, 1874-02-19
Investigations of the Coroner's
Jury.
Tho Chfldrcn Unqnestionably Suf1o-
Gated by Coal Gas.
A Verdict to That Effect Rcn-
tlcrcd.


lam, md James Thompson wcro caused by as-
phyxia, and not received Mt tho hands Of any.
poraon or persons, Us was arst thought.
Tho jury, as ompannelel by Deputy Coroner
Pilgrim answered TO their names, hut as QUO Of
tliom, John Pilgrim, waa on tho bail of tho
nurse Suaannah Bohrons, Coroner stophoi,s
kindly consented to rolioyo Mr.. Pilgrim from
what might prove to bo a1l unpleasant situation
and permitted him to retro from tho Jury and
in his place sworo In Mathew Flommiug, ESQ.
ELLEN GIBBONS.
The first witness examined WAS Mrs. Ellen
Gibbons, WHO testified rs follows: reside Oh
Trimbull Btroot, near Dissol nvonne; hive not
boon personally acquainted with tho Thompson
family mover Baw Mrs. Thompson boforo Sat-
urtlay, Feb. Il; Aavo soon Mr.. Thompson twico
before. whom ho called to 200 my husband on
somo matter Of business; havo often noticed tho
children at play and going to school; cannot Bay
when last saw any mombor Of tic family; 5at-
urday morning, shortly after 0, Mrs. Godfrey
came to my house mud told mo that Mrs. Thomp-
aon WIS dying, and TINT Ettio WAS dead.
went directly over to AIr. Thompsou'a with
her, and, entering tho house, first discovered tho
little girl Eatio,. lying dead on tho floor. sho
was lying OIL hor face, over tho threshold Of
the door botwcen tic pnrlur mud Mrs. Thomp-
sons hod-room. I then pushed into Mrs.
Thompson's room, aud found her on the bod, in
her niglt-dross, with hcr shoes On, a1ld lying
partly OF tho bed. Spoke to lIer, but Bho could
nut nlswor. Sent ont for Bonlo whisky anl
gave it to lor. She drank 1t, and gavo evidences
chattcred and her limbs and. body wore worry
cold. She asked mo for son,e ten, which Ind
made, and gavo to hor. It seemed to make hor
moro comfortable. took up 4 pillow to put
hcr quite doad, and Willie At tue foot Of tho
bod, breathing with .groat difficulty.
Mrs Godfrey coming in, said that tho living
shoMld flrHt be- carca for, aud told her to raiso
much frightened, nearly faintotl, end could not
ss' aaa tooR a En- 5m into s'n to 'h9a next h ros np
and VIC rubbed his limbs, which wore worry cold,
With wsky and gays a him ;ap Of hot tS
whom VIC spoke to him, but by rubbing VIC Aoon
got him quite warm. Mrs. Gibbons horo, as
did Mrs Godfrey aftorwards, roilected On tho
medical treatment received by Willie, but, their
just, Us DR.. Doan did all that professional skill
and unromlting attention could do for both
tho boy aud Mrs Thompaon.l
Thcro was no fire at all in tho houBo, bnt soon
the nurRo, pouring something that loohod like
dirty water from pan into. . bowl containing
something that looked like tea or col1oo. She
aaid it was for Mrs. Thompson, and I told her
aho should not give it to hcr. Whom entered
tho house did not smell any gas or anything at
nll unpleasant. Passing the house Friday, no.
ticcd that tho curtains OF tho two front windows
wore down, Which was MI unusual
thing, for Mrs. Thompson was a good
hoqsokeepor and I always noticed tho house
In reply to questions by the jury, she said I,
Tho pan Of water ,Yas OIL tho parlor stovo. and
tho top Of tho ssovo, containing n cup, was
placcd on the floor near tho stovo. Am not sure
colree. Willios mouth was surrounded by q
raised cruRt or blister Of light color, which
first mistool for froth, aud thought at once
that ho lad boen poisoned. Whom first entered
tho house sent for physician and policeman.
Tho frat person met in tho house was tho nurse,
Mrs. Behrons, who, 1 thought, was either drink
or crazy. aHkel her what sho had boon doing
to the childron. She made no reply, but ony
looked qnoorly and grinned. Ettio was Btlif aud
cold, and her a,,klo turned in vory crampod
position. The little girl was lying acroHs tho
throshhold Of tho door. know that 10 IRE had
boon mauo in either stovo that morning. Saw
no sisns in tho house Of anyone's having .beon
Bick. Tho house looked as ust1al. When first
entered the house the baby had already been
tRken caro- OF by Mrs. Godfrey. Do not think
there Was my coal in oithpr Btoye.
a1iB. ANN GODFREY.
Airs. Gibbons having told all Hie knew, Mrs.
y.
Thompsons, was called, and testified us follows
I live on Ttumbull ,street, between Wallace
street md Dssoll avonue. I am noxt-door
noighbor to tho TompHona, and was in tho habit
OF visiting tho Tholnpsons at least once every
day. I won't to tho house Thursday last aud
found Mrs. Thompson in bed, the nurao ironing,
the two boys playing about, and Nottie Bittng
down. complaining OF having the hoadache. Mrs.
Thompson told mo that Nottio WAS quite un-
we'll. 1t was tlaon about g quartor Of in
liza ! rHp1n ft IN al
twonty minutes, and spont most Of the time in
Mrs Thonpsons bedroom. All seemed lively
nnd happy but Nottie. Thore was a very largo
fire iu tho parlor stoyo, and tho house w1s worry
+ warm.
Detwcon md o'clock Fridny afternoon
won't to the silo door and raped, but hoard no
response. tried the trout door with tho same
sucpeBa, and then went to Mra. Daker's, d neigh
told her could not got III. She said tue nurse
was changing MrH. Thoml'sons dress, mud that WAS
tic reason no ono answered the knocking. I then
went homo ,ena did not again try to get in Mrs.
ThompAon's houso. Both curtains woro down
mont ono of them Inns beon kept conatautly
down.
Saturday morning wont over to tho house
about o'clock, and again raped at the sito-
door. After waiting ten or tlttoen minutes, the
looked qneesly and heomou drunk. WAS greatly
frightened, aud said to her;' 'What III tile name
of God il, the matter!" She answered three
tlmcs, f'Daby dead" 6Ao looked black
in tho fase and 7, 7 at ,o. once o!,s: sus-
Mrs Thompson called out from hor room, "Mrs.
Godfrey, bring mo o drink Of water." I started
for her room with tho water, When discovered
Ncttie lying on the floor, dead. took up her
loft hand and found it waH cold and rigid. sAo
wan lying across tho tl'roahho1 Of, TUG door,
mothers rom. baeama very much scarod,
aad ran evor to MrA, Gbbons'', and told her that
Nottio was doad. sho immediately went In with
mo and won't to Mrs. ThompBon's room. We
found tho babo wodged botwoon tho podatoad
and chair placed against the bod to provont
It's rolling of. I put my hRnd on
Mrs. Thoinpaon's arm. Bho said -it hurt
her aud told MO to send tho nurse away and call
hor husband. sho Bnid tho nurse waB drunk,
and Ind fallen tho Children in the night, and
had made tlom cry out, md would give them ITO
wator. dosooted no smell Of ooal-gaa or any,
thing Of tho kind in tho house. Twas worry much
frightened by what / Haw. can not say whom I
saw hlr. Thompson lnHt. -.
Mrs Thompson told mo Thursday that sho did
not expect MIR. Thompson would bo homo that
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