Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1907-06-27
CORONER HITCHNER
HOLDS AN INQUEST.


Tuesday night of Miss Mamie Vennell
in Sunset Lake commenced this morn
ing in the presence of Coroner john
son Hitchner and the following jury:
John B. Clevenstine. VIM. Elmer
Riley. Charles T. Robbins, VIM.
Lewis SeeIey, James NJ. Colkitt and
Charles Downham.
The jury was in charge of Constable
Edward Il. Reeves.
There we're about seventeen wit
nesses who had been subpoenaea to
tell what they may know about the
circumstances Of the occurrence
Constable Reeves served subpoena
George Evans at his home on South
Pearl street yesterday morning.
The investigation took place in the
Court House and the room was filled
with morbid crowd VINO were curl
ous to hear and see the proceedings.
The first witness was DR.. Charles.
worth, whose testimony was as has
already been published in the "Pio-
neer.'' Mr. Pierce followed and then
Mrs Lorenzo D. Woodruff, who told
of Mrs. Evans, Georges mother, COM
ing up to her store soon after 10
O'Clock, greatly excited, to get Mr..
Woodruff to go look for the girl; she
said George had come home nearly
drowned and he was afraid the girl
was drowned. This was between 10
and 10 80 o'cock. She teIephoned for
an officer and officer Barton came
down. Mr.. Barton went to Evans
home to see George; it was a few
minutes after 10 o'clock.
Other witnesses were VIM. Ra-
singer. Chester Hurrff, Harry Smith.
The evidence is not developing any
thing new at all in the matter, and
will not be in before late in the after
noon.
Mr.. Rasinger told of being notified
of the finding of his boat upset; he
said 1t was not upset but was full of
water He marked the spot where he
supposed the boat was found; the
water was there feet deep.
Harry Smith testified to finding the
body which was in to a feet of
water; hooked it with a sturgeon
hook, and pulled it to the surface
where he grabbed it with his hand.
There was nothing in the evidence
thus far to show any violence to be
apparent.
Officer Barton testified that he re-
ceived a message over the telephone
from Mrs, Lorenzo D. Woodruff at
TO- 10 o'clock, and when he went to the
Evans home he found Evans in bed.
He was in highly excited condition.
Took him up to the Park at 2 O'Clock
when Evnas got in boat to go search
for the body.
DIR. CharlesWorgh was recalled, He
said thas bruises and abrasions on her
lips could have been caused by strik.
Ing the boat. The blow had not been
OF sufficient force to cause uncon.
seriousness Death was the result of
drowning.
The Verdict of Coroner's Jury.
At the conclusion of all the evidence
in. the Mary Jane Vennell case Tues
day the jury took the matter under
advisement and retired. They we're
gout but short time when they re.
turned the following verdict which
was signed by each juryman:
The Verdict.
We the Coroner's jury empanelled
|so inquire into the death of Mary
Jane Vennell find that she met her
death by drowning in the waters of
sunset Lake, Bridgeton, N. J., on
tuesday evening, June 18th, 1907,
pesween the hours of nine and ten
CLOCK, and that at the time of her
death she was in company with one
George o. Evans, who had invited
her 20 go boating with him.
1ne explanation of the said-George
" Evans as to the capsizing of the
Doa'' then deserting by him OF the
uroWnlng girl to her fate without
spreading any alarm, his subsequent
ao'ions IN running home and going
W peo, together with his apparent
AacA OF knowledge as to how the de.
ceased came TO be bruised in her
nooth' combine TO create doubt in
'ne minds of this jury as to the exact
cause OF the drowning SO as to direct
oy their verdict a fuller investigation
u sne matter by the Prosecuting At
torney.