Neil Holden |
| Posted 2018-03-24 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Weekly Journal-Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory Wednesday, July 23, 1907, page 5, column 4 (From Tuesday's Daily) Found Dead In The New Head Building Mechanic Smothers To Death While In A Drunken Stupor Yesterday afternoon, at 2:15 o’clock, Neil Holden was found dead on the floor of the north store room of the new Head building, by E. I. Richmond, a mechanic employed there. A Coroner's jury was summoned, and a verdict rendered that deceased came to his death by smothering, while under the influence of liquor. At about 2 o'clock Richmond noticed Holden lying on the floor, where he was found dead fifteen minutes later, apparently in a drunken stupor, but outside of snoring, Holden attracted little attention. When Richmond returned to that part of the building later he noticed Holden had ceased to snore, and of approaching the body found life extinct. He immediately summoned other mechanics employed in the place and later Coroner McLane was summoned and conducted the inquest. The body was found face downward, near the front window, with part of a chew of tobacco on the floor, near the mouth, which he had apparently coughed from his mouth, with a little mucus, in his death struggle. His face was of a bluish tinge, showing he had died by strangulation or suffixation. Deceased was aged about 50 years and a native of Illinois. He was a bricklayer and plasterer by occupation, and was strongly addicted to the use of liquor. Since his arrival here from Flagstaff, about a year ago, he almost invariably became intoxicated every Saturday night, and rarely became sober enough to return to work before the following Wednesday. Of late he has been complaining of his heart being weak, during his sprees, and often times appeared to be in great pain. After coming here he worked on the Scopel hotel building about seven or eight months, and in his sober times was recognized as a first class mechanic. Those acquainted with him state he told them he had a wife and six children living on a ranch in South Dakota, about twenty-five miles north of Newcastle, Wyo., and that he and his family were friends of R. Reardon, proprietor of the Newcastle hotel. The remains were taken in charge by Maus & Shannon, undertakers, and will be held awaiting word from his relatives. |
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