The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-06-12
ON LIGHT,
SHOCKED TO DEATH
Mobile Man Turns Electric
Switch Button After Sc
we're Storm and Quick
Death Followed-Live
Wire Had Crossed Line.
Special to The Journal.

Mobile, Ala, June I1.-Simultane-
ously with the explosion of an cleo
trio light bulb as his thumb and index
finger of the left hand turned the lit
tie button to the incandescent light
last night at the family home shortly
after Z o'clock, 1900 volts OF cleo
tricity shot through the body of Will
liam II. Matzener, Jr., "a years of
age and residing at $50 Palmetto
street, causing almost instant death.
Within five minutes after the un-
conscious form Of the young man had
been discovered lying PROSTATE upon
the floor of the stable, where the
electrocution occurred, he expired. 1t
was said that the overcharged wire
was due to the crossing of an arc and
services TiIe q few hand IS, 4 (<aet away
from the MatZenger home. From re-
ports lodged at the police station the
entire circuit that furnished service
in that vicinity was carrying fully
the amount of current that caused
Aatzenger's death.
Live Wire the Cause.
1t was immed ately after the heavy
downpour of rain and strong wind last
evening that reports reached police
station of dangerous live wires in the
southern portion of the city, and the
center of the electric foe seemed to
be the Matgenfer home.
In fact, the first report received at
police station emanated from the
home of the MatZengers, the father of
the young man reporting a dangerous
live wire. Mr.. MatZenger. Sr-. was
said to have also been shocked as he
attempted TO turn on the lights at
the residence. He was standing on
wood, which prevented his body form
ing a circuit. With the son it was
different, as he stood upon the
ground.
Within five minutes after the first
report, the announcement of young
MatZenger'S death was reported at
police station by the father. Several
other persons in the neigh borhood
We're also severely shocked
1t was shortly after Z O'Clock last
evening that young MatZenger, with
feed pail in hand, went TO the stable
a short distance away to feed "A horse,
as was his custom. The young man
was a bit anxious, as he had prepared
to escort his sister to the picnic at
Monroe park.
Whether il was the explosion of
the small sixteen-candle-pOWer cleo
trio globe or the falling of the feed
Dail IldJ dIlId ulclllDclS vi llC
family who were in the kitchen. they
are not certain. but when the mother
and a friend looked eXcitsdiy in the
direction of the stable, they observed
the form of the young man PROSTATE
upon the stable floor
The first impression was that the
animal had kicked him, but this was
soon shattered when an Investigation
was made. 1t appears that Mr. Mat
zenger, upon entering the stable,
reached up with his left hand 10 turn
the button to the incandescent. In
the right hand he till held the feed
pail
Light Bulb Exploded.
As the button turned sending the
deadly fluid into the bulb il exploded
and rushing with lightning-like rapid
ity through the left arm, the 2.2O0
volts passed through the body. III
young man never knew what struck
him. With a mighty force the body
was thrown violently to the ground
He was in this position AID in an
unconsc Gus state when his mother
and others reached the stable. 4
slight pulsation was visible as they
laid the unconscious form down. Five
minutes later death ensued.
The only mark about the body was
a slight bruise on the left hand and
left cheek, showing the way the fuit
entered the body