND. March 22.-Cyrus Foster.
= grain merchant Of Springfield, Mass.
arrived in Oakland this morning to find
himself the reputed victim of a murder
mystery. while his grieving relatives
here were preparing to bury a body
which they believed TO be his own.
In Haring headlines across the front
page Of q local paper Foster read that
he had beeen robbed and slain and that
his remains had been found in an empty
box car near NeIrose a fortnight ago.
a published dispatch from his home an
nounced the grief Of his widow and
brothers at the news of his violent death
and stated that they were not satisfied
svith the coroners verdict that he had
died from pneumonia, but would de-
rnand a fun investigation of his tragic
end. lengthy obituary and bio
graphical sketch then greeted his as
tonished eyes.
CAUSES CONSIDERATION
Foster FASTENED 10 the home OF his
niece. Mrs. George B. Ferguson, at III
Hillside avenue, Piedmont. TO ask an
explanation OF his gruesome promi-
nence. His arrival almost created
panic in the Ferguson family and It
took him several minutes TO convince
anybody that ne was not ghost
When he dnally succeeded the Fergu
sons began 10 see the humor OF the sit
uation and Informed him, between
gales Of laughter, that they were just
preparing to attend his funeral, which
was scheduled TO take place this after
noon. Then some one brought him
copies Of the papers containing the re-
ports Of his murder.
Fosters first step after he had
grasped the details was 10 send d
telegram 10 his grief stricken family
assuring ~theIn Of the futility Of their
tears. Then he returned TO the Fer
guson home and swapped explanations
with his niece and her husband.
HOW IT HAPPENED
This was the way Il occurred. Fos-
ter, who is g years Of age, left Spring
field in January 10 visit relatives in
Santa Barbara. About 10 days ago his
niece. Mrs Ferguson. OF Piedmont, re-
ceived letter from his wife announc-
ing that Foster had started from Santa
Barbara 10 visit her He failed TO ar
rive and Mrs. Ferguson grew anxious.
In the meantime two boys playing in
the railroad yards near MelrOse station
had found the lifeless body Of an aged
man on the floor OF an empty box car
The body lay unidentified iR>fhe Fruit
vale morgue for several days, until
Mrs. Ferguson, fearing that something
had happened 70 Foster. went out to
view il. She had not seen her uncle
for many years. but she fancied that
she recognized the features Of the
corpse as his. and the mOrgue officials
recorded the identification. Fosters
family We're notified Of his death yes
terday, and the FergusOns prepared 10
take charge Of the funeral.
BODY AGAIN UNIDENTIFIED
The body found in the box car is
again unidentified and il viii be held
for burial at Barber's undertaking par
Tors In Fruitvale. pending a further
Investigation Prior to its Identified
ton as the remains Of Foster a coro-
ner's inquest was held and the jury de-
cided that the man had come to his
death from pneumonia There was no
money in the pockets Of his clothing.
which was one Of the main facts that
LED up 10 the theory Of murder when
Il was believed that the body was that
or Foster II was known that Foster
had considerable amount of money
with him. which gave rise to the
peiief that lie had been robbed al
though no one advanced a satisfactory
explanation Tor his presence in Mel
rose
roster explained away his part of
me mystery by saying that his wife
nad made mistake in writing about
lne cate he was to leave Santa Bar
para lie left there yesterday. he said
ana arrived here on time this morning