Died in jail or a lockup
William Peterson
William Peterson died at the Station House on the night of June 18, 1871. The Dodgeville Chronicle reported that he was found unconscious on the Smithsonian grounds that Sunday night, with a vial labeled laudanum nearby, and was taken to the Station House, where he died during the night. The paper reported that Peterson said he always took narcotics after a drinking spree.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose. He was found unconscious beside a vial labeled laudanum, and he reportedly said he always took narcotics after a drinking spree.