The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-26
IT Is Still A MYSTERY
No Light Thrown on the Cause Of
William Gurd'S Death.
VERDICT OF CORONER'S JURY
1t Suggests That the County Com.
missiOncrs Offer a Reward for the De.
lection OF the Murdcrcrs -Chicf.Of.
Police Simpson Has Theory.

Mystery OF apparently the most i'm
peinetrable kind still enshrouds tn,
death of William Gurd, who was sho
and fatally wounded Mon1ay night
June 10. and died Wednesday morning
June l., At 2.S0 in the Lackawanna hos
pital.
Another meeting Of the coroner's jury
was held last night In the court house
ard the testimony of Mr.. and Mrs
Enoch Day. their sons, Oliver and
Emanuel. and Mrs. Gurd was heard. bu
not d solitary fact was CLEANED thai
would lead to u correct conclusion as tC
the cause of the shooting or the name
uf the person who handled the revolver
The verdict rendered by the jury. con.
sisting OF ID. $. Ryan. d. j. Campbell
Dr. p. II. McAndrews. J. +. Grimes
Thomas II. Kelly and &. l.. Head. was
as follows:
We, the undersigned jury empaneled by
Coroner j. A. Kelley to inquire into the
death of William Gurd. do find that said
William Gurd came to his death by pistol
wounds from IL pistol in the hands of some
unknown person or persons. We there
fore recommend that the county commits
sioners offer a reasonable reward for the
apprehension of the murderer or murder
ers.
Mrs. Day Sharply Questioned.
Coroner Kelley evidently thought
THAI Mrs. Enoch Day could throw some
light on the murder II she cared to, and
he subjected her to Il most searching
cross-examination as to her acquaint-
ancc with Gurd. She said that although
neighbors. she knew little of him until
three weeks ago. when her brother and
Gurd's brother We're burned in the
Johnson mine. Gurd occasionally
dropped In TO see the sufferer the last
time being on the Friday preceding the
shooting.
In answer 10 questions she said she
had never been in the field where the
shooting occurred and did not know a
woman named Mrs. johnson who resid-
ed near that place. Her answers were
all straightforward and candid and
whatever idea the coroner had connect
ing her with the case it was dissipated
by her replies to the questions with
which she was piled.
Her son. Oliver Day. said that about
$50 Monday night. June 10, he was sit
ting on the hill near Petersburg with
Annie and Leda Steam and May Kerri-
gan. when ne heard four pistol shots
There was an interval of about a min
ute between the reports, which came
from the neighborhood of the Boies
Car Wheel works. at Jefferson ave-
nue. and Ash street. The watchman at
the Boics works, at previous meet
ing of the jury, testified that he heard
shots at the same place. which CORE
spends with the hour at which Gurd
said lie was shot.
Where the Stories Conflict.
According to Gurd's story, corrobor-
ated by the testimony of the street car
employees, he got ON an electric car at
Capouse avenue and New York street
and rode to Ash street, half a block
from his home. If he was shot at JEFF
ferson avenue and Ash street he was
then five and one-half blocks east of his
home in u direct line. To get to Ca
pouse avenue and New York street
where he got aboard the car, he would
have to travel northwest away from his
home distance of nine blocks and
would then, after reaching that point
be four and one-half blocks from home,
distance almost as great as from the
place where he Is alleged to have been
shot was from his residence. The route
he would have to travel would be either
along Washington avenue north. or
around by the Johnson colliery, q dan
gerouS and untraveled way, which
would have considerably increased the
distance and entailed great fatigue on
u wounded man.
That Gurd was not shot at the Boies
work seems certain. If he was, there
was some urgent reason for his going to
Green Ridge before he reached home.
He did not pass along Washington ave-
nue.. for 1t is we'll lighted. lined with
houses and very much travelled. A
wounded man would have attracted at
tention, yet no one has any recollection
Of seeing him pass that way. The story
about falling on New York street, which
Gurd is reported to have told, also
seems improbable.
That street has electric lights. Is built
up quite solidly from Washington to
Capouse avenues and 1t IL not likely
that an injured man would lie there for
several hours and not be discovered.
All the facts point to the conclusion
that he was not shot at the Boies works,
If, indeed he received his wounds any
where in that nelghborhood.
Police Are Hopeful
Some of the witnesses examined by
the coroner's jury have certainly not
told the whole truth: the future alone
can develop whether the real facts will
ever be disclosed.
The police have not lost hope Of the
ultimate clearing up OF the mystery.
and Chief of Police Simpson said last
night that In his judgment it would be
only a short time until all will be made
plain. He has theory which he thinks
will prove the correct one.
DEATH OF A PROMISING BOY.