The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-05-13
Vim. McDermott Meets Unusual
Doalh at His Home on Eagle
Street BY Inhaling Gas
WIFE FINDS HUSBANDS BODY
Young Man is Supposed to Have Laid
on Kitchen Floor to Sleep and
Failed to Turn out Gas
in Cooking Range

Wlllldnl McDermott, aged 81 years,
formerly associated with John Melon
nell, Jr., in the management of the
Grand Theatre on Market Square and
previous to that employed as a buffer
IN the plant Of the Simmons Manu-
featuring company, was found dead at
his home on Eagle street Saturday af-
ternoon under unusual circumstances
The dead body Of McDermott was
found lying on the floor in the kitchen
in the home and his death had been
caused by inhaling fuel gas. The
coroner's jury which investigated the
case returned verdict of accidental
death.
The discovery of the dead body of
McDermott was made just after two
0 clock Saturday by Mrs. McDermott
At the time the body was found Nc
Dermott had been dead for many hours
and it is thought that he died early
Saturday morning. Mrs. McDermott
and her son had gone out into the
country on Friday for short visit
with relatives and her husband was to
have Joined her on Saturday She had
expected to hear from him by tele-
phone on Saturday morning and when
she failed to get the message she took
the first train for Kenosha and went
at once to her home. Opening the
door she discovered the body of her
husband. He had made a bed on the
floor of the kitchen between the coal
range and the gas stove and the body
was lying on this bed. Mrs. McDer-
mott attempted to awaken him and
finding him cold in death she sum
moned the neighbors. Dr. A. Van
Westreinen was called to the house and
al examination showed that McDer-
mott had been dead for hours. The
evidence produced at the coroner s in
quest showed that the young man had
been i'll for some days and had com
planned of chills.
1t had been his custom to 90 home
after work and lay down by the stove
in the kitchen, Friday evening the
only fire in the house was in the coal
range in the kitchen and it was evil
dent that the gas stove oven had been
burning some time before the death
of the young man. The escape of the
gas was through very small opening
in the cock of the stove and it is
generally believed that the young man
after he had become warm enough
turned off the gas, but that he did
not turn the lever far enough and in
his sleep did not discover the escaping
gas until it was too late to save him
self.
The finding Of the dead body Of
McDermott caused a great sensation in
the neighborhood and it was at first
reported that he had committed sui
eide The facts in the case as related
at the coroner's inquest would not in
any way bear out such theory of the
case. The friends of McDermott de-
clare that his actions were perfectlt
natural and in keeping with his Gus
tom and they are convinced that his
death was wholly accidental
The deceased was an adopted son
Of John McDermott of this city. He
was born in Providence, Rhode Island,
Oct. y, 1879, and was adopted by the
McDermott family when an infant.
He had resided in Kenosha nearly all
his life and was we'll known He is
survived by widow and one son, a
boy six years of age. He was, mem
Der of several of the organizations of
the city.