Daily Republican., 1885-11-18


Sm it'll empane ed the following inquest
TO inquire into the cause of the death OF
James @. Hanna, and John Fitzgib-
bons, the first, dS ing from blow with
a shinney in the hands of Reese Little +,
and the latter being killed by the cars
at the West Yard. John Pyle forem a n,
w. s. McNair Secretary, K. Harold
Rhoads, II. q. Bertolette, n. Joseph.
&. II. Nav horter, and l.. w. Palmer.
At2. 80 p. m, the inquest proceeded
to the residence of the deceased, us
East Seventh street, where they were
sworn over the dead body.
Though the ties timony WAS to be taken
at l.. W. Palmer's office, the inquest
concluded to hear Mrs. Hanna's state
msnt before leaving the house.
Mrs. Hanna stated that about 1.15
O'Clock on Friday evening her son
James came up the alley and In re-
Spouse to her question OF what was the
matter said that Reese Little struck
him with a shinnoy. He showed
planned OF intense pain. His head was
bathed, and as he sat At the table he
turned pale and appeared fainty.
He lay down on tho lounge and q
mustard plaster WAS applied TO his
spine.
Ate no WAS out to bed he told his
brother that re struck the tin can with
a shinney Ind then Little struck him
with his shiuney. About 10 o'clock al
night he screamed with pain and called
his mother 10 him. In his ssony ht
would cry ont: =" o, Reese Little, why
did you hit me 90
"lf you had not hit me ! would no
have had this pain"
Proper remedies were applied, but h'
complained very much on Saturday
morning when he got up. Mrs. Hanna
went 10 500 Little in the morning anC
asked him what he hit her boy for
He said he struck him accidentally
She told him she WAS afraid he hat
struck james a death blow. Little
came to Hanna's afterwards and sug
gested bathing the head and sAil he di'
not hit james hard.
On Saturday the boy carried hi
l father = dinner to him and served hi
papers in the evening as usual. Ii
slept comparatively we'll an Saturda,
night, but about o'clock on Sunda,
morning he screamed with pain an,
complained very much of HIS head.
DIR. Ball was sent FOR about 10 3
Io'clcok and rem aimed with the boy un
Til he died.
The testimony Of Mrs. Hanna wa
Icorroborated in every respect by othe
members of the family, and others VIII
heard what the boy said in his suffer
ings.
L. Palmer's office Drs. willar
lSpringer, c. Il. ID. Ball ard j. Ii j
Bush who as -;s's'ed DR.. ogle in the post
mortem examinatlOn, ~.Ie swofh.
DR.. Springer said there were NC ex
ternal evidence, ofa blow having bee
struck, but beneath the point where tn
blow fell, above and back of tho RICH
ear. large clot of blood was found Of
the brain, az large as a hen egg, .bu
Hat IL had evidently been caused b.
a blow that rupturcd u blood vesse, AN
Death was the inevitable result. Tn
blow could have been struck either b.
a backward or forward swing of tn
shinney In answer TO aquestion froI
Senator New horter, he said that til
skull WAS as strong at that point az an
other part OF tho head. He had Il
doubt that death was the result of
blow from q hard instrument like
club.
DIR. Ball, corroborated the testimon
of DR.. Springer, and stated that he ha
no hope of the boys recovery when
was first called in, bu: did not think
would die 80 loon.
DIR. j. II. /. Bush, agreed with DR.
Springer and Ball and stated in answs
to question from Senator McWhorte
that blow on one side OF the hea
would fracture the skull on the otht
side.
Augustus Gillespie being sworn
stated that he was II years of nge an
WAS one OF the boys engaged in playin
shinney. He did not see the blo'
Istruck, as at that time he was lookin
lover the fence into the schoolhouhe var
at Seventh and Spruce, but he hear
the blow. Hanna came over al
said 20 Reese, what did you Ia
me for 90
Reese said, didu't do it on pui
pose. jim We were playing on sidei
Reese AVID me were on one side, an
10! ford Forrest and " Jimmy" Ham
on the other After the accident, W
lpla. I'd " chaser" until 8 80 ut nigh
HAMA joined in and piayed with u
and never complained while playin,
We broke up and went home at $50.
know IL was that time because motht
told him TO be home at that hour. ID.
not SEQ Little until Hanna was dead.
i! itfard Forrest sworn, corroborateI
Gillespie in every particular, except l
relation to the blow struck which h
witnessed. Little ard Hanna wei
face 10 face, each striking at the car
Reese struck Hanna in dra wiug hi
shtuney back. Forrest was closel
tqgestioned but he did not vary in hi
testimony. Several of the jurors coul
, not aee how Hanna could receive sue
blow from back sweep when the boy
were face 10 face, and having hear
that there was other evidence thu
Knight throw rev light upon the cas-
the inquest adjourned 10 meet Til
O., morning ~ . o clock.
The Inquest met again at o'cloc
Ithis morning. The only additions
Ieyidence that threw any light upon I'll
ease was from IL neighbor named Daw
: son, who was in the vicinity, and sal
the boys were not face to face when th
blow was struck, but that Hanna wa
looming up behind. This explaint
how the back blow was struck, and Il
Jury returned n verdict that James
Hanna came to his death by bio
from shinney in the hands of Itess
Little, accidentally, without malice
Intent.
MIR. Hanna% who is very much broke
down hV the sad death of his boy, hs
: stated that he believes the unfortnua
.ffAir TO have been purely accidental.
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