The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-06-13
EMIL B. B[RGER'S DEATH
CORONER'S INQUEST WAS HELD
THIS MORNING.
Verdict of Accident Returned -Funer-
al From the Cathedral was Largely
ttended-Profuse Flowers.

Death by accident was the verdicr
of the coroner's jury this morning
as the result of the inquest on the
body of Emil b. Berger. The inquest
was held at 10 o'clock this morning.
and was conducted by Deputy Mar
shal Chillingworth. The members of
the jury were: Charles Murray, Will
liam Mott, Sam Kubey. \. +. Clarke.
Louis Reynolds. II. w. Levy.
The verdict returned was as fol-
lows:
That the said Emil B. Berger came
to his death at Waanae. Island of
Oahu. Republic of Hawaii. on the
1lth day of June. \. d. 1895 by bull
let accidentally discharged from gun
held in his own hands"
Three witnesses were called. Will
liam 7. Schmidt, James w. Harvey
and Allan Jones. As described by
these witnesses the deceased with
twelve others went goat hunting Sat
urday in the Waianae mountains. The
party besides Berger. consisted OF
Captain Penhallow. f. p. Chaplin. Hen
rv and Arthur Giles, Percy Lishman,
William r. Schmidt, James w. Harvey
Allen y. Jones. John and William T.
Soper, Mr.. McLain and George Lish-
man.
After lunch at camp they made
the entire party broke up into three
parties, going in different directions.
William Schmidt testified that Ber-
ger was with the party of five. The
others were Allen Jones. Chaplin anu
Harvey. They were on ridge at
Nanakuli, between Eva and Walanae.
When last seen before the report of
the fatal shot was heard, Berger was
sitting on Il rock about fifty feet from
the witness and the rest of the party.
There were cartridges in the maga-
zine of the gun as well as one in the
chamber of it when Berger was last
seen alive.
When Schmidt heard the report of
the gun he turned and saw Berger's
cap go up into the air six or eight
feet, then the body rose and dropped.
Rushing over Schmidt found the de
ceased, face down on the ground and
dead. \ piece of the skull was found
beside the body.
James w. Harvey testified that he
was the first one to arrive at the body.
1t was lying face down on the earth
across the gun, which was an old
Rebel gun. When Harvey last saw
Berger before the accident he was sit
ting on a rock, and was sitting down
when the accident occurred. The
bullet that killed Berger was the first
shot fired that day.
Allen Jones testified that the gun
was not in good working order the
day before, but Berger was used to
handling guns.
Where the accident occurred the
ground is very rough and broken
The body was carried in a blanket
for some distance, when a shutter
was secured and on this it was carri-
ed to Nanakuli, from whence it was
brought in by special train.
The fatal bullet passed through
the frontal bone just beside the left
eye. and out through the skull above.
The news of Emil Berger's death
came as a shock to this community.
lie was son of Captain Berger and a
brother of Mrs. w. NJ. Graham. He
was well known and well liked.
Most of yesterday the remains lay
in state at the home of his father
Hundreds of friends and acquaintan-
ces sent condolences and flowers. The
floral remembrances We're more num-
erous and profuse than were ever sent
before in the history of Honolulu.
The funeral was at 3 o'clock from
st. Andrews Cathedral, Rev. Alex.
Macintosh conducting them. The
attendance at the Cathedral was very
large, including members of the gov
ernment and of the diplomatic and
consular corps. Hundreds followed TO
the grave.
BY direction of the President the
concert at Makee Island was omitted.
The band played dirge at the Ca
thedral and again at the cemetery.