Elmer Shreeves Was Murdered

ELMER SHREEVES WAS MURDERED

Morphine Poisoning Caused His Death.

POLICE STILL AT WORK

The Bartender of Nick Miller's Saloon Has Very Suddenly Disappeared.

This Tuesday's Free Press contains the following concerning the mysterious death of Elmer U. Shreeves, the Delhi Mills man:

"Elmer U. Shreeves came to his death by a dose of narcotic poison administered him by some person or persons unknown.

"For a short time yesterday the atmosphere of Nick Miller's Cadillac square resort pervaded Coroner Forth's court on State st., where the inquest into the death of Elmer U. Shreeves, who was found dead in the rear of Miller's saloon, was being held. After the physicians, Nick, Hugh McGinnis, Cripple Mac and others had delivered their testimony, the foregoing verdict was reached.

"Hence the detective department has a case of murder on hand, on which very little light was thrown by the inquisition and which may remain a mystery for some time. All of Millers' resorters swore positively that they had never seen Shreeves until his lifeless body was found in the narrow hallway back of the saloon.

"No motive other than robbery was made apparent. It was learned by the officers yesterday that Shreeves was negotiating for the sale of a piece of property and may have had over $100 in his possession.

"This was not brought out in evidence, however, as it could not be presented by direct testimony. A search is now being made for a paper which Shreeves had in his possession showing his intentions regarding the purchase of the property in question.

"County Physician W. R. Henderson was the first witness to take the stand yesterday. He said he found several abrasions on Shreeves' left cheek and one behind his right ear. The doctor, in removing the skin from the skull, found a clot of blood three inches in diameter, the presence of which, he says, was probably due to a severe blow, although not sufficient to cause death. He found no organic disease which could have resulted in death.

"It was on the testimony of Dr. John Clark, who made the analysis of Shreeves' stomach, that the jury based its verdict. Dr. Clark found the walls of the stomach congested and learned that Shreeves had a meal of pork and beans before his death. Nick Miller's lunch often consists of pork and beans. Further, the doctor found narcotic poison - opium - in small quantities in both the stomach, liver and kidneys. He said it was probably distributed through Shreeves' system.

" 'There is no doubt in my mind,' swore Dr. Clark, 'that death resulted from the poison distributed throughout Shreeves' system. I found no evidence of liquor in the stomach.'

"Dr. Clark says the poison was of the kind that might have been placed in a glass of beer, in his opinion. He made an experiment with the poison found in Shreeves' stomach, on a frog, and found it displayed the symptoms of narcotic poison. The frog died within two hours after the administration of the poison.

"Mrs Lilla Lakins, of 51 E. Columbia st., said she was not living with her husband and that she heard very little of her brother since last July, when she saw him in Ann Arbor. She learned that her brother was in the city about a day before his death, but she did not see him until she went to Marshall's morgue and looked at his corpse. He never drank to excess, and did not use stimulants.

"Nick Miller's array of resorters were next in line on the witness stand. William Serenberg, who has 'slung' beer in 'Ch'age,' did not see the dead man in Miller's resort, and knew nothing of the affair until about 8 o'clock on the morning of Oct. 27, when the body was found. Hugh McGinnis came to him and said:

" 'There's a man up there dead 'er 'n a door nail.' Charlie Miller, Nick's brother, was in charge of the saloon at the time.

"Hugh McGinnis, who found the body, described his sensation and remarks as follows: 'I comes down 'bout 8 o'clock and I sees him layin' in the hall and I kicks him on the heel and I says, says I, git up, and then I sees he was dead and I goes down stairs and I says, says I, my God, boys, I says, there's a dead one up in the hallway and I says, well, I disremember, now - .'

"Bryan Edward McDonnell, familiarly known as 'Cripple Mac,' said Charles Miller was in charge of the saloon on the night of the murder. 'Cripple Mac' didn't see Shreeves at all. 'Blinkey' Pierce was also in the saloon, said McDonnell. So was Ed. Rich.

" 'Don't they call Rich 'Doc,' asked Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Hunt, who conducted the inquisition. 'Cripple Mac' wasn't sure. He always called him Ed.

"Nicholas Miller swore that he was too drunk to know whether he was in the saloon on the night of Shreeves' death.

" 'Where is your brother Charlie?' asked Mr. Hunt.

" 'He left last Thursday night to go to work in a foundry in Cincinnati,' said Miller.

"Detective Brooks was looking for Charles Miller yesterday, but was unable to locate him."