Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-08-07
COrOaer,s Inquest at Mineral Ridge.

MELsRs- EDiroRs:-On Friday evening last
after returning home from the reception of GU
returned soldiers, l was summoned forth W. Il
to be at Mineral Ridge, to Examine into til.
matter of the death of an unknown man who's
dead body had just been found about 4 o'clocl
r ID. that day. l accordingly fastened to tn,
place, and arrived there about IL o'clock ans
was conducted to the spot where the body wa.
found and then lay, which was 10 an oper
field, surrounded by twenty or twenty-five men
near Wood and Warmers Coal Rank, twept1
or Thirty rods west of the main road.
The men found with the corps appeared IL
be mostly Welehman and miners. they had as.
contained wbe the man was and where he lived
At this time a very dark and heavy cloud was
gathering, near Us, with vivid flashes of light
Hsng, and Numbering hard, as though we were
to have a heavy shower soon. 1 directed the
body to be removed to some building, where it
could be the better examinedand cared for. II
was finally taken to his residence, about one
hundred and fifty rods from that place. i'm
mediately summoned a jury and held an in
guest, when it apPeared that deeeased's name
was Lewis Williams, aged 81 years; lie left a
wife with two or three ehildren-was very peor
was a Welshmaa and a mir er, had been in
the neighborhoOd three or four moths, and was
but little known there; had been in the eoun-
try about 4 years. One of the witnesses had
known him thirteen or fourteen years, and, to
bea hard drinking man both in Ibis and the
old country. 1t also appeared in testimony,
that. on that morning about s O'Clock, he had
procured a quart of whiskey.-by IL O'Clock,
he and a boon companion had drank nearly
the whole of the G1art and Gae companion had
lett him near where he was afterwards fo,ad
dead. The companion had taken the bottle
and went for another supply, but for some
cause or no caxse faxed 10 resurz. This Wit
ness said, that Williams. though pretty druak.
could walk very well when he left him. An
other w5t7ess had passed near Williams, three
or four times, spreading nay; the last time he
passed, deceased WIS still sitting in the same
places near some bushes, and remarked to Wit.
ness, tie sun Is shining very warm This
vas MllueSc heES 70 MS dlnner, aud when he
and a small boy returned to rake up the hay,
4 o'clock ?. n, tkey found deceased
upon the ground, dead, and thought
he had keen dead two hours or more. VIM.
Campbell. who was near, hauling hay, was
called; neither Of Them knew who the dead
man was. 1t was also proven this was hard
to get out,) that deceased got a quart of wills
key about 8 o'clock that morning, at the house
Of George Parker, who keeps the stuff to sell,
and has frequently sold to deceased. There
several bruises mot deep.) the skin be-
ing rubbed of, on his left arm, about and be-
the elbow, also some on his neck.
The jury returned TO me- their verdict, that
deceased came to his death by intOxieation
the rays or heat of the sun.
1t was generally supposed by those present,
that the bruises were made by his last strug-
giles IN death. Yours respectfully,
G. C. REED, Coroner.