The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-10-29
FIXES NO BLAME
FOR THE TRAGEDY
Deputy Coroner Reviews
Conflicting Testimony in
Death of Mrs. Lucas.

Conflicting testimony is presented
in the report of Deputy Coroner Roy
Morrow on the death of Mrs. Mary Lu-
cas-, which occurred on the morning
of September 27, at her home, near
Greensboro The report was filed in
the county clerks Office shortly before
noon today.
The deputy coroner says that death
was due to accidental incineration, the
deceased having been unable to get
out of the burning house in which she
was sleeping. She was sixty-three
years old.
Seth Lucas, the woman's husband,
testified twice before the deputy cor
oner. On the second occasion his tes-
timony was slightly different from the
first. 49,
The testimony of the husband reads
as follows: About s p. m. my wife
and l retired About or 9: 80 o'clock
my wife awakened me, saying she
felt sick and asked me to get the cam
phor bottle. | did so and soon fell
asleep. About 2 or 2:30 o'clock l
awoke and found the room full Of
smoke. | was considerably confused.
Il CROPPED about the room and found
the door, and went into the north
room, then to the kitchen, and called
to my wife, but so much smoke was
in the room that | was compelled TO
go outside and cali for help, walking
toward the road and still calling for
help. / then turned toward the Catey
home.
Narrates Conduct.
When Catey answered me l was
half way between my own gate and
the Catey house. | then returned to
the house and entered the kitchen
and found the kitchen filled with
smoke as also was the other rooms
and SO dense was the smoke that it
was impossible for me to discern OBJ
jects within the rooms. Upon my re-
turn the most of the fire seemed to be
in the bedroom and the southwest
room of the building BY this time
Catey arrived and we went to the
south side of the building and broke
III the bedroom and could plainly see
that my wife was not in the bedroom.
We then went to! the north side,
front room and could see the body of
Mrs. Lucas lying upon the floor just
outside the south door"
lucass second testimony says that
1t was On the night of September 26,
the first testimony saying it was on
the night of the 27th. He also said
that it was 10 o'clock when he was
awakened by his wife.
Isaac Z. Davis, another witness ex-
amined by tho deputy said that when
he arrived at the burning house, Lu-
cas- and Samuel M. Catey were stand
ing on the outside. He said he asked
them where Mrs. Lucas was, but they
answered they did not know. Il went
in" he said, "and could see the head
and shoulders of the body lying in
the southwest room. We then went
to the barn to watch it. After the
Misunderstanding and plastering had
burned off the south wall, could see
the charred body lying on the floor.
Upon my arrival at the building the
southwest room was in flames, but
the bedroom was not In flames.
Further Testimony.
S. M. Catey's testimony was to the
effect that he was awakened by the
noise which seemed to be as if some
enc were screaming. He went outside
his house, and while standing there
heard sound as If some one were
dragging something around in the di
rection of the Lucas home He sait
he asked Lucas where he thought his
wife was and he answered he did mo-
know. II then returned to my home,
his testimony was, land twenty min
utes later returned to the burning bull
ding. could see the charred body ly
ing in the southwest room"
The deputy coroner was seen thi.
afternoon but said he had nothing tt
say in regard to the verdict on the
woman's death.
Don't you think the testimony a!
given in the verdict, rather conflict
ing" the deputy was asked.
You will have to Judge for your
salt" was the reply. Il have nothin.
to say about it."
Whether tho prosecuting attorne.
win make q more complete investiga
taon IN mot known