The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-05-16
DROWNING OF GEORGE FRAHTz.

An Inquest was held over Frantzs remains BY
Coroner Anderson on Thursday afternoon last
week The jury were Geo Fessler s. D. slusser
John A, Little VIM. Nave, John II. Mack and yJo.
slab shiVely The testimony was as follows:
Edward Gilbert, sworn Live In Canton, near
the place where deceased was found drowned
this morning, May 9th; know deceased by sight;
went down TO the bend to look for the cows about
8o'clook didn't see anything as / went, but saw
man In the creek about ten feet from the shore;
the body was not foatng did not see the man A
day or two before, but my sister and Ida Fowler
did.
Louis Mercer! Work on the railroad; am a re
pair hand was working this morning between
the Fast Creek bridge and first crossing east of H.
aoout O'Clock some man told us there was man
IN the creek saw number Of men, women and
children on the bank Of the creek north Of u.s.
went 10 lhe place and saw a man lying on his
lace III tne water about eight or ten feet from the
shoTe and said, We'll take him out, Its no use
to leave that man lying In the water" Another
fellow and pulled him out he was dead; did not
know the man. had not seen him before; found
putty knife sticking out of his pocket Cknife
shown and Identified by witnessG he had no coat
on; was dressed in pants, shirt vest and white
collar; saw no coat or hat about there.
Charles Blackdsh Testimony principally cor
roborativei witness is another railroad hand and
said: We made a hook of a piece of railroad
brake iron and pulled the deceased 10 the shore
thought saw him yesterday morning passing the
place where we were at work, but am not sure II
looked like him. thought he tUas sober.
James Mcdonald, Frank Guettard and Martin
Bisler, railroad hands, testified, but introduced
nothing new.
DIR. 8 A, Conklin: Upon examination of the
body ofGeorge Frantz at 100 p. m. day found
stomach and lungs thoroughly filed with air;
muscular and tendenous contraction very great,
induced, no doubt by an effort to save himself,
also scars on his forehead and temple produced,
no doubt, by struggling and the current of the
water combined; In my opinion death was
caused by drowning there were no marks of a
severe character on his person. to indicate he had
been foully dealt with.
John Herbst told nothing additional, except as
to the habits Of deceased.
Irene Gilbert; Live near creek where deceased
was found saw him Tuesday evening about five
o'clock saw him in Cooks field on south or fast
side OF railroads he was lying down near the
fence; saw him go and lie down there, about 200
| yards from the creek; heard him say ''Yes, SIR
to man who went out the road in frent of him;
have not seen him since till this morning In the
creek; he had his coat on when saw him Tues.
day evening, but he had none. on this morning;
he didnt Took drlRk when saw him.
Ida Fowlers testimony was merely corrobora.
tive of that given by Irene Gilbert,
George Frautz Jr; Deceased left home Tues
day mornings supposed he was going somewhere
to do some painting; he did not come home
again until brought home dead this morning;
never heard him make any threats to kill him.
self drank considerably whenever anything oc.
CURED to discourage him he most always took to
drink; he has frequently gone away from home
without saying anything, and stayed some time
The jury went Into consultation and soon re.
turned verdict that the deceased came to his
death by drowning lUhAc in a state Of intyGc1t0n
| NooGe having seen the drowning, the conclu.
sion as to the manner or cause, is mere COnjec-
ture Mr. Ffanl2 WAS generally peaGeable, quiet
man, of rather polite manners. Some are of the
opinion it was accidental, possibly, as the jury
conclude, while intoxicated or as others think
! while temporarily insane.