Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-28
Coroner's Verdict in the Death
of William MCGOWAN.
BATH HEATER DEFECTIVE
Man Killed in Tub by Deadly Car
bon Fumes.
SECOND CASE OF THE KIND
Jury Urges That Commissioners
Take Action as Recommended in
the Bremerman Verdict.

William MCGOWAN came 10 his death
December %, 1903. at 10 18th street
northwest from the inhalation of carbon
monoXide gas. We believe that the death
was due to accident The coroner's jury
urges that prompt action be taken by the
Commissioners relative to the verdict of
the coroner's jury Of December is. 1908
concerning the death of the BremerInan
family. and also the report of the Agri-
cultural Department
The above was the verdict Of the cor
oner 8 jury which at the morgue this
morning investigated the death of Will
liam MCGOWAN, thirtytwo years of age.
who was found dead In the bathroom of
his home yesterday afternoon by his wife,
with gas-heating apparatus for water
turned on full head.
The inquest was held at the morgue
this morning by DR.. Ramsay hewitt. Dis
trict coroner. Harry Leonhardt, James
Cunningham. William Brooks. Henry
Moore were sworn in as the jury
Mrs. Rachel MCGOWAN. wife of the de-
ceased. was the first witness called. Mrs.
MCGOWAN stated that her husband went
into the ballroom to take bath and
when he stayed longer than she thought
was necessary she went to the door and
called him. Receiving no response. she
went into the room and found her hus-
band In the tub with the water up to lis
chin.
She opened the waste-pipe plug and the
window and tried to arouse her husband.
but being unable to do SO she called as
sistance.
Had Trouble With Heater.
Mrs. MCGOWAN stated that there had
been some trouble with the heater and
that plumber had been sent to look
after it only a few days ago. What the
plumber did she did not know. but as
he left the apartment he said he would
return. He did not do SO.
DR.. James Stewart, the next witness.
stated that he was called in and found
the body Of the man in a lifel.ke condition
but he could not be aroused. though all
heroic means known to medical science
were used.
DR.. Leonard S. Nicholson, the next wit
house shortly after MCGOWAN was re-
moved from the bathroom. He described
the various means used to restore the
heart action and to bring him back to
consciousness, but without success.
Mrs. MCGOWAN had stated to him that
when she opened the door of the room she
did not notice any odor of gas, and that
her husband was lying in the tub with
the water up to his chin, but his mouth
was out Of the water The witness stated
that twice In November, 1917, lie had Deen
called to the same house to treat cases
of gas poisoning that had occurred in a
bathroom, which at that time was located
on the second floor.
No Odor of Gas.
Andrew Larson. Magnus Anderson and
Edward Anderson. neighbors Of Nc
Gowan, removed his body from the bath
room to the bedroom, where the physi-
clans worked upon it. The witnesses all
stated that they detected no odor OF gas
in the bathroom.
DR.. Glazebrook. deputy coroner, testi-
fed that he performed an autopsy on the
body of MCGOWAN. He found him a splen-
did specimen Of physical manhood with
no organic trouble, of any organ.
All the organs were tinged a bright red,
a positive sign of the gas poisoning. In
the opinion of the deputy coroner Nc
Gowan's death was undoubtedly due to
carbon monoxide poisoning. This closed
the testimony and the case was given to
the jury.
The body Of MCGOWAN was this after
noon turned over to the wife. and will
be sent to Pennsylvania for interment.
Carbon monoXide gas evolved from a
gas water heater was responsible for the
death of three members OF the Bremen
man family In this city November d last.