The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-05

A small pocket mirror in leather case
old and worn, and a piece of a pocket
comb were also found The mans left
front fJger had the appearance as hav-
ing had two nails the result of a felon.
| According to the police who were
called after the body was discovered, tha
mans hands were calloused from work.
but were not like the hands of a tramp.
DIR. H. H. Keith, the coroner. after
examining the body, said that he be-
1ieved the man had been dead for sew
eral days as decomposition had begun.
The marks on the throat and the blue
appearance of the face lead the doctor
to believe that death resulted from
strang gulation, although it is possible
that the man could have been murder
ed and his BODY hung to cover the
crime.
Last night the remains were turned
Jver to an undertaken pending d fur
Ether investigation Unless the relatives
are found the pooy will be buried in the
Potter'5 field.
Only by chance was the body found.
Young SPAIN and a friend were pass
ing the empty dwelling at 722 Monroe
street and were about to turn into the
alley when the former pushed the out
house door open. The boys saw the
body of man suspended by the neck
from a slender cord which was attach
ed to the low roof of the building. The
knees were touching the floor and the
feet were stretched back.
| DR.. Keith AID the police were imme-
6iately notified and went to the scene.
Police Have Theory
Developments today indicate, al
though not conclusively, that the sui
eide found hanging in an clubhouse at
the rear of an empty residence, at 722
North Monroe street, North Topeka,
| late Thursday evening, was John
Smith, wanted in Kit Carson county,
Colorado, for grand larceny.
| A description of Smith has been re-
| ooix hxyt no yyl l1O ma a
general description of the two men,
Then it was ascertained that with one
exception the tally was perfect. The
| dead man bore mark which was not
| found in the description given of Smith
l-on finger of the right hand was a
double nail which the authorities think
would hardly have been overlooked in
the description provided that the sui
eide is really the Colorado man.
No other clue has been obtained
which would tend to clear up the mys-
| terry which surrounds the dead mans
| identity. The fact that the dead man
wore clothes purchased in Topeka
which were not the worse for wear
might tend to help in the identification,
hut even then Smith might have pur-
chased them after coming here, pro-
vided that the man is really the Colo
RADIO fugitive.
| The suit, dark grey, which was
purchased at the Robinson & Marshall
company store, was said to be $50 SUIT
| j. w. Robinson examined the cIOtneS
| this morning. The man wore pair OF
tan shoes, size 9h A last. The foot
wear is thought to have cost about 80
when new and was not worn very much.
1t bore the mark of DeMuth & Co.. of
Chicago. A French briar pipe was also
found on him. besides a small mirror
| and comb.
| The Robinson people do not remem-
ber of selling this suit recently, nor do
| they recoliect having seen the man de-
scrihed to them. Neither do the clerks
remember of having sold suit like that
described to a man answering the SUI
lcide.s description. However, a year ago
| a suit. was sold to Verna p. Booth:
The man proved to be graduate or
1.-The Washburn Medical college He is
now said to be living at Cofeyv1lle
with his wife and family.
! Several people of the North side said
ithey saw the man a few days before
his deal body was discovered. Among
lothers, john Holiday, of s31 North
Madison street. said he had seen the
man in the doorway of a vacant house
lnear where his body was Afterwards
| iforrd Nj. Holiday asked him II ne
Twas contemplating moving there ana
Il