The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-06
Many Witnesses on Stand.
Testimony Largely Repeti-
ton of Former Evidence
JURY ADJOURNS TO
HALL OF MOOSE
Shown What Situation Was on Fatal
Night-Dr. Morris Believes Elec-
trio Shock Coused Death
of the Two Men

Practically nothing developed from.
the inquest yesterday into the deaths
of Donald A. Kenny anw Christopher c.
Gustin that had not already been told
at last Thursdays session, A large num-
Dor of witnesses were examined but
their stories largely were repetitions
of narratives already related to the
jury.
Employees of the Johns Undertaking
company reiterated that Conorner
Spain had given permission for the
embarlming of the body of Gustin and
erbalning of the body of Gustin and
afternoon the hearing was adjourned,
to Moose hall and the jury was shown
Just what the situation was when
Kenny and Gustin met death.
DR. Louis c. Morris's testimony was
probably the most enlightening of the
entire day. He was not called until 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon. He stated
emphatieally that he did not know of
any disease that could have caused the
death of Christopher c. Gustin and not
leave traces that could be found even
after embalming. He stated that under
the circumstances the shock of cleo
tricity given to him was responsible for
Gustin's untimely end. He said under
he direct questioning of Mr.. Locke that
in his opinion an application of elec-
tricity killed Gustin.
DIR. Morris Testifies
Death by electricity is not necessarily
instantaneous" said DIR. Morris, mot any
more so than from fright. Death by
electricity is caused either by over-stim-
ulation of the heart or by stimulation of
the depressing influences on the heart
In either case death is not necessarily
instantaneous and a man could breathe
and talk say possibly minute following
q full stop of the action of the heart
There are no two men who have the
same susceptibility to electricity. but in
my opinion, under the circumstances re-
lated to me of the way Gustin was placed
during the initiation and the way the
shock of electricity was applied that would
be the ideal way of killing him.
Dr. Morris further stated that he had
known Gustin for the past 16 years and
had been his physician, and had also
thoroughly examined him for signs of
heart trouble several times in the last
four years He said that Gustin in every
way presented the appearance of nor
mai, healthy man and that he could not
conceive how this young man of SO with
wife and three healthy children could
have come to sudden death except by
another agency than organic troubles.
He said that as Gustin was reported to
be perspiring freely on the night in ques-
ton that also would add to the strength
In, III
Other than the testimony of DR.. Nor
ris at the afternoon session very little
was presented that threw any light on
the affair. Ralph Csrey, an embalmer,
of the Johns Undertaking company, was
called and testified to embalming Gus.
tin on heresay that Coroner Spain had
instructed that the embalming of Gus.
tin could proceed.
This was again emphatically denied
by Coroner c. L. Spain. John Gustin,
brother of the deceased, also was
sworn to refute some of the testimony
of Usrey while Usrey was still on the
stand.
1t was brought out that John Gustin
when he arrived in Johns on Friday
morning at 1:25 o'clock, few hours
after the death Of his brother, inquired
what authority Usrey had for embalm-
ing Gustin. He said the reply he re-
ceived was very unsatisfactory. John
Gustin further stated that many men,
bers of the Moose order were present
then and insisted that everything was
all right and that Kenny and Gustin
had died from heart failure and that
two lodge doctors had passed on
them .,
Death Certificate introduced
During this colloquy between Solic-
itor Locke and Witnesses Usrey and
John Gustin. the death certificate oe
Christopher c. Gustin was put In evi-
dence by Coroner c. l.. Spain This
certificate. Usrey stated, was made out
in the establishment of Johns and by
DR.. L. c. Neill, the Moose lodge ply
sician. 1t was made out a few min
utes after the body OF Gustin arrived
at the morgue of Johns. it was further
brought out. The certificate itself bears
the imprint of the Johns Undertaking
company and gives the age sex color
and name of Gustin and the cause OF
death as heart failure. caused by
fright 1t is signed by Or. L. c. Neill
Evidence shows that ii was made out
before Coroner Spain knew anything
was wrong III Moose hall.
In concluding his testimony Ralph Us
rey stated that there were many members
OF the Moose order in and about the
morgue following the bringing in of Gus
tins body. He said they insisted that
death had been caused by fright
John chamblee, the chief funeral di-
rector of the Johns Undertaking COM
pany,. was placed on the stand and testi-
fed that Coroner C. J.. Spain had ordered
the einbalming of Gustin. Mr.. Chambee
stated that I'm his opinion Gustin died
OF heart failure. He said that Wallace
Johns. proprietor of the Johns Undertake
ing company, was Moose.
l.. b. Rideout. an employe of Johns,
testified to answering the ambulance call
TO Moose hal and of taking Gustin to
the South Highland infrmary at the or
ders of DR.. l.. c.. Neill and OF later re-
turning to the Hillman hospital and of
then bringing the body back to Johns.
There was nothing new in Rideouts tes-
tmony. et
w. H.. Abernethy. city electrician, was
placed on the stand and stated that no
electrician could tell just how many volts
it took to kill a man. He certainly did
Lot know. Mr. Abernethy was requested
10 test the small electric generator and
while Solicitor Locke turned the crank
quite fast the test showed from 120 to 1iO
yolts-the average was 10 volts.
Jury to Moose Hall
Following the testimony of other wit
neses Coroner c. J.. Spain and Solicitor
Locke requested that the jury recess and
IyYl ,II,EII