Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-07
DEATHS DEALINGS.
Three Cases for the COrOner's
Investigation.
A Boy Who Played on Moving
Wagon.
Charles A. Hellman Found Dead in
His Bed.
The Body of an Unknown Man Found in
a Zanja-No Clue to His
Identity.

Coroner Meredith held two inquests
yesterday, the first being upon the body
of Lucien A. Burroughs, the seven-year-
old son Of j. 7. Burroughs, who died at
the residence Of his parents, No. 50
South Hayes street, East Los Angeles,
on Thursday night last, from injuries
sustained by being accidentally run over
by truck on Tuesday afternoon. From
the evidence taken at the official inves-
tigation it was learned that the boy with
number of juvenile companions
climbed upon a loaded truck of the
Pioneer Truck Company and rode upon
it as far as the corner of DAILY street and
Pasadena avenue, where the driver,
William Hoffman, deposited his load.
On the return journey the young
sters again climbed upon the BODY
Of the truck, and the Burroughs
boy, catching hold of the standards at
the side of the wagon, told his compan-
ions that he would show them how to
jump off the truck between the wheels,
while the vehicle was in motion. He
proceeded to jump, but slipped and fell
to the ground right in front of the hind
wheels of the truck which passed over
his body before his horror-stricken play
mates realized his danger Hew con-
veyed to the residence of his parents and
everything that medical skill could sug-
gest was done for him, but without
avail, as he never rallied and after
lingering for about forty-eight hours
died on Thursday night.
The jury returned averdct in accord
ance with the facts.
The second inquest was upon the body
OF Chas. A. Hellman, native OF Dem
mark, 35 years of age, who was found
dead in bed in his room at the CONNER
cial hotel, yesterday morning. The
deceased, who was consumptive, came
to- this city from Portland, Oregon,
about the beginning of March
last, in search of health, and
at once took up his quarters at the
Commercial hotel Though very weak
and unable to take much exercise, he
was apparently much benefited by the
change of climate until few days ago,
when he became worse. On Thursday
night he retired about $3.50 o'clock, and
when he failed to make his appearance
yesterday morning, A. Flehrberg, the
proprietor, sent his barkeeper, Bernhard
Heitkamp, up to his guests room at 10
o'clock to investigate. On gaining an
entrance to the room, HeIlman was
found in bed, death having released him
from his sufferings during the night
time. The jury returned verdict OF
death from natural causes.
Coroner Meredith's services were
called into requisition on another case
last night, but owing to the lateness OF
ha hnI ha cd 10, -,
vestigation until this morning. A youth
named J. j. O'Connor, who is employed
at a restaurant near the Arcade de-
pot, on Fifth street, went out to milk
COW, which was tethered to stake on
vacant lot near the Fifth-street car
barn and, while on his way back to the
restaurant, struck across the lots. About
midway between the barn and the depot
he was obliged to jump across zanja No.
A in order to reach his destination, and
as he did so he noticed large object
lying in the water, which, ON examina-
tion, proved to be the body of man.
Young O'COnnor at once notified the
authorities, and the body was with
some difficulty fished out of the zanja
and conveyed to the morgue. The
corpse was that of man about 60 years
of age, 5 feet inches in height, weight
about 200 pounds, long gray hair
and bushy gray beard, dressed
in a blue flannel suit. A close
search was made of the mans
apparel with the view of obtaining
some clue as to his identity, but beyond
white-handled clasp-knife, a pair of
silver-rimmed spectacles and a clasp
purse, in which was valise key, moth
ing. was discovered in his pockets. The
body was in an advanced stage of de-
composition and had evidently been in
the zanja for several days; but there
were no wounds or marks of violence,
and the probabilities are that the old
man either fell into the zanja while
drunk and wandering around in the va
can't lots, or that he committed suicide
while temporarily insane.