The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-31
-Coroner's Jury.

Ailsdoubts as to the manner in which
Dee n. Cox met his death on the night
Of fJanuary ~ were cleared away at the
inquest held over the mans body last
nifl1t by Coroner Albion Lucy.
Cox was muydered. The possibility
OF suicide was clearly shown by wit
ncsses who saw the body when it was
taken from the river last Thursday
mnrning and the physicians who con-
ductodl the post examination.
The verdict OF the jury could not have
been other than 1t was. The testimony
clearly showed that some one, whose
nlOtiye was not robbery, crept up on
the man from behind. knocked him un-
cxnscious with q savage blow from
some soft. heavy weapon, bound him
securely with stout rope. weighted
the body with q. stone and dropped his
limp victim into the river.
Cold oleedsd Murder.
II was evidently cold -blooded, pre-
metiitated murder the most brutal in
Missoula county's recent history. Ana
II was done by someone shrewd enough
10 leave no trace behind and to insure
the complete disappearance of his v,c--
tim for months.
Who was the murderer?
No Clue TO Murderer.
The coroner's inquest exposed no
substantial clue. Indeed, no real at
tempt was made at the hearing to de-
termine the Identity of the murderer
County Attorney +. r. Angevine cut
the examination short after begin
ming had beer made of an inquiry
into the actions and attitudes OF sew
eral interested individuals. and left the
Jury to report merely the manner IN
which Cox was killed.
.John Doe" Not . Witness.
Only four Of the five persons inti-
mately connected with the affairs OF
Dee Cox and his divorced wife, Opa'
Cox. were called as witnesses. me
fifth. who was not even subpoenaed as
= witness is the mysterious John
TAoe"-held up by Mrs. Opal Cox as
victim Of her husbands slander.
g"John Doe" was not mentioned, and
nothing was offered which Indicated
the identity Of the man whom the
records in the divorce case OF Cox
arainst Cox depict first as hbertine
and then as libel victim.
n either character John Doe"
prohabiy was clessly interested ~
the Cox history. Ne was either
the yveu,avs's lovsr and cox's worst
enemy, or sStfsrsr with the vson-
AZ af the hands Of the man who
now has bssn murdered.
Three Former Suspects Testify.
The four who were called are Pur'
r. Cox, brother Of the murdered man:
Mrs. Opal Cox, the divorced Wiie'
Thomas Melton. Mrs. Cox's brotner-m
law. and Charles Gould. intimate trlenc
al the Meltons and interested IN MRS
Cox.
arrested shortly after. the discovery O
CDx's body. but later were feseeseu
CHARLES II. Hall appeared at the IN
~s,e.t "a the woman's attorney and wal
elected by Melton as his counsel
re,, q Whsrssseuts On Fatal Night.
An three testified as 70 their where
.,so,.ts on the evening Of January u
vhen Coz disappeared. So far as tn
svideuOc vsnt Mrs. Cox or Meito'
night have been At the Van Burei
rareet bridge q about the time OF Cox
d1sappeasance.w which was In the neigh
tprhood Of p. m.
sMrx. Coz testified that she staye'
a the Melton home in East Missouia
a the night q Jaaaary 2s. and earn
- town at about 3 O'Clock, to get wit
,,esses 70 appear for her in court mex
Say. when Cox's petition for custod
a their two children was to be heard
s3,e took an east side car shortly ait
er D. m. 70 TO TO . home ON Cherr
street. Later she rsturned to towi
Melton. who - employed in the
C. n, mill at Bonner. testified tha
he and his wife aod one OF their chill
Slren came to town at about o'csoc
- the evening oe January q. an
caught the & !. O'Clock Bonner car
~ a