[library user]

Uh, there would not have been a network back then. The phone would be dead.

From the comments:

Everyone's saying it COULD be a time traveler on a cell phone. But that it would be impossible because there's no cell phone towers. Uhh...what? lol I mean, if he's an actual time traveler, that would mean he's from the future. So who's to say there HAS to be cell phone towers in order for cell phones to work in the future?

[blackdog]

Or, it could mean that he’s trying to use his cell phone, which is a 50/50 bet anyway. The results back then are frequently the same as those today.