Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-19
Coroner's Jury Returns
Its Verdict.
Says No Evidence to Show
How Man Met Death.
Doctors Testify to Bruises Which They
Believed Were Caused Before Death
None Of Official Papers Lost or
Stolen.

kingsbridge, Devonshire. July IS
The inquest, today. on the body OF r.
Kent Loomis, which was found, Satur-
day, at Warren Point, Is miles from
Plymouth, threw the Devonshire VIII
lage Of Thurlestone, on the shores or
Bigbury bay. into a state Of unwonted
excitement. The court over which the
county coroner. DR.. Sidney Hacker
presided. was somewhat late in assem-
bling, in consequence OF the delay In
carrying out the official medical exam
ination Of the body. This was conduct
ed by two local doctors, whose testimo-
ny was that there was a confused
wound below and behind the right ear
indicated by the extravasation Of blood
in the scalp and a rupture Of the cover
ing Of the brain. There was also gen.
eral bruise involving the scalp and the
integument of the brain on the left side
above the ear. Both injuries. in the
doctors opinion, were caused before
death.
The American consul at Plymouth.
Joseph G. Stephens, attended the pro-
ceedings.
After the jury had viewed the body.
the first witness, Thomas Snowden, a
laborer who discovered the remains in
the breakers, testified to the recovery
Of the corpse, as cabled to Inc Assocl-
ated Press. Saturday.
A policeman, who searched the body,
told Of the recovery Of a gold watch
which had stopped at 6 o'clock, some
English gold and silver coins. also a
pocketbook containing $50 in American
notes, a receipt for a subscription to the
nj yl,,h @
sued in the name Of F. Kent LOomis
receipt from the Grand Hotel. Broad
way. New York. for $3.50 which Loomis
desired to be sent to his wife. gold
ring with the name Mildred inside,
etc.
Consul Stephens testified that he had
seen the body and from information
supplied him officially he unhesitating-
ly identified 1t as that Of Loomis. who
was acting as a special messenger for
the American government. carrying
important dispatches from the govern
ment at Washington to the embassy at
Paris.
DR.. Webb one OF the medical men
appointed to examine the body. testi-
fled that ne found it to be in an adj
vanced state of decomposition. The
flesh of the right hand was eaten away.
There was a confused wound below and
behind the right ear. DR.. Webb said
that LOOMS might have been stunned
and have fallen into the water and
been drowned.
1t was not a sharp wound, but posi-
bly, the result OF fall on his head.
Either he struck something or some
thing struck his head.
Replying to Consul Stephens. DR..
Webb said the blow might have caused
death II Loomis had not fallen into the
water. He thought 1t was improbable
that Loomis would have recovered
from the blow even IL he had not fallen
into the water.
Consul Stephens explained to the
coroner that il the time at which
Ioomis' watch had stopped was Ameri-
can time 1t meant / o'clock here which
was about the time the Kaiser Wilhelm
ii reached Plymouth on June 20.
None of the official papers carried by
LOOMS was lost or stolen.
The coroner summed up lengthily.
pointing out the inconclusive and con-
tectural character of the evidence He
advised the jury to find an open YER
dict Had there been any ground for
suspicion he would have adjourned the
inquiry but there was nothing to justi-
fly such course.
The jury then returned verdict that
the deceased was Frederick Kent
Loomis and that he was found dead in
Rigbury Bay. there being no evidence
to show how he met his death.