Two Men Were Found Dead

TWO MEN WERE FOUND DEAD

In Their Bed in the Newman House Monday Morning

TURNED ON THE GAS

They Were of Polish Descent and Had Come for Medical Treatment--Didn't Understand Gas

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Two strangers were found dead in bed at the Newman house Monday morning. They had been asphyxiated with gas and had been dead for some hours.

One of the strangers was a man of about 35, and the other a boy of 19 or 20 years. They had come here for medical treatment at the University hospital and had been directed to Dr. Carrow, judging from an inquiry they made. They came into the Newman house it 8:30 Sunday night, registered as Joseph Kierzek and Weadck Bruski, and were assigned to room 20. They sat in the office five or ten minutes, while Kierzek, the older man, finished his pipe and asked to be shown their room. William Murray, the night clerk, showed them their room and when he lighted the gas, Kierzek, who did all the talking, said that they didn't understand gas. The clerk said, "I'lll bring you a lamp." Kierzek told him he needn't mind bringing a lamp as they could go to bed In the dark. The clerk then turned the gas out. They had left a call for 6 o'clock this morning and at that hour Murray knocked on their door. Not hearing any response he went up and knocked again a quarter of an hour later. He then noticed that the transom, which had been open the night before was closed and tried the door, which was unlocked. As he opened the door the fumes of gas nearly knocked him over. The window in the room was closed and Murray said it had been open when he left them the night before. The gas was turned on full force.

The men were found in the bed dead, their limbs stiff and the physician who was called said they had been dead for four or five hours. Bruski's head was on the pillow, while Kierzek's head was near the foot of the bed and he was lying face downward. From appearances he had tried to crawl over his companion for the purpose of getting up.

Mr. Patterson, who occupied the room immediately below, reports hearing a noise about midnight from the room which sounded like cries of "Oh Robbie! oh Robbie!" Andy Rankin, a boy who was waiting to escort one of the girls who was coming in on the last car from Detroit, told her when he met her at the train, that he heard a good deal of noise in the room and was afraid to go there. It sounded as if one man was calling the other and shaking him. From what Rankin told her, the young lady thought the name called was Kierzek.

The bodies of the men were taken to Martin's undertaking rooms and prepared for burial.

Kierzek had $47 on his person and Bruski about $27. In Bruski's pocket was a memorandum book with an identification page and under the words "My name is" was written Wladystaw Bruski. There was no other writing in the book. In Kierzek's pockets was a letter from the Auditor General about some $66 unpaid taxes on certain land.

The two men were evidently from Posen, Presque Isle county, Mich., as a letter in Kierzek's pocket would indicate. They were evidently of Polish nationality and the younger one could talk very little English. The letter was:

Posen, Sept. 13, 1902.

John T. Bostwick,

Alpena, Mich.,

Dear Sir:--I would ask you for the favor to direct Mr. Kierzek to the right place he has very much troubles with his eyes and great expenses and other expenses and misfortunes also the boy that is going with him. I am told that there is way at Ann Arbor to get medical treatment on the state expense in parts. If so your help and assistance would be greatly appreciated.

MARTIN CRAWFORD,

Posen, Mich.

Dear Doctor--Hope that you can do as well this poor man as you did for me. Yours truly, JOHN BOSTWICK.

Coroner Watts impanelled the following jury:  W. A. Clark, Thomas Brogan, Seward Cramer, Willis R. Burt, H. J. Abbott, Charles Schott, and Wllllam Aprill. The inquest was held Wednesday.

The coroner telegraphed to Bostwick in Alpena and also to Crawford at Posen.