Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-07
NOT
/ CAUSE OF DEATH !.
coRoNER's JURY FINDS EUGENE
M'cABE DIED OF ALCOHOLISM
-sUccUMBED FRIDAY.
GIVES GOOD EVIDENCE
Henry Doran, Lad Who Did Mr. Nc
Cabe's Chores Was There After
Fire Occurred-Jurymen Base
Verdict on His Evidence.

According to the verdict Of the cor
oner's jury at IL o'clock this morning,
Eugene McCabe, the Milwaukee en-
gineer who was found dead yesterday
morning at his home, succumbed to
acute alcoholism and not smoke sui.
location as was the conclusion Of the
jury, when first empaneled yesterday
morning. The testimony of Henry
Doran, the lad who had been doing
chores for Mr.. McCabe, caused the
jurymen to return such verdict. 1t
was also shown by the testimony that
day afternoon about o'clock, thus re.
futing the statements of those who in
formed Coroner Slaught yesterday
that he had been seen Saturday. Young
Doran was at the McCabe house after
the fire had occurred and in fact help
ed to extinguish it.
Tells of Conversation. 81
Mr.. McCabe registered and stayed
at local hotel Thursday night. Doran
went over Friday morning and found
the house full Of smoke. Mr.. McCabe
was there. The young man told the
jury that Mr. McCabe was under the
influence Of liquor at the time. The
fire was still burning and Doran as
serted he extinguished it. When he
asked Mr.. McCabe how the fire started
the latter said about o'clock Friday
morning his feet got cold and he put
the electric light globe in bed, resting
his feet on it. McCabe said that in
some way he broke the globe and it
set his bedding on fire. He carried
the bed clothing to tub and turned
the hose on it. He extinguished the
burning mattress, he told young Doran
with the hose also. The jury, how
ever, discredited the theory of the
electric light globe starting THE fire,
holding that an 1ncandescent Will not
burn when exposed to the air. 1t is
not known just how the fire started.
Since Mr.. McCabe stayed at the
hotel all night, it is thought by the
jury that the fire occurred in the
hours. The lad asserted that
he left Mr.. McCabe about 1890 o'clock
in the afternoon Friday and has not
seen him since. He further stated
that Mr. McCabe remarked that he
had such cold that he was afraid it
would kill him. He could hardly talk.
Since he had lamp in his hands it
Is supposed that his death occurred
in the evening. When Doran asked
to open the house and let the dense
smoke out, he told the jury Mr.. Nc
Cabe said to let it go as he was going
down town, and that he (Doran) did
not need to do the chores anymore as
be was going to lock up the house and
board somewhere. -. +-E j..
Tells of Fire. .a.
T. P. Baker, neighbor of Mr.. Nc
Cabe stated on the witness stand that
be saw smoke coming from the doors
and windows of the house Thursday
morning and that when he Investigate
ed, he found Mr.. McCabe there. He
offered to help Mr.. McCabe but the lat
ter refused to answer him and closed
the door. Mr.. Baker said he waited
for some little time and everything
seemed to be all right in the house.
Although Mr.. Baker asserted it was
Thursday morning that this occurred,
be said 1t might have been Friday
Doran's testimony showed
The fire occurred Friday morning.
L. C. Stiles, Of the Ottumwa Rail-
way & Light Co., who first made the
discovery of the dead man, was also a
telling the jury Of the un-
broken snow around the house. Pa
.rolman AL Lightner testified as to his
part in the investigation.
The Verdict Of the Jury.
The coroner's jury returned the fol.
owing verdict: T .,
1--WE, the jury, find the deceased
came to his death at a time unknown
10 these Jurors, after p. M, on the
first day of March and IL O'Clock noon
On the 5th day Of March, 1912. We
further find that death was due TO
acute alcoholism" @f@ - x.
Coroner A. W. Slaught empanelled
he jury yesterday morning at the NC
Cabe home on West Second street, in
order that the jurors, Henry Wagers,
Bert Emery and George Phillips, might
zee the position in which the body was
found and the appearance Of the house !
The funeral Of Eugene McCabe will
be held tomorrow morning from Sulli-
van chapel at 1880 and from st. Mary4s
Catholic church at o'clock The
body will be taken to Chillicothe, Mo-,
On Milwaukee No. 3 for burial.