The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-21
Highest of all Leavenng Poxe-La,est Govt Report
R3H!a!!! R RsklRS
ABSOLUTELY PURE
CAR COMPANY TO BLAME.
Sisson Jury Finds Death Really Due TO
Absence OF Bl idge Railing.

Absence or Ri idge Railing
The coroner's jury to inquire into the
death OF Joseph Sisson. whose body was
found on the tide flats last Sunday morn
ing, yesterday afternoon rendered the FOL
lowing verdict:
I'VE, the jury find that Joseph 4. Sis
son came 20 his death sometime between
4:30 and $50 p, m. Saturday, August Is.
from causes unknown. AS matter OF
humanity and that the continuous loss or
life from drowning should cease. we the
jury would urgently recommend 10 the
proper authorities that they take all need
ful steps TO prevent such casualties by en-
forcing all laws requiring ratings to be
constructed along all trestles, wlarVes
and roadways"
The examination showed that Sissop
had been drinking heavily with a friend
named Wilson on Saturday afternoon. and
left for home about 1 O'Clock, going south
over the Grant street bridge, and was last
seen by Conductor Shields at AIS o'clock.
The man who made the statement that he
saw Sisson quarreling with some one on
the bridge could not be produced and is be-
lieved by the authorities to be myth.
j. Coons testified TO finding the body
while coming to the city in company with
j. II. McMasters at $50 Sunday morning,
and reporting TO officer HUFF. Huff testi-
fed that on being informed by Coons, he
called the patrol wagon and watched the
body till it came.
O. 7. Wilson. a carpenter testified that
he has known Sisson for four years. The
last time he saw him was at his room on
Seventh street near King on Saturday af
ternoon. He called then on business and
remained for about two hours. Two other
men were in the room when Sisson came
in, but they left soon after. Wilson and
Sisson had several drinks out of the gall
lon demijohn Sisson had filled for Mrs.
Lillis. Sisson said when he came in that
he had changed his occupation and was a
doctor and called on professional visit.
He was intoxicated when he left for the
car Witness, in endeavoring to see if
SisSon got on the car, tripped and fell
down stairs, bruising his face considerably
and knocking him insensible. The next
thing he knew he was sitting on his bed
in his own room, but did not know how
ne got there.
Did you drink much of the whisky"
asked the coroner.
"A little, but not enough to cause me
10 lose my senses"
Wilson's face looked as If he had come
in contact with a piledriver or threshing
machine. He was uncertain on some por-
tons of his testimony.
James Shields, conductor on the Grant
street car line, said he was on the switch
with his car between 4:05 and Ais o'clock
on Saturday, and saw SiSson walking
along the bridge in an intoxicated condi-
ton. Some one in the car spoke to him
and he answered in mixed" manner.
Not far from where he saw him there
was plank leading 10 the railroad tres
tie, over which man could walk.
Did you hear splash after he passed
you?" asked Juror Anderson. mo, 1 did
not"
Shields said the body was found about
800 feet south of where he saw him on
Saturday.
John Moore said he had roomed with
Sisson for about three years and always
found him a good fellow. He missed him
and left for the city TO find some trace of
him. He visited Wilson, and was told
that Sisson left his house during the after
noon. He then went 10 police headquar-
ters and other places. and went back and
reported 10 Mrs. Lillis. The next morn
ing he started out early for town to hunt
for him. He knew he would not fight,
drunk or sober. and felt satisfied that he
had fallen in the bay and was not sur
prised when he heard that such was the
case.
Coroner Askam charged the jury, men
tioning particularly the carelessness OF the
railroad companies in not complying with
the city ordinance recently passed provid-
ing for hand rails along bridges. etc. He
said many times body is found on the
flats. and the authorities say it was a
case of accidental drowning, when in real
ity death was caused by a lack of pre-
cautions
Following are the names of the jurors:
j. a. Costello Nathan Anderson, Bert
Butterworth, G.. c. Donate, ]. NJ. Bruce
and II. McColum.