The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1911-03-31
Found Dead in the Road.

With a bottle of beer sticking out OF
each overcoat pocket, Herman Ber-
deem. known as Fred Miller, for the
past twelve years steward of the
Northwestern eating house at Nor
folk Junction, was found dead in the
middle of the road on South First
street near the city dump grounds, at
4:l0 Tuesday afternoon by Tom trot-
ty, n local teamster. ApopeXy was
the probable cause of his death.
Since the eating house was destroy
ed by fire, Mr. Berdeen has been
boarding at the Carl Reiche farm, and
Tuesday afternoon he left there APP.
parently in good health, saying he was
going to walk TO the Junction and
would be back very early. He pur-
chased three bottles of beer at the
junction saloon. and after drinking the
contents of one pint bottle he placed
the other two in his pockets and start
ed to walk back TO his boarding house.
number OF people who talked WITH
Berdeen before he left the Junction
say he was sober and apparently in
normal condition.
He left the Junction probably at
$3.50 and when near the dump grounds
apopleXy must have overtaken him
and he fell bodily into the fine sand,
striking his nose and forehead.
II was hauling load to the dump
grounds" says Mr.. Crotty, land before
| reached the spot | noticed something
in the road. | believed at first it was
some drunk man lying there, but
got off my wagon and felt of Miller's
hands and found them warm, but the
pulse was silent. knew then he was
dead and ] Immediately sent for the
police. Miller's hands were buried in
| the sand and his fists were closed
tightly and in each he had some of the
sand"
! Coroner inspeets Body.
Mayor Friday, after hearing of the
case, sent Officer Sasse to investigate
and that officer made several trips to
the scene.
Coroner NJ. D. Baker Of Tilden was
located at Meadow Grove and came in
an automobile. The body was re
moved at $50 to the undertaking par
lors of Sessions & Bell.
DR.. w. II. Pilger, who was present
inspected the body and gave his judg
ment that the man had probably dice
from a stroke of apoplexy. There
were no traces of any struggle Wis
ible, and there is no doubt in the
minds of the authorities that anything
else but natural death overlook Der
deem.
Berdeen was well known here and j
is presumed his employment for Sc
many years by Rome Miller, forme
owner OF the eating house, gave hin
the nickname of Fred Miller" b,
which he was so well known at tn,
Junction.
Some reports have it that Berdeel
has been brooding over the question
as to whether or not the eating hous
would be rebuilt.
"Berdeen had been intending TO 81
to his home in Germany this summer,
said Mr.. Reiche, with whom Berdeel
has boarded for the past week. Hi
; relatives have been very wealthy"
Berdeen's only relative in this CouT
= try, as far as can be learned is Angus
Smith, an uncle, who lives on a farT
| near Willard, Neb. His sister, who
=. said to be very wealthy, lives in Haul
f felberg, SaXony, Germany.
Berdeen was well educated an
A spoke about four languages. He wa
X. about 50 years old.
/ Tom Crotty, Frank Jirak, loca
D carpenter, and another man wer
r placed as a guard over the body
e officer Sasse. All three men hav
/ given their opinion that Berdeen wa
not drunk.
!. Coroner NJ. D. Baker will give hi
S opinion some time today.