Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-01-08
BENN|E RIGGS KILLED
BY A FLYING WIRE
Electrocuted at n:4O Today By a Broken
Electric Wire of Light Company
on Normal Hill

While on his way to school at II: 40
this afternoon Bonnie Riggs the eight
year-old son of Geo. D. Riggs. grasped
a dangling electric light wire. The boy
died instantly. The time of the acct
dent is fixed at 1910 p. m. The boy
left home at 1880 to return to school
Tena Small, who was passing on
horseback saw the form lying across a
dangling wire and shouted that the boy
was hurt. Assistance soon arrived but
the onlookers were powerless to do
anything fearing to come in contact
with the wire which was slowly cook
ing the body of the boy.
| DR.. Morris soon arrived and ordered
that the wire be cut. In the meantime
the electric light substation on Normal
Hill was notified to shut Off the cur
rent.
On examination DR.. Morris said the
boy was dead and the body was car
ried to the front porch of Franz Morris
residence, 333 Sixth avenue.
The accident occurred near the cor
ner of Sixth avenue and Eighth street
and apparently the boy was walking
along and passing through an empty
| lot, saw the wire on the ground. No
one saw him pick up the wire, but it
is presumed that he picked up the
wire and the force of the shock threw
him on the ground and across the wire,
When found he was lying on his
back across the wire with portion
of it clutched in his right hand. The
current which passed through the body
literally cooked the hand Ground be-
ing conductor the current found it's
outlet through the back of the head
and back of the body.
County Attorney Miles S. Johnson
and Coroner Vassar, who live in the
immediate vicinity, were on the ground
at once and took charge of the body.
Mr.. Riggs, the father was notified by
telephone of the sad occurrence.
A coroners jury was selected from
by ISLANDERS who were instructed to
look over the ground before following
the remains to the Vassar undertaking
parlors, where the inquest was held
this afternoon.
The following was the jury: w. c.
Brooks, Fred King, D. ]. McGilvery.
J. c. Graft. John Marks, r. C. Reese:
w. B. Cooper. H. f. Franzman and
Perry Clark.
A number of witnesses were exam
ined. Attorney Miles s. Johnson con-
81.
Peter Frazier was the first witness
called and testified that his little son
notified him that another boy was
knocked down by an electric wire. He
stated that he Immediately ran out and
found the Riggs boy lying on the
ground holding into and lying across
the wire. The wire in question was
exhibited at the inquest. Mr.. Frazier
further stated that he sent for an ak
and chopped the wire away from the
body. After this Mr.. Frazier stated he
tried to telephone the electric light sub
station but that the operator at the
telephone office failed to connect him.
This practically ended his testimony.
Melville Small was the next witness
examined. He saw the boy lying on
the ground and smoke coming from the
body and sparks flying from the broken
wire.
Previous to the testimony given. At
torney I. n. Smith. as counsel for the
light company, insisted upon cross-ex-
aiming the witnesses. County At
torney Johnson objected to counsel be-
ing heard in behalf of the light COM
pany and Attorney Smith argued his
position and finally appealed to Cor
oner Vassar for permission to ques-
ton the witnesses. Coroner Vassar
decided that neither counsel for the
light company nor Mr.. Riggs should
take part in the deliberations of the in
quest after Judge J. 3. Anderson on
behalf of Mr.. Riggs had protested
against any one appearing at the IN
quest besides the .officers conducting
the same.
Mr.. Smith submitted to the decision
of the coroner. His contention was
merely that the light company could
be heard that all of the evidence might
be brought out and thus enable the
jury to arrive at a correct verdict.
Mrs. F. B. Bartlett was then called |
to the stand. She stated that she
looked from the window of her resi-
dence and saw the boy lying on the /
wire and smoke coming from the body !
She did not see the boy fall on the |
wire. The electric light in front of the !
Bartlett residence did not burn last !
night but the circumstance did not APP /
pear to her to enter into the case. Miss /
O'NeiIl's testimony was similar to that |
of Mrs. Bartlett.
George D. Riggs. the father
of the boy killed, was called and said |
the boy left home for school about /
1890. This was the last time he saw +
him alive. He had always been a !
healthy child, never having been sick /
a day.