Weekly journal-miner., 1919-03-19
(From Tuesdays Daily. ,


 Denatured alcohol, wood alcohol, paregoric, patent medicines and tonics of three or four kinds figured in the inquest over the deaths of three Fort Whipple workers yesterday and last night. In course of the inquiry, County Attorney Neil Clark told Charles Freericks, proprietor of the Eagle Drug store that if anything was brought out .warranting it, he would bring charges. In spite of this, Free ricks, testified at the hearing.
 The dead are Charles Thomas, w. E. Ricketts and Cecil R. Robinson. Seriously affected by the beverage Is Tohn Silcott. Apparently immune from its affects is c. Davis Roe. All the above were members of drinking parties Saturday and Sunday night eliminating in the demise of Ricketts and Robinson at the county hospital about 5 o'clock Monday morning, and of Thomas at the county jail at , o'clock yesterday afternoon.
 Drinking as beverages some of the various things aforementioned, seem ed to be the practice of Thomas and his confreres, according to the stories told at the inquest. Saturday night there was wassail that involved vis- its to the Mulvenon house, where an acquaintance roomed, and ended up in the Frontier House. Sunday night, the party was repeated. About mid night, Charles Swanson, proprietor of the Frontier was awakened by the sound of grooming and the agonized drumming of heels on the floor. He went to Thomas room and found Ricketts rolling on the floor Robin son and Thomas were on the bed. Of the three, Thomas alone was con scious.
 According to his story, Swanson called up the night jailor at the court house but was told that if he paid taxes he mad better get the city police on the case. Attempts to locate the officers finally resulted in his dis covery of O. A. McDermid and R. A. Twamley, whom he took off another denatured booze hunt and escorted to tine room of Thomas.
 The officers saw that it was no or dinary jag that had been accumulat- ed by the three men. Calling Dr. Southworth, they tried to save the lives of Ricketts and Robinson, but they expired within a few minutes aft CT being taken to the county hospital.
 On their return to the Frontier, they asked Thomas what had caused this extraordinary mortality, and he admitted they had been taking de- natured alcohol. Dr. Southwortn found the empty 12-ounce bottle i1i the next yard where Thomas told them he had thrown it.
 Thomas was able to dress himseiF. and walk to the automobile that con veyed him to the county Jail. He was in fact, taken into custody on some charge preferred or about to be pre- ferred by the city.
 The death of his companions, how ever, made him witness for the coroner, but his own death intervened and prevented the court from learn ing any of the details of that last de- bauch.
 Dr. R. N. Looney was called dur ing the day to attend Thomas, whos> i began to be serious about 10 a. m. At p. m, he died in spite of all that could be done for him.
 Night Session.
 At last nights inquiry, some light was thrown on the case by a man named Constantine, who worked with l Robinson at the cafeteria at the post. ] It was through him that the inquest learned that Roe had been with the ! dead men when they bought their fatal drinks. Roe was sent for and arrived in time to be placed on the i stand He was at Thomas room Saturday night until 10 o'clock, where they had partaken of and become drunk by imbiding what hS called . diamond spirits" He had. bought bottle of this stuff a couple of months ago, for use as a liniment, but on being told it was also highly kicky drink, he had purchased a sec. ond bottle for which he paid a $l.OO The price the others paid was some what heavier. Three shots" as he said, had made him drunk. The bot tie, which he purchased from Free ricks at the Eagle, was not labeled poison, as was the one picked up by