The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-30
INQUEST In O'BOYLE CASE
Great Mass of Testimony Was Heard
Last Night-Verdict Rendered
by the Jury.

An inquest was held in the court
house last night in the case of william
O'Boyle. of Lafayette street, son OF
Select councilman Thomas O'Boyle,
who was killed on Tuesday, Aug. %,
by falling from an electric light pois
at Capouse avenue and Poplar street.
Boyle was employed as a lamp trim
mer by the Scranton Electric Light
and Heat company. The jury consist
ed of B. G. Morgan. William Mean
drew, Patrick Wright, Richir1 Fob
erts, James Regan and Griffith w.
Jones'
Thomas O'Boyle. the father. was pre-"
sent and asked a few questions % one
of the witnesses. Robert Reeves, one
of the officers of the electric light cor.-
pany. was present. and so was Attor-
ney |. II. Burns. who represented the
same company. EX-Judge Knapp was
there in the interest of the Suburban
Electric Light company.
The witnesses examined were DR. w.
G. Fulton, Albert Traub, iona Nc
Guire, Henry Kingsley, line foreman
for the Scranton Electric Light COM
pany; Harry May. an electrician; =.
f. Parrish, superintendent o. the
company and assistant superintendent
of the Suburban Electric Light COM
pany, John Duffy. line foreman for the
Suburban company, Thomas O'Boylc.
father of the young man who was
killed, and Henry n. Webber. who has
general charge of the plant of The
Scranton Electric Light company.
The testimony, in brief. was that en-
an unusually severe wind and rain
storm which disarranged wires to a
greater or less extent all over the city.
On either side Of the pole at Cap nuse
avenue and Poplar street on which the
Scranton company's arc light is pllcel
run insulated wires of the Suburban
company. They are about eighteen
inches from the pole.
The heavy wind blew the on .si1e
wire against the pole and it clught
on the spike placed in the pole for the
benefit of the lamp trimmer. Eric
tion against the spike with the assist
ance of the rain wore the insulation
off the wire to some extent and it 10
supposed that this wire is in some way
responsible for O'BOyle's death. Af'er
the accident the wire was still caught
on the spike.
The testimony the electricians Cave
last night was to the effect that
O'Boyle might have received a slight
shock which would frighten him to the
extent of causing him to loosen his
hold on his pole. but that he could not
have received such a shock as WOlld
have thrown him from the pole. The
fact was brought out that the Subu,-
ban wires were properly constructed
and a proper distance from the pole.
The verdict Of the jury is as follows:
We. the undersigned Jurors, after hear
ing the testimony Of several witnesses
find that William O'Boyle came to his
death from the fracture of his skull,
caused by "A fan from pole belonging
to the Scranton Gas and Water COM
pnN, on Tuesday, August "a 1899: that
the storm of the day before caused the
wires of the Suburban Electric Light and
Heat company to he suspended ON "A spike
| I'm said pole ana that in coming In contact
with said wire gave him the shock which
caused his fan; that the evidence does
not attach neglect on the party of any
one hut we believe is due to the absent
mindrdness of said O'Boylc; that we
recommend that such legislation be en-
acted by our city aS will compel eIec-
tric companies to supply qualified men
only.