The sun., 1897-08-03
SHOCK, NOT FALL, KILLED.
ELECTRIC CURRENT CAUSED THE
DEATH OF error. ARIoN."

Autopsy Shows That tho injuries Received by
the Aerial Cycilst, Mcdonnell. We're Not
sunlcient TO Cause DeAth-Tho Question or
Responsibility for tho Accident Not settled.
From tho autopsy upon tho body Of Prof.
Arion," tho, aerial cyclist, who fell from
q live wire upon which he was riding on bicy.
clio at Ridgewood Park on Sunday, 1t appears
that death was caused by electric shock, and
not by tho fall OF 65 feet to tho ground.
DR.. Combes and DR.. johnson of Newtown,
who made the autopsy, reported TO Coroner
Haslam yesterday that tho injuries from tho
fall were not sufficient to cause death. They
found the heart very much contracted and void
of blood, and they believe that the action was
arrested by the electric current They sny
that the harness worn by tho performer was
dangerous
Where the responsibility for the accident lies
is uncertain. as prof. Arion" was hired both
by Charles Q. Wisscl, the PROPRIETOR OF Ridge
wood Park, and by tho Brooklyn Heights Rail-
road Company, to give weeks performance.
That some party TO the performance is cupable
there is no doubt, as there was no net under tho
rider. his is in violation of the Penal Code, Of
which chapter 10. section 3si roads:
Acrobatc Erhibitions-Tho proprietor. occupant,
or lessee OF any place whero acrobatic exhibitions
are held. who permits any person to perform any
trivance without network other sufTclent means
Of protection from falling other accident any
person who makes or attempts to make an nscen.
sion by means OF q balloon, with trapeZe or
parachute attachment, or any other device for tho
purpose Of making descent from such balloon Is
guilty OF misdemcanor punishable for the nrst Of
fence by fine OF $3.50, and for each subsequent Of
fence by nne OF $3.50 and imprisonment for
than three months nor more than one year.
At the offices OF tho Brooklyn Heights Rail.
road Company tho following statement was
lin regard 10. the death of Prof. ,Arion at
Ridgewood Park last night caused by his falling
from a trolley wire which he was riding on u
bicycle, Secretary Williams of the Brooklyn
Heights Railroad Company. said that Prof;
Arion come to the company highly recommended
by tho managers of q number OF street rail
Icy wire, and wanted the Heights Company TO
give him an Opportunity to eEhOT hh his per
pany eontrao,sd M oSt3a WITH Prot Aron hs eo To
give his performance, for one week, e1clu;
the the engagement Prot Arion formally re.
leased the company from any damage or injury
and furnish a current OF 500 volts. Prof. Arionn
was to do all the rSst and 10 take upon himself
accomplished safely. With the performance on
to DO except to furnish the power at tho request
| of the managers OF the park Prot. Ariou was
not employed by the company for that perform
| ance, but by the managers of the park"
This apparently throws the responsibility OF
| the Sunday performance upon Proprietor Wis.
sci. Mr.. Wissel says that his understanding Of
the matter was that there was but one contract,
| the made by Prof. Arion with tho railroad
| company. An official OF the company states that
the dynamo which charges the wire upon
| which the aerial cycist rode could not generate
| more than $50 volts at the utmost, and this
| charge is not considered sufficient to kill Il man.
| The Professor told this official that he had Of
ten received shock Of 500 volts without harm.
The remains now lie at Skelton's horgue in
| Newtown awaiting word from the relatives.
| Emil Beckert, Prof Arions manager. went to
! the MorSuc yesterday. He said that the pro,
/ fessors real name was ID. II. Mcdonnell, and
| that he lived at 81 South Harrison street, Fort
! Wayne, IND. He was 2S years old and had been
| married seven u onths. lie has been in the
! aerial cycling business about two years and has
| ridden across Niagara Falls.