The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-08-19
Jury in the Inquest Into Death
of Corydon w. Higgins Says
A. M. Rice Is Guilty Of Grim
inal Carelessness.
ARREST OF THE AGENT
LIKELY TO BE ORDERED
Witnesses Say That Deadly
Gas Was Used to DiSinfect
Rooms and That No Warn
ing Signs Were Posted.
MUCH TESTIMONY TAKEN

The jury in the inquest into the death
of COTydOn W. Higgins. who died as the
result of inhaling a poisonous disinfect-
ant used in his home at No. 8 Oxford
apartments Tuesday afternoon, returned
a verdict Wednesday afternoon against
A. NJ. Rice, the fumigatOr and the agent
Of the Western DisinfeCting company, of
criminal carelessness in the performance
OF his duty. The jurors I'm the case were
William Edwards, H. D. Watson and
P Lyon stated Wednesday night that
masmuch as the jury had brought in the
verdict Rice will probably be arrested
90 the charge Of Involuntary manslaugh-
Ihe inquest was held before Justice Of
the Peace Stanley A Hanks. During the
Investigation. Rice. the fumigator: DR.. c.
F. Wilcox John Kamplain, janitOr Of the
Oxford apartments. Mrs. NJ. A. Ander-
son, living in the flats next to the Hig-
gins apartments, and Louis Sampson
owner Of the flats, were heard.
Rice gave the principal testimony He
stated that the fumigatOr he used is
known as hydrocyanic gas and is pre-
pared by placing sulphuric acid in con-
tact with potassium cyanide crystals,
and that the gas is deadly poison and no
life can exist in the gas fer more than
a few minutes. He declared that he pre-
pared the fumigatOr and told Mrs. Hig-
gins that no one should go into the rooms
until he arrived to open the doors. He
Sdlu lie udQ locked IIe BACK door ana leIL
a key in the lower hole of the front door.
but that the door could still be opened
by means of a pass key placed in the
lock on the outside Of the door.
Posted No Signs.
He admitted that he had posted no
signs stating the danger of the gas or
warning people from entering the apart
ment, and that he failed TO try the front
door to see if IL was securely locked. He
said he had used the gas as a fumigating
agent in Denver for the last five years,
and had been in Salt Lake for one year,
and that during that time he had not used
any signs as means OF warning people to
keep out of the rooms until ne returned
He said that he had never before had
any fatalities from the use of the gas.
DR. G. f. Wilcox testified as to the eff
feet Of the gas He said that the gas did
not have a suffOcating effect, but that
it attacked the nerve centers. In this
way the muscles and brain are paralyzed
and unconsciousness follows quickly. He
said that the gas would have such an eff
slight Odor, but it is not as penetrating
as formaldehyde, according to the ply
sician.
John Kamplafn testified that no signs
were ever placed about the house, and
that on the day Higgins met his death
the doors were shut and locked. He also
stated that the gas, while it has a slight
odor, is not at all penetrating.
Owner Testifies.
Louis Sampson, owner of the building
testified that the company Of which Rice
is an agent had a contract with him to
fumigate the house, and that he had been
notified as to the deadlinesS Of the gas,
and that the janitOr had been notified.
but that no other precautions had been
taken by him to warn residents in the
After the testimony had been taken the
jurors went to the building to look over
the rooms. They also viewed the remains
at the undertaking parlOrs and found that
Corydon had a key which would admit
him into the rooms by the front door.
They also learned that Higgins had
vacation, which accounted for
his going home earlier than was expected.
After going over the evidence, they re-
turned to the office Of Justice Hanks and
rendered a signed verdict.
The funeral of Mr.. Higgins viii be held
from the residence Of his father-in-law, T.
Atkins, at 335 West Third North street,
today, if arrangements can be completed
The family is waiting for the arrival Of
some Of the fraternity brothers of Mr..
Higgins who are in the east. If they ar
rive this morning the funeral viii be held
this afternoon; otherwise it will be held
Friday morning.