Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-01
NJ CRATH'S DEATH
CAUSED BY FALL

va ~ VA ~ u \ Al ~ -
coRoNER's JURY AT INQUEST
RETURNS VERDICT TO THIS
EFFECT
Four Witnesses Testify-Conflici;ng
Evidence Prevails as to Cause OF
FalI-Theory of Electrical Shock Is
Denied by Electrician.
From Mondays Daily.
That the death Oh Edward McGrath
resulted from accidentally falling from
a 6-inch unused steam pipe in the
boiler room of the Morrell packing
plant to the brick floor IS feet below,
was the conclusion of the coroner's
jury at the inquest held Saturday
night at s O'Clock. Conclusion of the
brain and other internal injuries were
judged as the immediate cause of his
death, which occurred at 2:20 o'clock
Saturday afternoon.
Testimony Conflicts.
Mr.. McGrath was 33 years Of age,
resided at 124 South Ash street and
for many years had been an employee
of John Morrel & Co., Ltd At the
time of his death he was foreman of
the pipe gang. He met death Satur-
day afternoon by falling from an ele-
waited pipe, where he was at work in
the boiler room of the packing house,
to the brick floor eighteen feet below.
Many conflicting opinions exist as to
what caused the fall. At the coroner's
inquest, one witness stated his belief
that the fall was the result of an cleo
trical shocn received by McGrath,
possibly through his head coming in
contact with wires Immediately over
the point where he was working. 9th
ers state that these wires were thor.
was an impossibility.
Four Witnesses Testify.
G. A. Orr, master mechanic Of the
Morrell Packing plant, Thomas Rim
mer, foreman Of the boiler room, and
Harlo Magnison, pipeman and W. E..
Dougherty, chief electrician of the
plant testified before the coroner's
jury. The jury was composed of Henry
BremhorSt, b. H. Moore and G. e. Wit.
ter.
Orr Tells Of Situation.
G. A. Orr testified as follows:
1T became necessary this afternoon
to make, some changes in the hot
water piping Of the plant, and this
work had to be done before quitting
time, in order that the men could have
hot water for their work early Monday
morning. McGrath came to me about
2 o'clock for orders and l told him to
put his gang at work in the boiler
room, changing the pipes
Eighteen feet above the floor Of
the boiler room, is large inch aban-
doned steel main, which enters an ell
bow about 81 feet from the wall Of
the pipe and pump room. From this
elbow the main pipe Is converted into
a 6 inch pipe which extends north
through the boiler room Is feet or
more, at right angles to the 9 inch
pipe, running parallel to the wall of
the boiler room and about 3h feet
from the wall.
Was Standing on Six Inch Pipe.
"McGrath was standing on this six
inch pipe at work on the valve Of
8 inch water pipe which was about
5 feet above the 6 inch pipe. Just
below the inch steam pipe was 2
inch steam pipe, thoroughly encased
in an asbestos packing. About Is inches
to the right of the valve on which
McGrath was working, two electric
wires cross the water pipe. These
pipes are all securely anchored In posi-
ton and the insulation of the wires
proved on examination to be in perfect
condition. This 8 inch water pipe is
exceupt at the point where
the electric wires cross over and here
1t is encased in heavy rubber tubing,
which was also found to be intact.
Ladders Are Available.
Personally would not consider it
safe for man to stand on one pipe
and work on another in the manner
that McGrath did and my directions at
all times are for all foremen to pro
tect themselves and their men in every
way possible. There are ladders and
scaffolds available at all times for the
men if they want them, and Mr.. Nc
Grath, as foreman, had the choice as
to how the work should be done.
Is Seen Falling.
He gained access to his position
through a window in the wall between
the second floor of the pipe room and
he main boiler room. Farther north,
On the same 6 inch pipe, other men
we're at work on the inch pipe, as
sisting McGrath. McGrath was. re-
moving the valve bonnet from the
pipe, perhaps ten minute job. The
men say that they saw him at work
with his wrench one minute, and the
next they saw of him he was in the
air, falling feet foremost to the ground.
Mr.. McGrath had told me several
months before that he didn't feel quite
right inside any more and he had told
other employees that he thought he
had heart trouble. He was a very
cheerful man and decidedly not a sub.
ject for suicide
Thomas Runners Story.
81 am foreman of the boiler room