The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-21
LIVE wire KILLS
FRANK zGAJNAR
CUT THROUGH INSULATION AND
WHEN SHEARS TOUCHED
WIRE HE DROPPED

w. 80 T|LIaE5
WHEELING, Jan. 2f-Frank zgai
mar, an Austrian and a prominent
member of the crstion society in this
vicinity, was electrocuted at his home
on North First street, Martins Ferry,
Sunday morning by coming in CON.
tact with a live electric light wire.
Zgajnar was a former Benwood 50.
%loonist and went to Martins Ferry
about one year ago. where he opened
a small grocesy store on North First
street, and his residence was In the
same building.
About 2:30 o'clock yesterday morn
ing he wal awakened by a light In the
room and found that the blaze was
being caused by crossed wires. The
fire was burning in the casing above
the door leading from the bedroom TO
a front room. and Zgajnar went to
take hold of the drop wire to pull It
down to stop the burning.
His wife told him to be careful, when
he grabbed the wire to show her that
there was no danger. He then got a
pair OF scissors to cut the wire, and
when the points of the shears cut
through the insulation and came in
contact with the live wire he dropped
to the floor. Mrs. Zgajnar, terrified
over the horrible fate Of her husband,
ran out Of the house and raised an
alarm, which awakened Mrs. Under, n
colored woman living nearby. The po-
lice were notified and Officers Coss,
Rothermund and HyIand we're soon
on the scene. When they examined
the body life was extinct and death.
must have been almost instantaneous.
In the meantime Or. H. R. Wilson
was summoned and when he arrived
and made an examination he pro.
nounced the man dead. The amba-
lance was called and the body was re-
moved to Mobiles morgue. where it
was prepared for burial.
The current on the drop wire lead-
ing to the incandescent lamp which
was being cut by Zgajnar would not
be sufficient to cause the death Of a.
person, but the wire was overcharg-
ed by coming in. contact with an arc
light wire. The arc lights are operat-
ed by an alternating current, and as
the wires must have been crossed.
somewhere a short circuit was made
and 1t Is supposed that the heavy cur.
rent caused the mans death. After
the accident the incandescent cur
rent was turned off at the house, but
the blaze did not 60 out until after
the arc light was shut on. The dead
man was holding the scissors in his
right hand and the only mark on the
body was a small spot on the thumb,
with the exception OF bruise on the
head, which was caused by striking
against some object in falling.
Zgajnar was a very large man.,
weighing about 24o' pounds. He was
known among the foreign popu'
lation and was we'll Tired by all who
knew him. He was a member of the.
Benwood Creation society and was n
prominent leader.
The deceased was thirty-two years
of age and was twice married, having
three children by the second wife. He
had been in this country for eighteen
years. was intelligent and could speak
good English.
The body was taken from tho
morgue to his home yesterday after
noon and the funeral will be held,
Tuesday morning from st. Mary's
Catholic Church, Martins Ferry. It
will be in charge of the Benwood croa.
ton society. and the interment wifi
be at st. Mary's cemetery, Martina
Ferry.