The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-07-03
GUY OWENS KILLED
BY A LIVE WIRE
CErom Wednesdays AdvertIser),

(From Wednesdays Advertiser),
Guy Owens, one OF the best-known
electricians in the city, was killed last
night shortly after s o'clock by an
electric shock received in attempting
t. discoDnect the current of the Ua-
waiian Electric system from the Ka-
mehamcha Schools system. He hal
| climbed a pole near the school tool
shop for this purpose, though he had
been told not to do IL, and when he
did not return those associated with
him in the work going on went out 10
see what was the matter and found
his lifeless body resting on the cross
bar of the pole, in an attitude as
though he might have been at work.
Until very lately the school buildings
of the Kamehameha Schools have been
supplied with electric light by the Ha-
waiian Electric Company Recently
the school has inaugurated an electric
plant of its own operated by gasoline
engine. The complete installation was
made only day or two ago. Owens
was in charge of the electric installa-
ton for Frank Richardson, the con-
tractor. 1t was stated last night that
the Hawaiian Electric Company's con-
nection had been cut when the school
plant was started up. But yesterday
afternoon there was some difficulty
with the school plant or its engins
and in order to have light to work
with at night owens had, during the
day and while the current was turned
off, reconnected the Hawaiian Com
pany's system. This furnished light
during the early period of the evening
while the school system was still out
Of commission
About eight o'clock last night or
little later the trouble with the school
system was remedied and its own cur
rent was turned on, rendering the
connection with the Hawaiian Electric
system unnecessary. Thereupon owens
stated to Mr.. Gill. the chief electrician
of the school system, that he would
disconnect from the Hawaiian Elec-
tries system, as otherwise the meter
would show a consumption of current
for which the school would havs To
pay. Mr.. gill replied that he had net
ter not. But neither the tletcnnIna-
tion to disconnect nor the sugg gistton
that he had better not, seems TO have
been positively stated
However, owens went out of the
d
he did not return, A. Lota, a Kane
hameha student who has been working
on the electric installation under
owens, picked up lantern and went
out to see what he was doing, it being
dark outside the building. He went in
the direction of the pole where the Hn-
waiian Electric connection was, a dis
tance of thirty or forty feet. A small
ntYigsa tifrh9 81 ,,AIA nitler
showing owens apparently astride or
seated on the wooden crossbar, with
arms and hands slightly higher than
his body, resting on wires, as though
he might be at work. Lota called two
or three times, but getting no response
he rushed back into the building and
told those there what he had seen and
feared. Frank Richardson, Chief Elec-
trician Gill Clifford Thompson and
Several of the Kamehameha boys at
once hastened out. Richardson, when
he saw the situation, went at once to
a telephone and directed the Hawaiian
Electric to cut off the current from
that circuit, which was done. The
body was then lowered by means of a
rope and taken into the building, and
the coroner was notified. Meanwhile,
DR.. c. b. Cooper had been summoned
and arrived quickly. Life. however.
was extinct. Death had probably been
instantaneous. The only outward sign
of violence was burned spot in the
palm OF the right hand at the base of
the thumb, and a mark across the
left forearm.
The body was laid on the floor. the
arms composed over the breast, and a
sheet was thrown over IL. When Dep
uty Sheriff Jarrett arrived he sum-
moned jury, who viewed the body,
and adjourned until o'clock tonight,
when the inquest will be held. DIR.
Mcdonald was notified and post
mortem will be held.
Guy owens was about thirty-five
years of age and had lived in the is
lands about ten years, His mother and /
sister, who had also lived here for a
short time, were victims of the lro-
quois Theater disaster in Chicago, New
Years Day, 1904. Owens two or three
years ago had narrow escape In an
automobile accident. his automobile
going over the wall on the side of
Liliha street, near King, and falling
eight or ten feet. The young man
originated and largely carried through
the securing of the Standard Tele-
phone franchise. He Incorporated the
owens Electric Construction Company
and had long been identified with cleo
trical construction In Honolulu.
In August, 1908. he married Miss
Jennie Murray, who survives him. AT
the time of his mothers death 1t was
said that her surviving children be-
aidas f.uy owens were Mrs l. w. Kin
sey of Los Angeles. Miss Ivy Owens
of Chicago, and Roy, Owens of Chi
cago who was in Hawaii for time.
~Y-s----
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