South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-23
DECLARE ARTHUR'S
DEATH NOT CAUSED
FROM FOUL PLAY"
Coroner Finds That Misha-
waka Man Was Victim of
Epileptic Attack.

Giving as his finding that there
had been no foul play. bat that death
came from natural causes under an
e2iiepGc attack, Coroner Crumpack-
er cleared uD the mystery surround
Ing the death OF william Arthur. rs
years old. who was found with bruis-
es on his face lying dead on the floor
Of his bedroom. al his boarding
house at AS W. Jefferson road,
Mishawaka
Previous 20 the announcement OF
the coroner's finding. following an
autopsy the Mishawaka police be-
lieved they were face 20 face with
one OF the most mysterious crimes
IN the departments history. and they
were at an entire Joss o. 20 any mo-
tive that might have been a cause
for the crime. everything pointing 20
tho fact that the young mans death
was not dae 20 natural causes. Ar
thur was discovered about 1870
Tuesday morning by Mrs Clarence
Becker. following her return. with
the rest OF the family from the fun
eral OF Aloysius Becker eX-service-
man. and brother OF Mr. Becker.
She had gone 20 Arthur's room 90
call him for dinner and on opening
the door discovered the lifeless body
on the floor. with bruises on the
chin and forehead Of the dead man.
The coroner and police were at once
notified. and the opinion was given
at the time that death had come
from a fractured skull. the result OF
the blow on the forehead The body
dertaking parlors and Chief Pfen-
der and the Mishawaka police be-
gan an investigation.
Bruises Caused BY Fall.
Following the autopsy. Coroner
Crumpacker certified that death
came from natural causes. and that
there was no indication Of foul play.
The bruises on the face Of the dead
man. the coroner declared. were
probably sustained by the fall, either
20 the floor or against some object
In the room. and they were merely
superficial abrasions OF the skin, and
had in no way contributed 10 the
death. He also stated that Arthur
had been subject 20 epileptc at
tacks Chief Pfender expressed
satisfaction with the coroner's find
ing that there had been no foul play.
and said that aside from making an
investigation to check up on Ar
thurs movements from Monday
night until he was found Tuesday
morning, the department would let
the matter drop.
Arthur was a member Of the Mish-
awake company Of the state national
tended the drill meeting of his COM
pany and had received his issue OF
clothing and had returned home
about 10 o'clock. he had been COM
planning of not feeling well and OF
being nervous, and Wednesday
morning did not rise with the Beck
er family to attend the funeral Of
Mr.. Becker's brother Mr.. Becker
stated that Arthur had sat up with
him all night Sunday night, and on
that account and on account of the
fact that he had complained Mon
day OF not feeling well. he did not
call him. Mr.. Becker stated that he
had gone into Arthurs room about
S O'Clock TO get a collar. and at that
time Arthur was asleep. and he did
not awake him
Left No Evidence.
on returning from the funeral
about 1880 O'Clock. and finding Ar
thurs dead body on the floor. there
was every Indication that he had
been the victim of foul play. but a
thorough search Of the house reveal
ed no evidence that anyone had been
In Il during the absence Of the FAM
ily as there was nothing disturbed.
Arthur had been employed By the
Crawford Staples Co, house movers.
and had worked last Thursday. but
not since. He was an ex-service
man having enlisted even before the
outbreak OF the war. on Mar IS.
1917. serving I'm Co. G.. 41st infantry
He is survived by his parents. Mr..
and Mrs. Melvin Arthur. who reside
about eight miles east Of Mlshawaka.
and by two sisters. Mrs. Earl Wade
OF South Bend and Mrs. Albert Cur
ran OF Mishawaka