The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-07
Investigation of Deaths of
Kenney and Gustin
Continued
MOOSE RELUCTANT
TO GIVE EVIDENCE
Answers of One Witness Provokes
Outburst From Solicitor Locke.
Abbott Charges Kenny Was
Weakened by Disease

That the electric generator used at the
initiation of candidates to the Moose or
der on the night of July "a in Moose hall
was capable of developing 1000 volts of
power was one of the sensational state
ments of M. F. Stradford. an electrician.
while testifying yesterday morning at
the coroner's inquest into the deaths OF
Donald A. Kenney and Christopher c.
Gustin. who were killed during a Moose
initiation.
Other startling features of the inquest
yesterday was the attack of John Alb
bott. dictator of the local lodge of Moose.
on the character of Donald A. Kenney. He
said that it was a matter of common
knowledge that Kenney was physically
weakened by disease and that under the
circumstances a slight shock of electricity
during an initiation in which the candi-
date was frightened would likely have
caused his death. However, Mr.. Abbott
said he knew nothing of the life Kenney
had lead until after his DEATH Mr. Alb
bott also said that Gustin had been stay
ing up late nights and was physically
weak at the time of the initiation.
Locke Has Hard Time
During the entire afternoon session As
sistant Solicitor Hugh Locke fought with
might and main to ascertain information
from members of the Moose order. only
one of the Moose witnesses examined dur
ing the entire day gave any new light on
the strange happenings in Moose hall on
the night of July "a.
he
at o'clock with Officer John G. Nc
Geever ON the stand. The witness testi-
fled to seeing the ambuances come to
Moose hall, and when inquiring had been
told that two men had been electrocuted.
Later he was informed by Mooses that
both men had died from heart failure and
fright. He told of calling the coroner at
the instance of newspaper man.
The next witness was a Moose initiated
on the same night Kenney and Gustin
were killed. This witness proved very un-
satisfactory, and could not or would not
give an account of what happened to him
that night. His ready answer to Mr..
Locke's questions was, II don't know"
f. o. Mack. policeman, appeared as a
character witness. He said that Kenney
had told him that his heart troubled him
at times, and that he had taken strych-
nine tablets for it. He asserted that
Kenney's trip to Atlanta a short time be-
fore his death was for an operation on
his eyes.
Earl Westbrook of Owenton testified
that he had been initiated the same night
as xenney and Gustin, but said that he
could not remember anything about it.
He said he felt no electricity. He was
very reluctant witness and was ex-
cused.
Outbursts From Locke
O. S. Parker. an engine foreman, also
testified that he was Initiated the same
night with Kenney and Gustin, but proved
the. most difficult of witnesses. He
finally provoked the emphatic outburst
from Solicitor Locke:
"Mr. Parker, we have not requested of
you any secret information; we have just
asked you what happened to you at the
initiation. You have allowed this jury to
tell you what happened there, but you
yourself have not told us anything Now,
who is it that has instructed you not to
answer our questions%'
mo one SIR" answered the witness; II
can't tell you what / don't know"
you know very well what happened
there thundered Mr.. Locke, land do you
mean to tell me that you did not have
enough curiosity to find out what the mat
ter was after you had been told that two
of your brothers had tainted upstairs?'
mo, sir, l just went home" answered
the witness.
That's ALL" said Mr.. Locke in disgust.
"The next witness"
The next witness John f. Meyers, a
steel worker, proved a pleasant surprise,
for he readily gave a straightforward ac-
count of all that he saw in Moose hall that
night. His statement in part follows:
I'm the early part of the initiation l was
up there and | helped to brand few. /
stayed in the lodge room until l got mad
because some one interfered with my ini-
tiating a candidate. There was over 100
men up there and everybody tried to get
at the candidates to put them through
their PAGES. When l got a hold of cam
didate I always wanted to take through
and ride pretty hard
After / left the lodge room 1 went to
the second floor and watched DR.. Neill and
several others play cards until John ABB
bott came downstairs and said: DOC,
fellow has tainted come quick" I rushed
upstairs with the doctor and helped to
work over Kenney. There was lot of
excitement and suddenly some one hol-
Tered, DOC, here's another one" and then
somebody stopped the initiation.
II left the body of Kenney with DIR.
Neill still working over it and hurried to