Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-21
REPORT HORSE
KILLED SALTER
CORONER'S JURORS HOLD TO
ACCIDENT THEORY
PUzzLINo CIRCUMSTANCES ARE
UNEXPLAINED
Inuuest Fails to Show How Hoofs
Could Have Inflicted Injuries
Found on Body of Aged
Capitalist

That William Salter. the aged and
wealthy civil war veteran, came to his
death early Sunday morning by beng
trampled on by a horse was the ver-
diet returned by the coroner's jury at
the inquest held at Bresee BROS
morgue yesterday morning.
internal hemorrhage" was the spe-
cific reason given for death and the
certificate as prepared by the stehoBra-
pher of the coroner's office was signed
after what is believed by many ia
miliar with the case to have been
whitewash investigation. =.
Salter was found in dying conul-
ton Sunday morning in Center place,
near Sixth street, and died before he
could be taken to q hospital.
The first theory advanced in regard
to the death Of Salter was that he was
murdered and valuable papers in his
possession stolen. The autopsy showed
that fourteen ribs had been broken,
and at once the cry of murder was
raised. 1t is still maintained by many
who have been working on the case
that death resulted from deliberate
murder, though officially the report or
the coroner's jury shows that Salter
was killed by being trampled on by a
horse driven by Samuel f. White, III
South Figueroa street, garbage COL
lector.
Many Facts Unexplained
The inquest developed many facts
that were left unexplained, and 1t is
probable that outside the report OF
the coroner's jury the real facts in con-
nection with Salter's death viii never
be brought to light.
The injuries on the body, the pecu-
liarities of such injuries being infict-
ed by a horse and other points of ma
terial detail were not explained.
That Salter had been drinking heav-
IL on the night of his death was ad-
mitted, but that he had always been
able to care for himself while drinking
was the testimony of bis landlady, Mrs.
Belle Smith.
Mrs. Smith also testified that Salter
had more money in his clothing Sat
urday night than he was in the habit
of carrying and was sure that the
amount exceeded S25.
Clarence Comes, 524 Bishop street,
testified he saw the body in the alley
soon after 1t had been found by White.
White testified to driving through the
dark alley and that one of his team OF
horses SHE'D, that the horses stopped
and he left his seat and for While
was unable to determine whether SAL
ter was dead.
Grant Roberds, the detective who has
been working on the case, told of maxi
ing an investigation and of locating
White, who drove the swill wagon.
White, according to evidence of Rob
erds, was not certain the death of Sal
ter was caused by his horses.
Inquest Unsatisfactory
DIR. George w. Campbell, who per-
formed the autopsy on the body, stated
that in his opinion the blows which
crushed Salter's chest were inflicted
while the latter was in standing po-
sition.
Bruises on the body of Salter, which
Coroner Hartwell believed and stated
were caused by the hoofs Of the, horse
were said by DR.. Campbell to have
been caused during the performing Of
the autopsy.
d. P. Foley of Tacoma. cousin Of
Salter, identified the body as that of
his uncle and will investigate Salter's s
financial affairs before the body Is
shipped to Tacoma for burial.
That the inquest was unsatisfactory
and that many important and unex-
plained phases of the mysterious case
were passed over was the opinion Of
those who listened to the inquest.
In addition to the statement that
death was accidental, the coroner's jury
recommended that proper lights be
placed in Center place and in other
dark alleys to avoid a repetition of the
Salter case.
Paul ]. Mccormick represented the
district attorneys office at the inquest.
but most of the discussion was led by
Coroner Hartwell.
The body of Salter will be taken TO
Tacoma by Mr. Foley as soon as the
financial affairs of the victim are sat
isfactorily arranged.