Arizona republican., 1900-12-14
DEATH LEAKING WIRE
The Inquest Upon the Death
 of James BOnihrOn.
The Responsibility for the Tragedy Laid Upon the Owners of Franchise" for Handling Elec- tricity.

The coroners jury yesterday impan- eled by Justice Gray in the case of James Bonthron yesterday laid the re- sponsibility for his death upon the 'Owners of franchise" under which they conduct electricity through the city. It was not said that the own ers'' were members of the Phoenix Electric Light company, nor members of the Phoenix Street Railway company nor was there any evidence showing from which of these systems the cleo tricity leaked into the guy wire which eFectrocuted Bonthron. The guy wire, however, was used to keep an electric light pole in place, and the jury no doubt presumed that the fatal fluid ran from the nearest source.
 The first witEess was D. c. Warren, who did not actually witness Ban thron's fall and death, but was one of the first attracted by the call made in the ElFs' circus tent for a physician. He noticed, though, offer he ran out. that the guy Wire which somebody had cut from the ground post, was swing ing and dangling, and that whenever the end struck one of those iron pins by which the electric light poles are as cended there was snapping and flash of fire
 Another witness was Joseph F'ike, who saw Bonthron fall. He had mo- ticed him and his companion casually an instant before, and when he saw Bonthron falling, he first thought his companion had knocked him down. He too testified as to the Iiveliness of the wire.
 The companion was a young man by the name of James Delaney, a cook and waiter, who said that he and Ban thron had left the California restaurant about o'clock and started toward the Elks' tent. When they reached the sidewalk in front of it Bonthron lighted cigar, leaned against the ground post and let his hand drop upon the wire. "Then,' said the witness, he turned and cried Oh! He turned around and fell to the ground. As soon as he touched the wire, fire flew from the top of the post and Jim fell flat. He moaned, but I could not understand any word he said"
 Other witnesses were C. W. Barnett and David Hooker, who testified to see ing Banthran fall and to the character of the wire. The testimony of Officer Joseph Bush was of the same general character. The last witness was Dr. II. F. Stroud, who was called a few minutes after the accident. He said that Bonthron lived a very short time. When he examined him at Bradley'3 undertaking rooms he found his hand badly burned. Death, he said, was di- rectly caused by electricity.
 It was further brought out that Bon ahron was a native of Toronto, Canada, where his parents reside, that he was 9 years old and a telegraph operator. He came to Phoenix two weeks ago with the witness Delaney and since then had been employed part of the time as waiter at the California restau- rant
 Upon the testimony the jury returned the following finding: We, the jury, duly summoned and sworn for the pur- pose of the inquisition upon the body of James Bonthron, after viewing the body and hearing the evidence. find that said James Bonthron came to his death by coming in contact with a live electric wire accidentally, through no fault of his own; and we further find from the evidence, that through the i'm perfect construction and operation of the electric wires by the owners of the franchise, and thak said owners are re- sponsible."
 The verdict is signed by Charles Moore, Burt Hurd, R. w. Chamberlain, w. R. Goodley, H. Primrose and D. P. Kyle.
 The father of BontEron was informed by telegraph on Wednesday night of his death, but no reply had been received last night. Bonthron's friend Delaney says he thinks the dead mans parents will not be able to bear the expense of sending the remains to Toronto for burial.
 If you suffer from styes, smarting or