The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-01
A MOST UNUSUAL DEATH
Investigation of the Death of
Joseph Grill.
SHOCK WAS A LIGHT ONE
Any Healthy Man Should Have Been
Able to Have Taken 1t Without
Fatal Results-A Low Volt
age Current On.

electric light wire, died a most peculiar
and unusual death, according to the
testimony adduced at an inquest held
by Coroner Julien at Sherman's under
taking rooms last evening. 1t was tes-
titled to that Grill was in the best of
health as far as his most intimate
friends knew, while from expert cleo
tricians it was ascertained that the
current which went through him was
only 102 volts, an amount of electricity,
the experts said, any healthy man
ought to stand without anything more
than being shocked and certainly with
out fatal results. The only way the ex-
perts could account for the shock re-
sulting fatally was that different con-
situations could stand a great deal Of
electricity, while others could stand
very little.
John Gotsha, the business partner Of
deceased, was the first witness called.
He knew nothing of the immediate cir
cumstances of GIRLS death, but he
gave testimony which threw light on
the inquiry. He said he and Grill con-
Quoted a saloon at 436 Watson avenue.
They kept their beer and supplies of
liquors in a basement, where they had
a large ice cooler. The basement was
was made by having an electric light
in the cellar on wire long enough to
allow of hanging it on nail when
they desired light in different parts of
the cellar. 1t was shown that by rea-
son of this the insulation of the wire
had worn off, leaving possibly half an
inch of the wire bare and unprotected.
The basement floor was always wet be-
cause of the water from the ice in the
cooler The witness went on to state
that after the death of Grill he went
into the basement and found the in
candescent burner had been broken,
probably by Grill when he fell and the
exposed end of the wire was emitting
sparks. Fearing the building would be
fired, he procured can of water and
placed the end of the wire, with the
broken burner attached, in it. Instant
ly he received a shock, but not a severe
one.
Frank Hawley said he was in the sa-
loon when Grill was killed and was
served by Grill with glass of beer. He
was drinking the beer and did not see
Grill disappear from behind the bar.
Suddenly he heard GIRLS voice and it
sounded as though he was in pain.
Looking over the bar he saw a trap
door open and knew Grill must have
gone down there. Witness called to
others in the saloon and said key
must have fallen on Grill. The others
went down and found the man dead.
Matt Banovtz was reading a paper
in the saloon and heard GIRLS voice.
He was one of those who went to GIRLS
assistance He lay on the i.oor with
his feet in the ice cooler and the rest
of the body outside. In his hand he
held the electric wire. Joe Skubtz, one
of the others present, tried to pull the
wire out of GIRLS hand and received
shock. Then witness took a broom and
and they carried him upstairs to his
room. Grill was alive when witness got
the wire out of his hand and witness
left at once to telephone for a ply
stefan.
Joseph Sinkovic was in the saloon
and heard GIRLS cries. With others he
went down cellar. The place was dark
and witness got a candle. Later he
procured some vinegar with which to
rub Grill in an effort to start respiga-
ton.
Joseph Skubtz was in the saloon at
the time of GIRLS death. He followed
Matt BanovtZ into the cellar and struck
a match. He was first to reach the
body and saw the wire in GIRLS hand.
He took hold of GIRLS arm to remove
the wire and received a shock He
jumped away and BanoVtz took
broom and removed the wire. Grill was
still alive and vinegar was procured
and they rubbed him, but he only
opened his eyes a couple of times and
died.
H. w. Turner, manager of the cleo
trio light company, was called and
stated that the morning after GIRLS
death test was made of the trans
former in the saloon ascertain II
the primary current, which is high
voltage, had communicated to the sec
ondary current, which was low volt
age. Everything was in proper con-
dition and as there were only 102 volts
on the wire Grill got hold of, witness
was at a loss to know how the shock
could have proven fatal. The only ex-
PLANTATION he could give was that some
men could stand a very heavy cleo
trical shock while others would sue
cumb to very light one.
M. Hebgen, superintendent of the
electric light company, stated that the
man on emergency duty at night heard
of the accident and went down and
made an investigation. He found the
lights on that circuit burning all right
which was proof that the primary
current had not. broken through to the
secondary current but as a precau-
tionary measure the current was shut
off from this circuit and the next day
the conditions were found to be nor
NAL. Witness visited the cellar of the
saloon; the floor was found to be quite
wet, which would have caused Grill to
get the full voltage. There were but
1O2 volts on the wire Grill touched, and
a man ought to be able to stand that
many volts without hurting him. For
this reason he regarded the case as a
very peculiar one. Witness was not
prepared to state that the shock was
not the cause of death. as he had
known of some very singular cases.
j. n. Rezek said Grill boarded at his
house two years and he never heard
him complain of any organic trouble
or illness of any kind until very re-
Gently he complained of touch of
rheumati sm. Witness gave further
testimony concerning GIRLS property.
The jury found verdict in accord
ance with the facts and attributed
death to the shock Grill received.
The funeral of Grill was held yester-
day and was largely attended by the
Austrians of the city
Coroner Julien made demand on
ex-Policeman Rezek for GIRLS effects
yesterday. Rezek had applied for let
of adni and tho anrn