The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-07-07
Man FOUND IN RIVER YESTERDAY APPARENTLY TOOK
HEOWN LIFE BY DROWNlll(C SEVERAL MONTHS AC(
Body Was Weighted Down
With Bricks and Sand-NJ
Clues Found as to Its lden.
tity-Clipping in Pocket
book Referred TO Predicted
War Between America and
Japan

Death Of the man whose body was
taken from tho Missouri river neal
the Liberty Memorial bridge here yes.
terday afternoon after local official;
had ben notified that a body was
floating down river. was clearly q
case Of suicide. the officials deter.
mined after careful examination
There were no wounds or abrasions
on the body which would indicate
foul play. and the fact that the man
had a small rope tied around his chest
under his arms. to which we're at.
tached five bricks. indicated that he
had taken his own life by weighing
his body and then jumping into the
river, the authorities said. All oil
the pockets Of his clothing were filled
with sand. probably to provide addi.
tional weight.
The condition Of the body was such
rs to indicate that it had been in the
water for at least four months, C0ro-
ncr f. ]. Gobel sated. 1t is believed
probable that the man jumped into
the water Ut a considerable distance
from bismarck and that the weights
held the body at the bottom Of tho
river until decomposition had set In
to such an extent that the body rose
to the surface and floated down
stream despite the weights.
Boys Saw Body IL River
Mrs. Frank Howe, who lives along
the river between the two bridges
notified Q. w. Roberts at the wealth
cr bureau yesterday afternoon after
two boys had told her Of seeing
something resembling q body going
down stream. Mr.. Roberts summoned
Coroner GObel, Chief Of Police Chris
Martineson and Sheriff Albin He'd
strOm and reached the bridge just in
time to rescue the body. 1t was stop
Ped about 200 yards south Of the
bridge by men in row boat.
No money or valuables Of any kind
swefe in the mans clothing, and no
thing was found which would give
any clue rs to his identity. His be-
longings consisted of two smah keys
and small paddock on key ring,
Z razor. tooth brush and pocket
book In the pocketbook was, slip
Of paper on which was drawn the
diagram Of house. and . clipping
from the Seattle Times of August II,
1895. telling Of some scientists pre-
diction that q terrible war would be
AOuKut III ASOA EGVWSCU AMStaS0 A"u
Japan.
Chinese or japanese
The man was either . Chinese or
japanese. according to those who
examined the body. This was indicated
by the snrallness Of his feet and hands
and the texture Of the skin. He was
about 45 years Of age, five feet four
inches tall. heavy set. Of light COM
plexion and bald. The body was well
dressed.
Since indcntification was impossible
and the condition Of the body prevent
cd its being held. the man was buried
Immediately Ut the expense Of the
county.
A tourist who crossed the bridge
at Z o'clock this morning told the at
tendant at the gasoline station near
the bridge that he was positive he
saw body floating down river rs he
crossed. The river was patr0llcd i'm
mediately but no body was found and
authorities believe tho tourist saw .
lOg floating down, stream and
thought It rcscmbled u body. The
river was watched throughout the
day, however.