Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-03-23
FUNERAL.

The Last Sad Rites Over James J.
Brennan-The CorOner's Tnvestiga-
tlon.
The funeral of James j. Brennan, whose
dead body was found at the bottom of the
elevator we'll in the Register building on
Crown street, was attended yesterday after
noon from the late residence of the deceased
corner of Blatchley avenue and East Grand
street. The members of Court Quinnipiae,
Ancient Order of Foresters, of which Mr.
Brennan was a member, attended the funeral
in body. The Sarsfeld Guards with Lam
drigan's band, under the command of Cap
tain Ksefe, of which company young Bren-
nan was also valued member, attended the
funeral in full uniform. The funeral pro-
| cession, which was long and solemn one,
marched in slow time with reversed arms
The following members of the military COM
pany, who were pail bearers, walked by the
side of the hearse: J. B. Judge, N. j. Coffee,
B. T. Geelan, J. Foley, Andrew Carroll and
Bernard McGibeney. The Foresters and a
long line of carriages followed. The inter
ment was at St Demands cemetery. Three
yolleys were fred over the grave by the mill
tary. On the casket was a beautiful floral
piece in imitation of the company pin, which
was presented by the Sarsfelds. Lieuten-
ants Clarity and Callahan and nearly all of
the company were present.
As a member of the company Young Bren-
nan was very active, especially at the recent
festival of the company. He is spoken of by
Captain Keefe and others of his acquaint-
ances as very genial and kind-hearted
young man. The parlor of the Sarsfelds
will be draped in mourning for thirty days.
On Saturday Coroner Bollman further in
vestigated as to the cause and manner of
death of James J. Brennan. He went to the
house of Mrs. Carroll on East street and took
the testimony of that lady and her son Will
liam in regard to the case. In their esti-
mony they say that they saw Brennan on
Tuesday morning, Mrs. Carroll stating that
From all the testimony thus far taken it
would appear that he fell down the elevator
on Tuesday morning.
Last evening Coroner Boilman gave the re-
suit of his investigation as follows:
Having examined the premises on which the
dead body Of James s. Brennan was found in the
ali the testimony taken during the inquest held on
said body, find:
That said James. ]. Brennan, at about a. M
on March IT, 1885, entered the four-story building
known as Nos. So, IS and 90 Crown street in the
no@n % New Hayen ntsmdn to deliver IA
the rear rooms on the second floor
Of said building. A stairway leads from the front
part of the ground floor of said building the
ond story Directly in front of, and four feet six
inches distant from the top steps of said stairway,
is a door opening into the hall from an elevator
we'll No other door apparently leading into the
part Of said story be seen from said stair
ton By mistake Brennan entered this-at the time
unlocked and unguarded-d door, fell from that en-
trance to the bottom of the elevator well in the
basement distance of from TWENTY-FIVE to TWEEN.
tv-three feet, and was killed in consequence of said
fall.
The elevator in question was at the time of Bren-
nan fall run by, and was together with said door,
under the charge and control of the Stafford Print
ing company of said New Haven, lessee of part of
said premises.
, About five months ago lady fell from the same
without receiving lasting injury After that time
said door was ordered to be kept locked two cards
indicating that it led to an elevator were
fastened to the outside, and Immediately
inside of it, and forty inches above
the center of the door sill chain placed across
the entrance. Lately however, said door was fire.
quently left unlocked and the chain, which I'M
snapped at one end not always kept across said
Had the cham been in its proper position
when Brennan opened said door his fall would prob
ably have been prevented.
, About fifty persons were usually employed in the
three upper stories of said building and many other
persons had frequent occasion to visit the rooms
and offices located on said second story
l lind that the parties who had said elevator
under their charge and control neglected to keep
the same In safe condition. and that proper care
on their part would have prevented the accident
which resulted in the death of said Brennan.