Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-04-26

CoRoNERs OFFICE, April 25.-Singuiar and La
menfach.-Ihe Coroner held an inquest at Ne. 10
Sheriff street, on the body Of Thomas Wilmington,
laborer in the employ Of the Manhattan Gas Co when
the following evidence was adduced:
William Norwich deposed that Tuesday evening
he was engaged along with the deceased in making
some alterations in the bar gas fittings. Having
detached two pieces Of pipe, one about two and =
half feet long and the other about feet; wit
ness put them on the floor, when the deceased took
mp the long piece and mme dately placed one end 10
his mouth, and commenced blowing through for the
purpose Of clearing the dust out witness was stand
ing ladder with his back to deceased, and q
distely deceased put the tube TO his mouth il ex-
ploded with loud noise and knocked deceased with
considerable force against the witness; picking
up the deceased, some blood, accompanied with
blackish fluid observed to issue from his mosth
q surgeon called who bled the deceased, and
then he conveyed home.
Another witness who in the bar room at the
time said that he heard the report, which followed
like the firing Of cannon Immediately the deceased
blew into the pipe.
DIR. r. p Tanner testified that he was sent for 10
attend the deceased; found him laboring under the
effects Of shock by the explosion; there were NO
marks OF violence, except dissolorati0n and SWELL
ing OF tho lips as IL from bruise or conclusion; he
was in copious pcrspiration; he complained Of
most sxcruciating pain in his back and region Of the
throat; reaction took place, his pulse came up and
in about fifteen minutes thought il best to take
some blood from him; he spoke with difficulty and
had the discharge frsm the mouth which has been
spoken Of by the last witness; the interior Of the
mouth and throat appeared to be lined with the same
dark substance; the bleeding appeared 10 relieve
him, and examined his back but could find no ex.
ternal injuries; found that his neck would swell il
air were passed into the cellular membrane, which
increased gradually until he died; / had deceased
removed about three-quarters Of hour after the ac-
cident, and attended him until he died.
The Jury found that the deceased " came to his
death by the explosion Of something in a gas pipe,
while attempting TO blow through detached pipe"
The doctor seems, however, 10 have entertained
somewhat different opinion for he not only told the
family there was necessity for an inquest, but
gave the following certificate
ooe o %
New York, April gath, 1893.
THs CERrlrIEs that Thomns Withngtoa, boru
oin England, AID aged ~ years, months. -dayss
o died at No. ~ Sheriff street the Gath day ofo
April, 1890.
Disease from an injury.
Physician r. r. Tanner,
Member Of the Faculty.
% o 60
In our opinion the was blameable in not
having post morton examination for we cannot
how the breath from mans body could cause . de-
tached pipe to explode. fanny OF the learned sacans
solve this problem we hope they will give their
opinion to the world.
At the Battery on the body of an unknown man that
had apparently been in the water for twelve months
Verdict found drowned.