The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-19
NO ONE TO BLAME.
So says the Coroner's Jury in the Case of the
Death OF w ". Reynolds

he new coroner, VI. NJ -hcaHStcis had
his first case yesterday. and be acquitted
himself very creditably in his method or
investigation. He let no material point IN
the case escape him, aud when the case
went to the jury for final determination.
they had a very intelligent and clear array
of evidence before them.
Six or seven witnesses were sworn and
examined, but the evidence OF only three
of them was material These three, Su-
periutendent O'NeiI of the Citizens Electric
Light company, George Bradford the col
ored man who cut down the tree that
broke the wire, and Lineman Childers Of
the Thompson-H Houston Electric Light
company.
Mr. O'Neil testified that he received
telephone message at exactly ) O'Clock P.
m, stating that wire was down in the
vicinity of Divers barn. He located one Of
his linemen at Mr. Blackwelder's residence
in the Sedgwick block, and Immediately
telephoned Mr. Holorook 10 call the line
man TO the phone.
The lineman came to the phone and Mr..
O'Neill told him to drop his work in the
Sedgwick block and to 90 at once TO
Divers barn near which there was i wire
down and to repair it with all possible
haste. The lineman stated that he would
do so promptly and Mr. O'NeIIl called up
the party that informed him that the wire
was down and told him that his liIeman
was on the way then to repair the wire.
1t very short time afterwards his tele-
phone called him again and his llneman
told him he had arrived there and that
man had taken hold of the wire and was
probably dead He Immediately ran TO
The scenee and found the report confirmed
by seeing the man lying on the ground.
The colored man, Bradford, testified that
he went there to cut down a tree and that
he mad braced IL in such manner that IL
Would fall, when cut. in the opposite di-
rection from the wire but that owing to
the wind the braces were of no avail and
the tree fell on the wire and broke it. He
stated that a man came out Of the ThOmp-
n-Houston compsny's office, located
near by, and told him that
the wire was dangerous and
that he should telephone the matter to the
Citizens Electric Light company or in
form them in some other manner He also
stated that after little conversation con-
corning the matter that the man who
came cut Of the other electric light touse
promised him that he would inform the
Citizens company.
Mr.. Childers stated that he was an en-
pioye Of the Thorn pson Houston company.
That he was going up the alley from the
plant when be saw the broken wire. He
knew that il was an iacandescent wire and
that il was dangerous, and that he took Il
stick and rolled the wire in the alley up
close TO a post out of the way of pedes-
trians. He theu saw the colored man, and,
finding out how the wire was broken, be
told him that he must inform the Citizens
Electric Light compay OF the breakage at
once, as thu wire was very dangerous, but
that the colored man paid 10 attention 70
him. He also stated, in obedience to a
question by one OF the jurors, that the
colored man did not ask him to inform
the Citizens company and that he had
talk with him with reference TO the mat
ter
The colored man, Bradford, did not
know the man VINO promised him TO tele-
phone the company; could not tell what
his name, occupation or place of business
was, or, in fact, anything about him that
would lead to his identity With this evil
dence before them, the jury returned the
following verdict:
State of Kansas. Sedgwick county, S.. ::
An inquISitiOu holden at Wichita on the
18Th day OF January. 1892, before me, ".
NJ McCailIster coroner of Sedgwick
county, Gu the dead body Of W. w Rey-
holds, there lying dead, o. the jurors
whose names are hereuntO subscribed.
The said jurors. upon their Oatbs, do say
that from the testimony given. the de-
ceased came TO his death from, an electric
shock received while uuthCughtediy hand
ling broken electric wire o. the Citizens
Electric Light company. We cannot dis
cover from the evidence addUced that any
blame arsaeliea to anyone
Jury: J. d Caldwell. J. c. Waltz. NJ r
Diver, ". \ Stoddard, J. G. NendenhalL,
John Ramsel
In testimony whereof, the said jurors
have hereUuto set their hands tine DAY and
year above written.
Attest: NJ " MCCALLISTER. Coroner.
The funeral of Mr. Reynolds will take
place tomorrow at o'clock from the
fanilvresidence on North Wabash avenue.
under the auspices of Wichita lodge No
-. \. Q. L. w. and Rev. Dr.. Winters Of
that order viii preach the funeral service.
\ guard Of honor has been detailed by
the lodge, which IS continually IN charge
Of the remains. The widow Is confined 70
her bed aud has not seen the remains, but
before the funeral tomorrow the Gasket
wilt 5e taken 60 her bed room, 80 that she
nav be able to see the features Of the one
who has been her companion so long, once
more.