The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-20
HE DID BUT HIS DUTY
Had No Reason to Believe the
Dead Man Was Not
John Bowling.
HAD BEEN WELL IDENTIFIED
The Unjustly Blamed Official Has
Filled Many Positions of
Trust.

AUBURN, CAL, Sept. 19.-Coroner
Berry Mitchell of Placer County, concern
ing whom certain damaging statements
were made in THE CALL of June q, has
made a statement of the matter to your
correspondent, and upon examination the
facts are found to be as follows:
On Saturday, June %, Mr.. Mitchell, as
Coroner, was notified that man had died
at CoIfax from injuries received on the
railroad, near that place, and on Sunday
morning he went there to investigate the
cause of the mans death. On the arrival
of the narrow gauge train from Grass Val
lev. H. L. Carter, merchant from Ne
vada City, viewed the body OF the dead
man and declared it to be that of John
Bowling, formerly of Moore's Flat, and
said that he had sold to the dead man, on
the day before, a portion OF the clothing
then on the body.
Mr.. Carter was positive in his Identified
ton of the body as that of John Bowling,
saying that he had been a schoolmate OF
Bowling ct Moore's Flat and knew him
well. Upon receiving this information
Mr.. Mitchell telegraphed to the mother OF
John Bowling. who he was informed
lived at Ukiah, as follows:
CoLFAx, Cal, June %.
To Mrs. n Doubling: Your son, John Dowl-
ing, killed by cars. What shall do with the
body? BERRY MITCHELL, Coroner
This telegram was sent between II and
Sunday noon.
The Coroner's jury, after viewing the
body and hearing the testimony of numer-
l,r-a hot he
deceased's name was John Morton, alias
John Bowling. This verdict was rendered
about clock Sunday afternoon.
Coroner Mitchell waited until the west
bound overland train reached Colfax at
4:15 o'clock, and having heard nothing
from Mrs. Bowling or any of Downing s
relatives at Ukiah, he directed that the
body, which was then bloated and fast be-
coming offensive, be buried by George w.
Mccullough, an undertaken. Thereupon
Mr.. Mitchell returned to his home in Au-
burn on that train.
Mr. Mitchell heard nothing from Mrs.
Bowling nor from any one acting for her
in regard to the disposition of the body
either before leaving Colfax or afterward
He did not remain to see the body in
Bowling or any other relative of that per-
son. He merely did what his duty as
Coroner required Of him under the pro-
visions of the code in directing the body to
be inferred. He has not now nor has he
ever had any deputy at Colfax.
Up to the time of the publication of the
article of June u in THE CALL Mr.. Mitchell
did not know that the man upon whose
body be had held the inquest was not, in
fact, John Bowling; nor did he know that
the relatives of Bowling had taken any
action in regard to the disposition of the
body.
1t further appears that the only state
ment made by any person TO the sister Of
John Bowling was made by J. f. Brown
a merchant and reputable citizen of Col
fax, who tod her that the price of the
collins which he had in stock ranged from
$40 to $125.
Mr.. Mitchell has lived in Placer County
for thirty years and has filled vari.
Gus Offices of trust and responsibility with
credit to himself and to the satisfaction OF
his fellow citizens, and enjoys the respect
and confidence of all who have been
brought in contact with him. His friend.
think that a statement of the facts in thi!
matter should be given the same publicity
as was given the article of June q, and be
has asked your correspondent to place TIL
CALL in possession OF them, confident thai
Tor the sake of truth and fairness TIL
CALL will place his relation to the Dow
ling Morton inquest in its true light be
fore the public.