The record-union., 1899-12-27
THE RESULT OF A BEATING.
SUPPOSED CAUSE OF GEORGE
E. SMITHS DEATH.
August Geiger Accused by Cor
oner's Jury-Deceased
Only Boy.

eled Jury to inquire into the cause OF
the death of George c. Smith, twelve
year-old boy, who died on the 18th inst.
after an illness of some seven months
duration. The probable outcome of the
investigation will be that August Gel
ger. a brewery employe, will have TO
stand trial for his life.
Thefirst witness called to the stand last
night was Mrs. Eliza Smith, who testl-
fled that she was the mother of the
deceased youth. On the 10th of lasr
June. in the evening, August Gelger,
I.who resided at Twenty-second and y
streets. called to her son to come across
the street to him, as he wanted to see
him. The boy was afraid to go alone
SO Mrs. Smith said she went with him.
AS they neared Geiger the latter made
a spring at the lad, caught him by the
throat with both hands, shook him vlo-
lently. and then, holding the boy OF
from him with one hand, he struck
him several crushing blows full in the
face with his clenched right fist.
Mrs. Smith said she called to Geiger
to stop hitting the little lad, and when
she attempted to rescue the child from
Geiger the latter struck at her and nit
her on the chin. The blow, however, did
not amount to much, and she said she
was under the impression that she
struck Geiger in the face with a small
tin pail she held in her hand.
After she procured her boys release
from Geiger's hands she took him home.
The lad complained greatly of severe
pain in his head, and in the next rev
DAYS these increased so much that sne
became alarmed, removed the lad from
school and called in a physician. Sne
related to the latter the circumstances
of the beating, and asked him If the
child's skull had not been fractured
The physician at first said no, but later
claimed that there was slight frac-
ture.
After this assesses began forming In
the child's head, and the. physicians
were obliged to lance his head ana
neck upward of fifteen times up to the
time of his death.
Mrs. Smith said that DR.. Look mad
plainly informed her that the direct
cause of the abscess was the blows that
had been given the boy.
DR.. F. L. Atkinson, the next witness
called. stated that in company with DR..
Look he had performed an autopsy on
the dead boy. They opened the Skull
and found diseased brain tissue and an
abscess cavity, but no fracture OF the
skull.
When questioned by Coroner McMul-
len he gave his opinion that the cnlio ;
death had been caused by the abscess'
which. he claimed, was certainly suH'-
Gent to cause it. The primal origin
might have resulted from violent ploWs-
This seemed probable from the 1act
that the membrane covering the brain
was greatly inf1amed and had partially
adhered to the interior of the skull
DR.. Look testified that when he was
called in to attend the child he found
indications of typhoid fever, and Or
dered that the child be confined to ms
bed. After this Assesses formed pach
of the eyes and in the neck. These ne
lanced and drained, but the Drain
trouble still remained, and eventuaNy
the lad died in cerebral convulslons- IN
his opinion death was the result OIL
hemorrhage of the brain, the result OF
some injury. The latter could easily
have been inflicted by a blow from
mans fist.
The case was then given to the jury
who rendered a verdict as follows:
1--WE find that George c. Smith came
to his death from an abscess FORMED
son the base of the brain, and we fur-
Their believe the abscess was caused DS
a blow delivered by A Geiger.'
Immediately after the rendition OF the
verdict Justice Anderson issued war
rant for Geigers arrest.
District Attorney Charles II Baker
states that Geiger will probably De
charged with murder.
C:eiger was arrested at his home late
last night by officers Rible and Wax
Fisher He displayed considerable emo
ton Oh leaving his home, as his Wile
was sick in bed. Geiger declared to the
officers that the deceased was aoollt TOT
some weeks after the difficulty he had
with him, and that his injury resulted
from being hit by another boy with
stick. and that he also had typnoio
fever.