Gunnison news-champion., 1915-01-22
GIRL DIES UNDER SUSPICIOUS CLOUD
Distnct Attorney Orders
Autopsy Followed by Cor
onor's lnquest.---Fails to
Hold Anyone Responsible.

A story which raukles with shameful
and gruesome details developed in Gun
nison this week II Is a story Of the
death of young girl. nineteen years
Odd, Of an sutopsy and coronor's IN
quest. and verdict Of a jury finding
that death resulted from an unlawful
act. There is no mother nor father
here to n osrn the death of the girl
but young man, her fance and con
stant companion since coming to Gun
nison. is here and was called as wit
ness in the coronor's inquest
Helen Cooke died in Gunnison, Tues
day morning at 1926. General periton-
ties was the immediate cause of death.
She died in the home of Howard johnson
IN east Gunnison. In this home she
had been visiting since last June. and
in this home she had constant sssocia-
tion with Earl French, her tiance, wbs
wss a son of Mrs. johnson. So far as
IL known she has brother and step.
mother living in Denver, and a sister il
Indiana. She was little known here
The body was shipped to Denver
Thursday evening.
On Saturday morning, January 16,
Mrs. johnson consulted DIR. n j.
Hyatt, and said that the girl had been
complaining. The doctor prescribed
medicine at that time. The doctor says
that on Sunday evening he went to the
johnson home and found that the gir
vas in q dying state. He went to see
her again on Monday. In his evidence
before the coronor's jury the doctor
said that he was certain that nothing
essld ~ dsae for her, and that b
thought that blood poisoning WAS the
cause Of her condition. Mrs. johnson
testified that Helen, as she called her,
had been confined to her bed since last
Friday, and that she had been com
planning since about December II.
On Tuesday morning, District Attor-
ney William Weiser who was in Gun
nison and who had been appraised of
some of the facts in the case ordered
that the body be held. Dr. N. j.
Hyatt, and DR.. T. C. Horton conducted
the autopsy. They found the conditions
of peritonitis, in the extreme form, and
that this had been the immediate cause
of death Both of the doctors expressed
the opinion on the witness stand that
the peritonitis had been caused by al
unlawful act.
The other witnesses examined at the
inquest were Mrs. Howard johnson,
Earl French, Mrs. l.. N. Brunton, anc
Lucy Williams.
Mrs. johnson disclaimed any know
ledge of Helen Cookies condition. Sh,
said she knew that the girl had not beer
well. At different times she had OBJ
tanned medicine for her, and consulted
the doctor. She cared for her, as sh,
explained, as if she had been her owr
daughter, and said that she was visit
ing the family. She knew that tn,
girl and her son were engaged, but sal,
that she knew very little about theil
relations Mrs. johnson told about tn.
stepmother and brother of Miss Cock,
in Denver, but said she was not well &C
quanted with the family. She said th'
girl came here just for visit, and aftei
she was here she did not care whethel
she returned or not. Concerning hel
son she said he was eighteen years Of
age. and had no special occupation otn
er than helping her husband occasional
ly. Her husband is lineman on The
Denver and Rio Grande.
On the witness stand. Earl French ex
planned that he and Helen Cooke haS
come to Gunnison from Denver. Thel
came the latter part Of June. He hac
known her for about three months il
Denver. He first said she came here
because she wanted to live with hi'
mother. Later in his testimony be eX
planned that she was inclined to go witt
other men and for that reason he want
ed her here with him. He admitted
that be was engaged to marry the girl
and that they had planned to be mar
ried before Christmas and go to Den.
yer, but during the latter part Of De
cember the girl became i'll and they de
layed their marriage.
Young French said that he was Who'll
ly unaware of the girls condition ane
did not realize that she was so sick.
Both he and his mother said that they
did not believe that a doctors services
were needed In fact, they contend
that Helen refused to have a doctor
come to see her.