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Show DEAD IN HIS BUNK. i ! William E. Parker, an Old Utah Settler, Set-tler, Dies Yery Mysterlonsly. Stiff and Cold in Death, Face Downward Down-ward in a Pool of JBlood. A Coroner's Jury Summoned This Afternoon to Elicit Facts in . . the Case. Shortly after 8 o'clock this morning the I news was spread about the streets that an old man had been found lying dead in his room just back of Teasdel's store. On arriving at the spot a half-dozen persons were found peering through a small window into the beggarly appartments, where lay, stretched out on the floor, the lifeless form of William Knowlton Parker, ONE OF THE BELICS OF UTAH'S EARLY DAYS. The sight was sickening to behold, for nothing filled the dark disimal room but an old cot of rags, on which the poor old wanderer bunked, a small stove on which stood part of a supper of bacon, boiled potatoes and odd scraps, some remnants of furntiure, a box of paper and envelopes, enve-lopes, a few dozen lead pencils, pens and holders, together with a few card boards of plated jewelry, which the old fellow contemplated peddling about the streets. When discovered this morning by Mr. John Brooks, at about 8 o'clock, THE BODY WAS LYING FACE DOWN On the floor in a deep pool of blood, as though hemmorhage had attended the sudden death. An officer being summoned the body was turned face up, when the ghastly features sent a shudder through the lookers-on. - The nose was badly broken and displaced by some heavy blow, either in falling, as is supposed, or from some outside out-side cause. A lbng contusion extended over the left eye, while the left orb and side of the face are badly bruised. No other injuries . were apparent, and no signs of a struggle having taken place were evident from tjie condition condi-tion of the body and surroundings. Mr. Robert Gardner said that he had allowed al-lowed the old gentleman to use the small room adjoining his confectionery establishment, estab-lishment, and during the past year he had become somewhat acquainted with his habits. Parker had worked some years ago for Header and McVicker, doing chores about their assay office, for which he received a small remuneration on which to live. One year ago last July Parker fell and broke his right hip bone. which laid him up in the hospital for a few months, and an allowance of $15 a month was sent him by relatives in Washington, which he continued to receive re-ceive up to his death. For some months he has done no work to speak of, but has passed tne time m company with several old cronies who were in the habit of calling call-ing at his room to smoke and chat. He was considered a sort of worthless but A PERFECTLY HARMLESS OLD MAN, And consequently allowed to go about with no attention ever being paid him. Mr. Brooks, engineer at the Troy Laundry, Laun-dry, was among the last who saw him alive. Last evening at about half-past 4 o'clock Parker was sitting in his room, at the rear of the laundry, talking with George Gainsford, an old-time acquaintance. acquaint-ance. Brooks saw Parker yesterday, and although he was in the regular habit of drinking, he is positive that he had no liquor about him all the day. Parker was complaining of his injured limb paining pain-ing him, and asked Brooks for some money with which to buy a porous plaster. plas-ter. He went away, and not calling at the engine-room this morning as usual, for matches, caused Brooks to look in the window while passing by the room some time later, when he discovered the body. The reporter made his way to the res'i-denee res'i-denee of Margaret D. Parker, 17 S. Fifth West street, and learned of THE FAMILY RELATIONS OF THE DECEASED. Mrs. Parker had just learned of the mysterious mys-terious death, and stated the following particulars concerning what she knew of the man, once her husband. They were married some years ago, following the death of his first wife, and lived together until about eight years ago, when everything every-thing began to work unharmonionsly and they separated by divorce. W. K. Parker was born in Washington, D. C, and was J 76 years of age last August. He was a tailor by trade, and for several years diligently dil-igently plied his vocation. In 1850 W. K. Parker CAMK TO t'TAH FROM NAUVOO As a member of the Mormon Church. About fifteen j-ears ago he apostatized from the Church and took up with Spiritualism Spirit-ualism and all other spirits possible to convive with. He was not a quarrelsome j man, but his mode of life was unnatural, and it changed him. His relations in Washington are wealthy and influential, and when his mother died a considerable sum of money was deposited in safe hands with the understanding that it should be dealt out to him if his whereabouts were ever learned, and if not, his children should possess it. Some time ago, a nephew livins in Wasliinoton onri ; charge of the money, ascertained that Mr. Parker was living in Salt Lake, and at once provided that $15 be sent in each menth, and more, if necessary, so long as he should live. He has had the allowance, allow-ance, and more each nionth when requiring requir-ing it. THE DECEASED LEAVES SIX GROWN-UP CHILDREN. Three boys and three girls. One of the girls is married and resides in the State of Michigan, while the other five children live in Utah.. As soon as the family learned oHhe sad and mysterious death, all old feuds were laid aside, and they i very properly repaired to the last scene of a once familiar, and beloved parent. Two of the boys are engaged in Skull Valley, and from the long-standing feelings feel-ings of estrangement it is not likely they be will present at the burial, which will be defrayed by the means of the deceased. W. K. Parker was of medium stature, with blue eyes, dark brown hair, and beard sprinkled with gray. When found he had on a dark coat and vest, checked cotton shirt, overalls, and a pair of heavy miners' shoes. His life of misery is ended, and what is the lesson imparted? |