Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-12
CORONER'S FINDINGS
Verdict in Student Persons
Death Mystery
AT MOUNT VERNON, OHIO
VICTIM WAS BOUND OR TIED TO
RAILWAY TRACKS.
Impossible to Determine Who the
Guilty Parties Were-No
Arrests Made.

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. November IL
Coroner Scarborough rendered his verdict
I'm the Picrson case today. He finds that
the testimony established that Pierson
had been bound or tied at the wrists ana
at the ankles and that he was either tied
fast to the railroad track. or railroad ties
or otherwise bound and tied in Such man
ner that he could not eXtrlcate hmseI
from his perilous position, and while SO
tied was run over by an engine, Whlch
struck him while lying fiat between the
rails Of the main track on the ralIroau
bridge. and I'm that manner met his death.
The coroner also states in his verdict that
under the peculiar circumstances OF the
case It is impossible for him 10 determine
who the guilty parties we're that tied the
Pferson was a student Of Kenyon College
and was being initiated into the Delta
Kappa Epsilon fraternity on the night of
his death.
Allegations of Initiators.
Some of his initiators alege that he had
been ordered TO stand on the railroad track
at a bridge until sent for. There were sus-
picious circumstances about the story, how
ever, and the coroner and prosecuting at
torney started an investigation. They de-
cIarcd that they discovered evidence that
the lad had been ChlOrotormcd and tied TO
the track although all the relics of the
tragedy had been carefully removed. 1t
was admitted, however, thai candidates for
some of the fraternities were at times bound
tc the tracks to await initiation.
Pierson son of a wealthy Cincinnati lum-
Der dealer was killed by a special train that
passed before the regular train. 1t Is be-
lieved by the authorities that the persons
who bound the lad to the track did not fig
ure on this train and that ii was the 1atal
oversight.
No arrests have as yet been ordered so far
as can be learned.
The Coroner's Verdict.
The coroner in his verdict says: Prom
the condition of the body of the said Stew
art Pierson, which l examined after the
same had been sent out of Knox county to
Cincinnati and from which examination l
found evidence of having been bound or
tied al TIE wrist and at the ankles. and in
conjunction with all OF the evidence adj
duced, find, therefore, that the said Stew
art Person was either tied fast 10 the rail-
road track or railroad ties, or otherwise
bound and tied in such manner that he
coSid not eXtriCate himself from his peril
ons. position, and while so tied or bound in
that manner was run over by an engine and
tender going west on said railroad, which
ssruck him while lying fiat between the
rails of the main track on said bridge, and
in that manner met his death.
No Trouble Securing Facts.
"I had no trouble in the finding of the
ahoNe lacts' ana the lhNesIlSatloh couIu
have been concluded long before it was. but
/ was seeking, with the assistance of the
prosecuting attorney, to find the guilty par
ties to this horrible act; but inasmuch as
the body OF Stewart Pierson was taken out
OF Knox county as soon as possible on the
same night OF his tragic death. and the
bridge washed and scrubbed, and all bits
Of evidence otherwise destroyed. We are
therefore COmDeIIed to rely on the evidence
of the testimony OF witnesses for the proof;
and under the peculiar circumstances of
this case It is Is impossible for me TO de-
teTmine who the guilty party, or parties
are that tied the young man"
Prosecutor l.. G. Stillwell tonight would
not say whether the grand jury, which con-
venes today, would investigate the case
but It is probable trat witnesses will be
called and an attempt made to fix the re-
sponsibility for Persons death.