The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-09
MURDERS AND SUICIDES OF
YEAR BREAK ALL RECORDS
Coroner Tutewiler Has Investi-
gated 400 Cases-Exceeds Any
Previous 365 Days by 100.
FINDS SIXTEEN INFANTS
Expenses of Office Are Reduced
Savings Made by Use of
Township Deputies.

County Coroner II. ID. Tutewiler has COM
pleted his first annual report. which covers
the year 1903. The report is full of interest
ing yet grewsome, data, and the coroner
points 10 II as a recOrd-breaker, both in
the number OF cases investigated and in
the economical management Of the Office.
He FIRST refers TO the CHASTITY fact that
Marion county had thirteen murders dur
ing the year just closed, twelve Of which
were committed within this city This
more than doubles the record Of any pre-
vious coroner. There were more suicides
during 1903 than ever before Coroner
TutewiIer and his deputy, DR.. John +. Gels,
investigated twenty-eight suicides. The
greatest number reported In any previous
year was twenty-five. The record also
shows that the majority Of the self=de-
stroyers chose the morphine route.
Another record broken is the number or
bodies Of unknown infants found, which
was sixteen. lie also notes that fourteen
OF the sixteen We're found during the nrst
six months OF the year, being more than
any officer ever had in two years. During
that period he began a crusade against the
prevailing evil and only two bodies OF In
fants were found during the last nall OF
the year
Summing up the entire years business for
a record. Mr.. Tutewiler and his deputies.
both local and township, Investigated 100
cases. The best previous record was SOS
cases.
You will note that that is 20 per cent.
more cases than any OF my predecessors
have had In any previous year. III II VIII
not be considered bOasting / would IKE
also 20 say that, although have had al
most a hundred more cases than any other
coroner, L have conducted the office within
the appropriation said Coroner Tute-
wiler.
The coroner investigated fifty-fiVe deaths
by railroads during the year. OF this num-
Der thirty-one were killed at grade cross
ings. and causes the coroner to again rec
ommend that tho City Council move for
the better protection OF pedestrians who
have to cross the tracks. 'Too many trains
are backed through the city without suf-
fcient signal lights 10 identify them as
moving trains" said Mr.. Tutewiler. In
fact, they should be compelled 10 send
man ahead TO act as fiagman at crossings
when backing trains" Seventeen Of the
deaths reported railroad cases were on
the Purdue special
Twenty persons were killed by street cars
and interurbans- only three are attributed
10 lnterurbans. Three children were Killed
by street ears during the year.
Sixteen drownings were reported -Four OF
these were children who fell into open els
terms. The coroner believes that some &C
ton should be taken 70 make the offense
erty owners negligenuy left cisternS IN
guarded. The coroner also believes that
there should be life saving apparatus at
Broad Ripple and Riverside parks during
the swimming season.
Summing up the general causes of death
the coroner notes that eighteen met death
by accidental burns, one was killed by fly
ing missile at the old rolling mill, one by
falling pole, two by falling walls, two were
struck by lightning. one killed by live wire,
two babies We're asphyxiated by being over
lain, two men were killed by manhole
fumes, one man was killed by bicycle col
1ison. one man was frozen to death, two
s--Taen fell from the Federal building, one boy
fell under wagon and one woman was
killed by falling elevator The deaths
from natural causes, but which the coroner
had TO investigate because Of unknown
cause OF death. were numerous.
WORKS FOR NOTHING.
Coroner Tutewiler obtained the first con-
victions against Christian Scientists for
practicing medicine without a license.
Dr. Gels. the chief deputy conducted
eighty-six autopsies and the post-mortem
work was divided among twenty-nine local
physicians. DIR. Gels conducted the autop-
sizes in all murder cases without charge, his
purpose being to obtain evidence for the
prosecution, the cause of death being APP
parent. Dr. Gels also did chemical work
amounting to 500 for which charges were
not made.
Coroner Tutewiler has found the system
he adopted OF maintaining a deputy cor
onsr In each township, a money-saver foI
the county. In a number OF cases in the
county the deputies conducted the inquests
and made full reports az a cost less than II
would have been had the coroner gone from
the city. The coroner also made n large
saving by taking the evidence of the wit.
nesses OF the Purdue Special wreck in the
composite instead OF Investigating each
death separately. He figures the saving al
500. The expense of the cOroner's office
for the year was $3.50 out of which is $500
salary for the coroner.
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