Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-15
THE MILL ACCIDENT.

T
COroner's Inquest on the Remains of VIM.
an Opinion.
An inquest was held at Coroner STEMS
Office yesterday forenoon on the remains of
William Marrinau, one of the victims to the
elevator accident at the Capital City -four
mills on Saturday evening. The following
were sworn as jurors, Immediately after
which they repaired to the residence of the
lads parents, No. 143 Washington street,
for the purpose of viewing the remains: L..
Seeger, F. G. West and j. M. Bangor.
After viewing the remains the jury re-
turned to DR.. STEMS Office, where the OK
animation of witnesses was proceeded with.
DIR. Wheaton being first sworn testified to
having diagnosed the injuries received by
deceased, which consisted of serious con-
fusion on the back and injuries to the
kidneys. Deceased was also injured on the
head, and it was the opinion of witness that
death had resulted from confusion on the
back.
DIR. Roy was present when witness was
called, and he was of the same opinion.
Patrick Marrinau, father of the deceased,
testified to the age of his SOD, which was
given as fourteen years and six months.
Witness had gone to the mill shortly after
the accident and had taken deceased home.
Deceased had spoken to witness about a
severe pain in the back, but had not appre-
ciated the full extent of the accident. De-
ceased had made no statement of how the
accident had occurred.
Witness had heard that his son was clean
ing beneath the elevator when the accident
took place. Deceased had not seemed to
realize the extent of the catastrepher and had
asked witness not to take the matter hard.
Mr.. II. Schurmeier was next sworn and
testified to being present at the time
the accident occurred that resulted
in the death of young Marrinau.
Witness, Mr.. Archibald and Mr.. Hugh Nc
Afee were descending on the elevator when
sudden snap indicated that something was
wrong, which was perceived by Mr.. Archi-
bald, who jumped from the elevator, imme-
diately after which it broke loose and fell to
the floor below, a distance of about twelve
feet. Witness had conversed with the other
victim, who had acknowledged that they had
no business being where they were when the
accident took place, as they had been warned
not to risk their lives on or about the ele-
vator. The elevator was only intended as a
carrier OF flour and other freight, and the
employees were warned that all risks were
taken at their own peril.
M. Fl. S. Campbell, head miller at the
Capital mills, testified to being in the mill
at the time of the accident. Witness had
not seen the accident, but thought that one
coil of the hosting wire had slipped from
the drum, thus precipitating and greatly
accelerat1ng the fall of the elevator. Wit
ness hsd examined the elevator and found
it in good shape, having been scarcely
damaged by the fall. The elevator was only
used for carrying -four and the hands had
been forbidden to ride upon it. In case OF
breakage in the cable, there was only two
catches, and the employees knew that it was
dangerous to 60 beneath the elevator, as il
was not necessary to 60 beneath the elevator
to sweep the floor.
All the evidence being in the jury returned
verdict of death from confusion in the
back, caused by the slipping of the elevator
at the Capital MILL
Coroner Stein-Do I understand from the
verdict that the jury neither exonerates nor
blames the proprietors of the mill for the
accident.
Answer-The jury neither censures nor
exonerates. We simply desire to leave the
question open for future developments.