Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-24
Suspicious Circumstances
In. Case Of Soldier.
Alexander J. Turner Found Dead
In Willow 81. House.
Coroner Called land ,Empanels Jury
--0ne Arrest Made.

The death Of Alexander J. Turner of
New York. a member of the National
Soldiers Home, occurred Tuesday af-
ternoon, i'll a Willow street tenement
house, under such suspicious eircum-
stances as to cause Coroner Frank
Hewins TO call Medical Examiner w.
III. Harris. and to announce his inten-
tion of impannelling a jury Early in
the evening Henry Gazette of Wor-
cester Mass, Turner's companion
during the day-and in whose room
Turner died, was taken into custody
by the police. Information. as to de-
velopments concerning the prisoner
was refused as it is unknown wheth-
er he is held as a material witness or
under suspicion of being directly con-
cerned in the affair.
As evidence supports the SUPPOSE
ton that an overdose of some drug
was responsible an autopsy will be
held by the medical examiner and Dr.
Lewis Mann, at II A. NJ, Wednesday
The jury will view the body at 10 A
NJ. Wednesday, and then adjourn for
hearing at p. NJ, in the grand
jury room at the court house.
Turner is said to have gone to the
street, IN company with Gazette, a
Spanish War veteran, about II A. NJ
Witnesses state that both men were
under the influence of liquor but APP
peared in control of themselves This
conforms with Gazette's story. he de-
claring that they went TO his room
little the worse for the drinking they
may have done. though Turner COM
1laf, 1f lax,
OH the bed. Gazette declares his
friends condition became so serious
as to alarm him and Levere went for
a physician. Leyere is said to have
left the house shortly before noon and
not to have returned until 2 o'clock.
People about the house finally called
DIR. Roy. who arrived to find Turner
dead with his body partly across the
bed and his feet dangling on the floor.
Coroner Hewins was summoned imme-
dately and made a careful examination.
No external injuries were evident. but as
the appearance did not support the theo-
ry of alcoholic poisoning, the body was
removed to Knowlton & Hewins' under.
taking rooms. Medical Examiner Harris
viewed the body there about $50 but
would make no statement.
Mrs. Levere, in talking with a Journal
representative, said that Gazette, who
rooms at her house, came home at about
11.S0 A. NJ. Wednesday, being aceempar
MED by Turner. whom she had never
seen before She said that she noticed
both men had been drinking, but that
neither of them was seriously intoxicat-
cd, and that there was nothing about
Turner's bearing which gave evidence
stated that she heard Turner complain
of being dizzy when he arrived at the
house, and that with Gazette he imme-
diately went into Gazettes room. She
said that when she saw Turner few
minutes later he was lying on Gazette
bed and that his face and hands had
turned purple. She then brought some
cold water packs. but these did not seem
to alleviate the mans suffering. She as
serted that the two men had two half
pint bottles of liquor when they went
into the room, and that she found one of
the bottles entirely empty and the other
one half full of whiskey when she went
into the room. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Levere
gave their opinions that heart disease
was the cause of the DEATH
Both the bottle with the whiskey and
the empty bottle are now in the possess
sion of the police, the empty bottle hav-
ing been found on the ground beneath
the window from which it was thrown by
Mrs. Levere, and the other being given
oven by Mrs. Levere.
Upon inquiry by Coroner Hewins of the
authorities at the National Soldiers
Home it was found that Turner held the
position as ianitor at the headquarters,
and that he is highly respected by his
brother soldiers. He was a man who in
dulged in intoxicating liquors but little.
and seldom came to Augusta. He was
away from the Home, Monday morning,
on a pass, which was found in his cloth
ing by the coroner. Turner left the Home
on the A. NJ electric car.