Telegram-herald., 1891-09-01
GROWERS QUEST Law
Elimination Into the CirCum-
stances Of Hydorn's Death.
ELECTRICITY NAMED As TIE CAUSE
The coreser's once Crowded VITA Spec
sssors-Legai And Medical Taiens
Gsgagsd - Testimony Of the
Ey ttnesess.

Yesterday at 10 O'Clock the coroners
jury impaneled to enquire into the
cause of Geo. Z. Hydorn's death last
Saturday. met in the Office Of Coroner
Bradish. Special interest was attached
to this inquest by reason of tho fact
that the finding OF the jury would de-
eide who Was responslbIe for the death
Of the unfortunate man. The little
room was packed With interested spec
tators. Lawyers Chapman and Rozena
were present IN the interest OF the de-
ceased mans family. Kingsley and
kielnhans represented the Valley CITY
Street and Cable Railway Company.
Manager Chapman and Secretary
Hanchet were on hand in the interest
OF their company and outside ap-
pearances Indicated that no "horse-
play" would be indulged in.
The first witness called to the stand
was +. George Clemments. ~ was 60
ing across Bridge-st. near West Division
when heard u man shout .whoa!
glanced around and saw q team CON-
ing up the road with man IN the
wagon behind them. / did not notice
whether he had hold of the lines or
not. Just as Bridge-st. was reached the
team ran into q telegrph pole and saw
wire drop. 1t fell near me and
jumped aside in time to avoid it. The
man sprang out of the wagon and ap-
peared 10 be holding the Off horse up
or trying to. Then both dropped to-
gether; the animal on topof the driver,
covering his legs and hips with his hind
quarters. ran up, but couldn't tell
whether he was dead or not. He did
not move or say word and 1 supposed
he was not alive" Mr.. Kleinhans asked
the witness whether tho man or horse
fell first, and the answer was given that
they both fell together. Mr.. Clemments
explained that when the wagon struck
the pole, the latter bent forward and
then sprapg backward, breaking the
telephone wire, which fell across the
trolly wire of the Street Car Company.
odd you see any sparks?" asked Mr..
Kingsley. EYES," answered the W.T.
ness. "Whenever the wire touched
dark object there was . fash. Don't
know who cut the wire, but some men
did It. The man was there seven or
eight minutes before they pulled him
out. lying on his side and face in the
mud.h
Morgan Shultz was the next witness
called: 1T is my opinion that the
driver was sitting and jumped when
the wire fell. After he reached the
ground / think he attempted to unhItch
the horses but fell before he could do
90 and the horse fell on him." Upon
being asked by the coroner if he saw
the wire Mr.. Shultz replied: Eyes Sir.
started to go toward him, and while
walking in the mud, felt queer Ssnsa-
ton. Looking down saw was stand
ing on the wire. This caused me to
spring aside. At the Same time police
man cautioned me to look out. When
the wire had been cut q rope was pro-
cured and the horse was dragged Off
of the man. took hold of the man to
move him and his body was 30 charged
with electricity that received a severe
shock aud was Obliged to let 90. The
wire was wound around the mans legs
aud stomach in several places. Wher-
ever the wire touched tho mans
We tried to move him the wire touched
his head and it jefked. do not know
whether 1t was caused by the electricity
or not" Mr.. Kleinhans-"How long
did you have hold of the mars wrist
at the time you say you received the
shock?' Witness-'Not long, ASSURE
you." Mr.. Shultz said he saw an cleo
trio car running along shortly before
the accident aud was sure there was no
guard wires.
Patrolman VIM. L. Rusco thought
the driver staggered when the pole was
struck and fell from the wagon. He
could not see which fell first as The man
was on the other side of the team from
HIM. He did not know who cut the
wire, but saw man whom he supposed
to be section hand roll 1t up and take
it away. A physician examined the
body about five minutes after the fall
and announced that the man was dead.
II. II. Knox, gate keeper at the cross
ing, said If anything the man fell first.
That the horse lay across his legs, hips
and the lower part of his bowels.
Drs. Graves aud Mcpherson. who had
examined the body, testified that the
body was In healthy condition and
that contested blood Was discovered IN
the lungs. This might be caused by the
pressure OF the horse upon the aodo-
men and was sufficient to produce death.
Dr.. Graves said that II he were not
aware Of the fact that the man had been
shocked by electricity after the exami-
nation he had made. he would decide
that the man had been killed by cleo
tricity. There were several blistered
places on his limbs, but the scar under
the chin Was where the wire had cut IN
stead Of burning him. Later in the
day, at the inquest of the Coroner, the
physicians submitted their report in
writing, which was to the effect that
death was caused by . shock, presum-
ably electricity"
DR.. Conkey made post mortem ex-
animation Of the horse and said that
the collision with the pole. instead OF
electricity killed the animal.
Manager Chapman was sworn and
said that his meu had taken 500 bolts,
the strength of the current. many times
and he bad himself, but it had no seri-
ous effects upon any of them. Inst
current eould never have been passing
through the man five minutes, 40 the
trolley would have burned the small
wire in two IN minute" MI. chapman
offered 70 illustrate this, IT II Was de-
sired.
The Jury rendered the following
virdict: "Death was caused py cur
rent OF electricity psssng through
small copper wire, said wire having
been broken by team Of horses which
he was driving by colliding with pole,
sAid wire falling across the troiiy wire
on West Bridge st, owned and operated
by tho Consolidated Ssrees hah"ay
Company"
"We further find said trolly wire not
properly protected BY guard wires