Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 287, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1918 — HAD BEEN DEAD FOR SIX WEEKS [ARTICLE]

HAD BEEN DEAD FOR SIX WEEKS

FULL ACCOUNT OF GRUESOME FIND IN A DESERTED MONON HOTEL. The remains of Thomas Tyner, who had made Ms home in Monon for several years, were found in his room at the deserted Cottage hotel in Monon Sunday, Dec. 1, in a badly decomposed condition. Jaimes Robinson, a passenger brakesman, who also had a room at the Cottage hotel, was the last to see Mr. Tyner alive and the first to see his decayed body, after an intermission of six weeks. Tyner was in the habit of absenting himself from town and Robinson thought nothing was wrong when he tried to enter his room about the middle <of October and found the door locked. Tyner had mentioned going out of town thfe night before and Robinson, supposing he had gone, paid no more attention to him. Sunday while in his room in company with A. C. lobinson, a 'Monon lineman, the circumstances of Tyner’s disappearance

wais discussed and it was decided to vidt Lis room. The two gained entrance by a ladder placed at his window, which was open, and a ghastly scene confronted them. The body, partially covered, lay in the bed, reuced to skin and bones and beyond eoognition. Coroner M. M. Hughes was called and held an inquest Sunday ftemoon, the verdict attributing eath to valvular heart trouble. The ead man’s clothing hung over the oat of the bed and ninety cents was taken from his pockets. No other beongings of consequence were found. Deceased was 72 years old, unmarried, and was a half brother of C. E. Tyfhier, formerly of this city. Be gave his occupation as a plasterer when he came there several years ago. Burial was made in the Osborn cemetery Monday, Dec. 2, no funeral ceremony being held. The Cottage hotel, just east of the Mjonon passenger station, was abandoned by its owner, Mrs. M. Hoback, about si£ months ago on account otf her poor health, and she has since been in\tbe county infirmary. Thomas Tyner and Mr. Robinson seem to have been the sole occupants of the hotel since her departure, and they were merely roomers. The exact date of Tyner’s death will never be known, but the condition of his remains when found indicate that dissolution came soon after Robinson last saw him alive. The Cottage hotel was the scene _of a printer’s tragic death a few years ago. J, 'L. Pitts, an employe of the Monon News, died there alone from an overdose of morphine.