Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-06
BLAME NO ONE
FOR TRAGEDY
ON THE HILL
Coroners Juryin Case Of James
w. Mardis Returns a Verdict
of Accidental Death.
DeLIBeRaTsS A HALF HOUR
Inquest Occupies Until Late in After
noon-Anderson Had Narrow
Escape From Like Fate.

The jury which investigated the
death of James w Mardis spent half
an hour yesterday afternoon consider
ing its verdict. The jury finally re-
turned finding that the young man
came to his death by being acciden-
tally run down by Long View car OH
Eighteenth avenue near Thirtieth
street about 1920 the evening of Aug.
A. No responsibility was placed on
either the street car motorman or the
two young men, Andrew Duberg and
Edward Anderson, who were engaged
in a fight with Mardis when the trag-
edy occurred. While it was very evil
dent that had the two lads not brough.
about the conflict, Mardis would nor
have lost his life, still there was
nothing for which to hold the boys.
Was PecuIiay Case.
The case is one of the most peculiar
in Rock Island in years, and the mys-
terry which for a time surrounded it,
added to the interest in the affair. 1t
was a difficult and tedious task for the
coroner's jury to get at the real facts
of the matter, and not until afternoon
was it learned just what the circum-
stances surrounding the tragedy were.
The facts were not fully given until
the testimony of Duberg and Ander-
son was heard. The two lads were not
allowed to communicate with each
other before they testified. but their
stories tailed in every particular, and
careful questioning on the part of the
assistant states attorney, Coroner Eek
hart, the chief of police, and the men,
bers of the jury. failed to show any
weakness i'll their evidence. except that
Duberg could not explain why he had
not investigated when he saw Ander-
son and Mardis struck by the car, and
the car stop.
The testimony of Duberg relative to
his reasons for disliking Mardis and
wanting to give the young man beat
ing was the sensational part of the in.
Iquest
| Escape Was Lucky.
1t was fortunate that the death oil
Anderson. too, was not subject OF
an investigation by a coroner's jury
for il seems that he barely escaped
the fate met by Mardis. He, too, was
run down by the car, and received Z
blow of the same force as that which
threw Mardis under the wheels Bu
Anderson was nearly across the track
and instead of being hurled beneath
the wheels. as Mardis was, he was
simply thrown headlong into the stree
a short distance from the track. He
Just barely escaped the wheels. AS i
was. he received very severe bruise.
about the back and shoulders, ant
shows the marks of the blow. Duber,
did not escape without injury. and il
the fight ended by the tragedy he re
ceived severe scratch on the neck
: Otherwise he was not injured.
f To Avenge Sister.
h When he had concluded his test
n mony, Duberg was censured by tn
coroner who said. You know, don
you, that if you two boys had not bee
n lying in wait for Mardis. and had nc
tried to give him a beating he woul
be alive today?"
guess ne WOul0, Teplle0 the DOS
r IF you had minded your bushes
II Msrdis would not have been killed
e added the coroner.
It We'll, wasn't that my business?
n quickly responded Duberg. He ha
done wrong with my sister,"
But you did not have the right
take the law in your own hands, r.
{. piled the coroner, land that was nj
e your business
al II wasn't taking the law in my ow
s. hands told him to leave my siste
" alone. He had been laying for II
t. Saturday night, too"
lei Funeral Tomorrow.
d The funeral will be held tomorro
h afternoon at O'Clock from the hom
Of Burial will take place at Riversit
a. cemetery in Moline Mr.. Mardis
u survived by his mother, four siste
ana three brothers.