The Mankato free press., 1911-02-24

From Fridays Daily.
The dead body of Matthias Stoffel
was found lying in his bed in his
lonely home, at the corner of North
Seventh and Lafayette streets, this
forenoon, by Chief Pond and Officer
Ballinger. after they had forced an
entrance to the building. His death
is supposed to have been due to nat
lral causes, as he was an old man
and great sufferer for years from
asthma.
The last time that Stoffel was seen
alive was about five o'clock Monday
afternoon, when he walked home
from down town with his neighbor,
E. j. Mycue, who resides at 922
North Seventh. Mr.. Mycue states
that Stoffel was very drunk at that
time. and that he brought home a
whisky bottle in sack. This bot
tie, holding a quart, was found on
shelf in the pantry. perhaps one
fourth empty.
Notified Chief Pond.
AS StOffel was not seen about, or
any sign of life emanating from his
home, Mr.. Mycue feared that some
thing was wrong with the old man.,
and impaired his fears to other
neighbors, and several of them went
to the house this morning and tried
to get in, but could not, as the
doors and windows were securely
fastened. Climbing up a ladder to
second story windows, they were un-
able to get in. Mr.. Mycue then went
to Charles MOhr's store and had that
gentleman telephone the circum-
stances to Chief Pond
Mr.. Pond, accompanied by Officer
Ballinger, reached the house at
shortly after ten O'clock. and broke
in one of the doors. They found
every door in the house except the
stairway door locked, and had to
break other doors, including the one
to the west bedroom on the second
floor, where they found the remains
of Stoffel lying partly in bed and
partly over a chair that was stand
ing beside the bed The man had
evidently been dead long time, as
his body was cold and stiff, and his
face was blackened by the blood
that had settled there. Decomposi-
tion did not seem to- have set in, for
the room was too cold.
Taken Sick During Night.
Stoffel had undressed down stairs
and then left his clothing there and
gone up and gotten into bed, with
a feather bed over him. He evidently
was taken sick during the night or
possibly next morning. He had a
quart tin pail on the chair, and for
some reason leaned out over this
pail and settled down upon it, so
that his chest rested on the sharp
edges Of the pail. His body from
his waist was leaning out over the
chair, uncovered, while his bare feet
extended out from under the feather
bed at the foot of the bed. He may
spell and sought relief or fresh air
by leaning over the chair, or he may
have died from heart failure.
In the pockets of StoffePs clothing
was found SLIP. He owned the prop
erty and is said to have had money
lin the bank besides, and was re-
puted to be somewhat miserly, and it
was thought that money might be
concealed about the house. The Of
ficers took possession, and Chief Pond
notified NCorOuar Kannady
Chickens Were Hungry.
The barn was also found locked,
and the officers broke in and found
the chickens hungry and emaciated
and fed them. Stoffel had well
! filled larder in the house, with a
big pan full of eggs, potatoes all
pared ready to boil, and various in
gradients used in cooking. The house
is built on sidehill, with one story
over a cellar in front and two full
the rear on the first floor, but there
was a cook stove in the front room
above, next to the bedroom, and this
room seems to have been used as
a sort of dining room. There was a
plentiful supply of wood. The rooms
were adorned with pictures, one very
! large one being an advertisement of
Golden Grain Belt beer
Mr.. Mycue states that StOffel was
a very heavy drinker at times. He
would drink hard, then brace up and
work for two or three weeks, and
then drink again He was seventy
years Of age or more, well built,
with iron gray hair and beard. and
was employed as digger in trench
work of the gas company
Had Lived Here Many Years.
The dead man had resided in Man.
kato for a long period of years. His
wife died last fall, and since then he
had lived alone. He leaves two
daughters, both married and living
elsewhere, one at Beemer, Neb. to
judge from letter found. The
daughters will be notified
Stoffel was an Industrious man, n
good provider, and was well liked
as neighbor. He was quiet and at
tended TO his own business. He was
frugal, but not particularly parsimon-
Gus. His death causes much regret