The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-09-25
A victim Of Rum.

a t1cttm OF hums
The dead body Of John Burd, whose
home was near the Rock School House,
in West Amwell township, was found
near the "Hook, on the Rocktown road,
in this city, about 9 o'clock, last Nednes-
day evening. Howard Ent, who was on
his way home saw something lying in the
way, which be supposed was drunken
man, and obtained the assistance OF Thos.
Brown, living near by, who got lantern.
BY its light they found Burd's body lying
in heap, his legs drawn up under him
and his head twisted to one side.
DR.. E. w. Closson, Coroner, was at
once sent for, who arrived soon after, aud
the body was taken to Stockton's under
taking establishment, where an examine
ton was made. His face and whiskers
were matted with blood and dirt. His
throat was bloody and the flesh torn and
worn off to the bone, two cuts were found
back of his ears, and there were numerous
bruises. The body was still warm when
found.
Under new law requiring the advice
of the County Physician before holding
an inquest, DR.. Ewing, of Pennington, was
sent for, and after examining the body
and learning that some reports of foul
play were abroad, advised an inquest,
which was held on Friday afternoon by
Coroner Closson.
The following were empaneledas jurors:
G. Hervey Skillman, Johnston Hol-
combe, Zebulon Fly, Jerry K. Trimmer,
Levi Stout, Albert B. Duryea, VIM. Bur
roughs, Henry Kroesen, Geo. T. Srope.
A number of witnesses were sworn but
nothing was elected which showed any
foul play.
The jury returned verdict as follows
"The said John Burd came to his death
on Wednesday, September Is, 1889, while
under the influence of liquor by falling
out OF buggy wagon and being dragged,
said body being found in the limits of the
how far he was dragged.
'sAnd we do Furthermore censure J.
Holmes Taylor for not taking him home"
From the testimony before the Coroner
and from other reliable sources, the fol,
lowing facts respecting Mr.. Bard's death
have been gathered
About 5 o'clock, Wednesday afternoon,
John Burd, with quart of whiskey, made
his appearance at Holmes Taylor's black
smith shop in Rocktown, and after hav-
ing his horse shod ie proceeded to divide
the contents of the bottle with Taylor.
Burd had been drinking before, and when
he started for home his condition was so
bad that Taylor concluded to see him
homo. The whiskey was very powerful,
and although Taylor only drank about
half pint he became almost as drunk as
his charge. After the pair were mile
out OF Rocktown they were nsensibly
drunk.
They appear to have gone to Burd's
home, driven near the gate, and then gone
on toward Lambertvile. A part of the
time Burd appears to have lain in the bot
tom of the wagon. Near the residence OF
Joseph Mathews, about three miles from
town, pool of blood was found in the
road, and it is supposed that here Burd
got up and fell out of the wagon, his head
striking between the body and the front
wheel OF the wagon, and that he was held
in-this position while the wagon came on
to town, and that the grinding of the hub
of the wheel produced the wound in his
throat.
At the hook the wagon tracks show that
the wagon was turned around abruptly
and started back on the road to Rock
town. The horse and wagon were found
next morning 10 the yard of Geo. Ban
choff, under shed, short distance
from where the body was found.
Taylor says he was thrown out OF the
wagon when it turned round, but can re-
collect but little about it. He knows moth.
ing about Burd's falling out, and was so
intoxicated ho does not remember the
road he came. When he learned that sus-
picions were aroused against him he sur
rendered himself and was locked up pend
ing the suit.
DR.. Closson, gives it as his opinion,
drawn from the evidence and observa-
ton, that Burd died of strangulation. He
says there is no evidence of any wounds
inflicted by mans hand. Death was no
doubt caused by the slow scraping of the
mans throat against the axle and hub OF
the wagon, and the friction against the
throat in three miles journey scraped
the flesh from the bone until 1t was bare
and the pressure finally strangied him.
Mr.. Burd was aged-47 years. He leaves
a wife and one child to mourn his loss.
For the years 1886, 's7 and 'ss, he Kept
the poor of West Amwell township, and
was well-known throughout all that re-
gion. He removed from Hopewell town
ship, Mercer county, to the farm upon
which he lived, seven years ago.
This case is another sad testimony to
the curse of rum. But how few will pro-
fit by 1t
"A Rochester girl has over 100 sets Of