The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1918-01-24


the 1S6th machine gun battalion, sta
toned at Camp Wadsworth, whose
home is at Grove City, Pa, was
found dead in room Ga of the Brook
lyn hotel, on Magnolia street, yester-
day shortly after IL o'clock, death
being caused from a pistol shot
wound on the right side of the head,
just above the ear. 1t seems that the
ball split, one half penetrating the
brain, the other half penetrating the
an inch toward the front from the
point of entrance and struck the
ceiling. The split bullet was picked
up on the floor.
Coroner Turner held an inquest
yesterday during the afternoon and
the jury, from the evidence, returned
verdict that the deceased came to
his death from gun shot wound in
a manner unknown to the jury.
The young officers came into the
city from Camp Wadsworth Monday
afternoon. Sometime between and
5 o'clock he stopped in at the Brook
lyn hotel and asked for a room with
private bath. DR.. Devereaux Tur-
ner, the proprietor of the hostelry,
assigned him to room Ga on the third
floor. DR.. Turner stated that he was
struck with the appearance and bear
ing Of the young man. He did not
converse with him and could not say
whether he was in jovial or des-
pondent frame of mind.
Tuesday about noon, the bell boy,
Uaurens Higgins, was sent unstairs to
locate call that came in as the wires
were crossed and the register did not
show up properly. When the boy re-
turned he reported that there was a
dead man in room Ga.
DR.. Turner stated that he, in com
pany with others went to the room
and found the body of the young man
lying across the bed. His hands were
at his side and the pistol was on the
left side, the muzzle pointing towards
the armpit. He said there was no evil
dence of struggle having been in
the room. There were several letters
on a table in the room. He also saw
part of the pistol ball which was
picked up on the floor. The ball evil
IDENTIFY struck the ceiling above for
particles of plaster were found on his
coat and hat, which were on cbair
near the bed. <r
Laurence Higgins, the bell boy,
described finding the dead body of
the young officer. He said he room
ed the young man the afternoon he
registered, but did not see him again
until he found him dead in the room
yesterday. He said he never saw the
man in company with any one. He
said he never heard the report of a
pistol and did not smell smoke when
he entered the room.
J. II. Buckner a salesman for the |
Spartan Hardware company, testified
that he had viewed the dead body of |
Lieut.. Buchanan and recognized the
deceased as being the man who called
at the Spartan Hardware store about
7:30 yesterday morning and purchas-
ed two plates, cup, knife and fork |
and spoon.
"He asked me if had a revolver
and told him we did not keep them.
asked him what calibre he
wanted and he replied it did
not make any difference as he want
ed it for target practice. He asked
if I knew where he could get a pistol
and told him I did not know" said !
Mr.. Buchanan.
w. w. Simmons, salesman in the |
Palmetto Hardware company, identi-
fled the dead body as that of the man
who came into his store yesterday
morning between $3.50 and o'clock
and bought box of 20 cartridges. He
said the young man stated he wanted
them for Iver-Johnson pistol he
used in target practice.
John Davidson testified that he
lives at the Brooklyn hotel and occu-
pies room 68. About IL o'clock yes
terday he was in his room and
thought he heard pistol shot. When
he came down stairs he heard there
was a dead man in room Cd.
Lieut.. j. o. Johnson, the command
ing officer of Lieut.. Buchanan's COM
pany, stated to the jury that the
young man asked for a leave of alb
sence Monday afternoon which was
granted. He was to have reported at
7 o'clock Tuesday morning. Just be-
fore leaving the camp he gave Lieut..
Rmchannn n Let Of hnnl.S Ia hn NM.