Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-05-14
-
Resided on hyperion Street With
Brother-Dea Supposed to
be Result Of Drinking
Cider.
HAzEN MozAHAM ARRESTED.
Owns Fruit Stand Where Cider was
Procured Held Pending
Investigation.
HAZEN MOZAHAM ARRESTED.

Louis Valentine, the younger OF
two bachelor brothers who reside
on south. Superior street, died Sum
day afternoon while in stupor
supposed to have been caused by
drinking hard cider. Hazen Moza-
ham, an Italian who conducts the
fruit stand where the cider was OBJ
tanned, is under arrest pending an
investigation.
The circumstances of the case are
somewhat peculiar. The Italian has
been in business in this city for
about seven months, and during
that time he has had on sale at his
J. place what has been called sweet ci-
der. Quite trade has been built
mp, the cider seeming to have an ef-
feet similar to that of Intoxicating
liquors. For the past few days the
local police have been watching the
place, thinking alcholic beverages
were served there. Saturday even
i
Ing man was arrested in semi
conscious condition. Sunday morn
ing he said that he had drank moth
ing but small quantity of sweet ci-
der. Other similar cases have
5 been reported. Policeman Nicker-
Hon informed Sheriff Brown of the
circumstances and raid was made
on the place Sunday and a barrel Of
cider was taken by them. 1t seems
that during the morning the Valen-
tines were in the place and drank
some of the cider. Several other men
were there also. Sometime after
ward the Valentines left the place
and went to their home. They were
not seen after that. At about 5
o'clock in the afternoon Henry Mil
ler. a gentleman from Boone who
was visiting with the Valentines,
went to the house and found both
of the men in bed apparently asleep.
He attempted to arouse them. but
neither showed signs of life and he
notified the police. Policeman
-,Jewett and Herman Rutledge went
to the house. After several attempts
to awaken the sleeping men with
out success, they called Coroner Fos-
ter. Upon his arrival it was found
that Louis was dead while the other
brother appeared to be thoroughly
drunk After some time the older
one, Emil, awoke and was told of
the death of his brother. He be-
came frantic and almost uncontrol-
liable. When. asked as to what they
had been drinking he said that in
the morning they had been at the
Italians stand and had drank some
cider. Upon returning to their
home, he said, they went up stairs
and his brother had fallen down the
stairs According to him they had
gone to bed upstairs. However, they
were found in a bedroom on the
first floor. An examination Of the
dead mans body revealed no signs
OF fall. It was thought that per-
haps his death might have been
caused from a rupture of the heart.
A post-mortem was therefore held
yesterday forenoon, but failed to dis
close rupture or injury Of any
kind.
Coroner Foster held an inquest
yesterday and the jury decided
that Mr.. Valentines death was caus-
ed from the effects of the excessive
use of alcohol The testimony of
the physicians who made the post
mortem examination revealed the
fact that quantity of alcohol was
found in the stomach. 1t was testi-
fed to by friends OF the deceased
that he had drank liquor Sunday
morning previous to the drinking of
the cider. 1t is not known as to
what might be contained in the ci-
der sold by the fruit store man.
This matter Is In the hands of the
county attorney and an analysis Of
the cider win probably be made In
a day or two.