The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-06-27
Jury Investigating the Killing Of
Charles Bope Demands That
District Attorney Act
JURY CHARGES NEGLIGENCE
Both the Kenosha Electric Light and
the Home Telephone Companies
and the City Are Censured
for the Mans Death

gate the killing Of Charles Bope, of
Lancaster, Ohio, who was electrocuted
on Monday morning, brought in a
sensational verdict Tuesday evening
when they found that Bope had met
his death as a result of the culpable
negligence of the officials or agents
of the Kenosha Electric Light COM
pany and the Kenosha Home Tele-'
phone company and recommended
that the district attorney of the conn-
ty take steps to make a further IN
vestig alton and possibly cause the
arrest of the officials of the two COM
panles for manslaughter. The officials
of the two companies are: James
Cavanagh, president of both COM
panies; the other officials of the Ke-
nosha Electric Lighting company are
Roger N. Kimball, vice-president and
general manager, and N. Rowe, secre-
tary. Mr.. Rowe is now in Syria. The
officials of the Kenosha Home Tele-
phone company with Mr.. Cavanagh
are; Alonzo Burt, of Milwaukee, presi-
dent Of the Wisconsin Telephone COM
pany, president; John NJ. Kehlor,
secretary; Charles c. Brown, treasur-
er; and E. B. Cottril1, Of Milwaukee,
general manager. The coroner's
jury did not fix the blame as between
the two companies but said that the
evidence showed that both companies
knew of the danger in the wires.
80 - ~ CO
eve, the jury, find that the said
Charles Bope came to his death be-
tween the hours of nine and ten
! O'Clock a. m. on the Oath day of June
A. d. 1907, by being electrocuted by
coming in contact with wire or wires
, through which large voltage of
+, electricity was passing; which death
is caused by and through the culpa-
bic negligence of the Kenosha Elect
rio Light company and the Home
Telephone company, and we do here
/. by censure both companies for their
gross care1essness in the use of such
/ dangerous agencies, with seemingly
little concern for human life, and do
| hereby further censure the off Gals of
the city of Kenosha for permitting
such dangerous agencies to be I'M
/ guarded and menace to the life of
the citizens of Kenosha, and do here
/ by recommend that the District At
torney of kenosha county make a
careful investigation as to the respon-
sibilities of the said companies, its
NfY axr1 %e - u -.
in his opinion, he should deem that
they are criminally responsible for
such death, to prosecute them or any
Of them for mans1aug hter."
The verdict was signed by Justice
George B. McCarron, who conducted
the inquest, and Frank x. Swift,
Michael Corr, James Filbin, H. F..
Truax, N. r. Fonk and S. O. Rogers,
all well known men of the city.
District Attorney Baker assisted
the coroner in conducting the inquest
and when asked to discuss the YER
dict after the inquest was over, he
said that he could say nothing as to
the prosecution of the men until he
had made further investigations, but
he insisted that if an investigation
showed them criminally liable they
would be prosecuted just as any other
person who was charged with man
slaughter. District Attorney Baker
said: "The evidence in this case was
very strong and SOME of the expert
witnesses on the stand testified that
it would have been almost impossible
for man to have gone on that pole
without meeting death. Several of
the witness testified that the condi-
ton was very dangerous, but de-
clined to place the blame on either
company"
Roger n. Kimball, the general man
ager Of the lighting company, when
seen, declined to discuss the matter
more than to say that ia his opinion
the man met death through his own
carelessness. The two companies
we're represented by an attorney at
the inquest. The report of the YER
dict has caused a great sensation on
account of the great prominence of
the men charged with gross negli-
gence. The remains of Bope will be
| shipped tosLancaster, Ohio, tomorrow.
Bartha, the man who was burned
with Bope was able to be witness at
the inquest Tuesday afternoon.