Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-16
CLEMENCE'S LAST RUN.
THE CORONER'S INQUIRY AND
THE VERDICT.

The Inquest Held at Tybee at Midnight
Questioning How the Accident Oc-
curred-statement of Those Who Were
on the in-superintendent Wright's
Story.
1t was O'Clock yesterday morning
when the st. Nicholas steamed up
TO her wharf with the re-
mains Of the unfortunate James -
Clemenee. 1t was midnight before Coro-
ner Dixon was able to get Jury ofinquest
on Tybee Island, the scene Of the acct
dent. The body had been moved before his
arrival to a house near by. The head was
a horrible sight. The back of the skull
was broken. the temple cut open, and
long. gaping wound EXTENDED from the
edge of the hair diagOnally across the
right side of the forehead.
After being duly sworn the jury began
taking evidence. Very few witnesses
could be found. The jurors were taken
out to the spot where Clemence was
picked up. A car was pushed up the
Track until it stood beside the tree, against
which it issupposed the conductor struck.
BY the dim light OF lantern the tree and
the ties and the car and the ground were
examined for some mark of blood.
The lantern 1ickered and smoked at
every gust Of wind. Winged bugs and
insects fitted and lowered around the
flames. The stars, shedding over all a
dull. faint light, made 2 dismal. grue-
some scene. The. dozen men scanned
the tree closely, but no certain marks
were discovered on it that Indicated that
the mans head crashed against its
trunk. The base of the tree is about
three feet from the track. 1t inclines
slightly in, and at about the height OF a
car bends over the track.
B. G. Wright, who a few days ago was
engaged by the proprietor of the island as
superintendent Of the railroad, stood
on the platform and the steps
and leaned out as far as he could. No one
could see how the man ever struck the
tree.
S. Brandt testified that he saw Clemence
standing on the right side Of the car as It
backed down toward the Ocean House.
He saw him fall to the ground but did not
see bis head strike the tree.
Is. &. Wright stated that at 6 :3j p. m.
Conductor Clemence suggested that the
tram be run to the south end of the island.
When returning the witness stood on the
left side of the platform and the
deceased on the right side.
Witness was in the act of
entering the car when he saw Clemence
fall. He was under the impression that
the head Of the deceased struck the tree,
and thought he could swear TO it. The
witness measured the distance between
the spot where the body was thrown and
the tree, and found it to be 13feet 0 inches.
The head was lying between two crOssties
outside Of the rail.
<. c. Wenz, the engineer, testified that
he saw the conductor fall. Clemence had
been signalling him TO back up, and also mo-
tioning TO the crowd TO get out of the way.
He stopped the train as soon as he could
after the accident and went up to the in
jured man. Witness saw the deceased
holding on with his left baud and leaning
out, but could not say what made him
fall
The jury decided that the deceased was
killed by his head striking against the
tree.
The body was taken 70 his brothers.
residence. Montgomery and Stone streets.
The funeral will take place this afternoon
at 80 O'Clock.
DeKalb Lodge OF Odd Fellows, of which
the deceased was a member, will attend
the burial service at BOnaventure.