The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-04-14
|. McCrystal, both survive and have
been called to this city
nAnfh Car CnnstrucAinn

. McCrystal, both survive and have
. been called to this city.
Death Car Construction
The death car is constructed for
! the transportation of flowers and is
double decked in the rear campart-
ment. The cab is entirely closed
off from the rear end but there are
! windows between, one OF which
the ride home. Enfield had told
those in the rear that ii there was
anything they wanted they could
call to him through the window.
In winter time it is necessary to
heat the flower compartment and
! for that reason there were two
heater vents in that part of the
vehicle.
Last night at the direction of the
| coroner, the engine was run for
three minutes with the doors of the
rear part closed and when they
were opened DR.. Dahl said that
there was enough gas generated in
that short time to be dangerous.
Pat Henry, White truck agent in
this vicinity, said that the car was
equipped with southern desert
nozzle in the carburetor and that
sort of nozzle insures a maximum
of safety, getting a more nearly
perfect combustion than any other
style of nozzle. Mr.. Henry stated
that there is only one way to make
an exhaust safe in fiat bottom
and unventilated car and that is to
run the exhaust all the way back
to the rear axle where the wind
can carry away all fumes. The
car was not meant for passenger
hauling and the girls were brought
here as a favor to them and to the
elder Mrs. McCrystal. For flower
carrier the car was entirely an eff
cient machine and no more venti-
lation was required than the car
afforded.
No Blame Attached To Anyone
No blame for the tragedy is at
tached to anyone in any way con-
nected with the tragedy by the city
and county officials. Chief of Po-
lice Phil Landmark, Coroner A. G..
Dahl and County Attorney c. E.
Phillips have thoroughly investi-
gated all angles of the case and all
report that there is nothing to war
rant a belief that there was any
thing criminal or even criminally
negligent on the part of any con-
cCrned which could be called re-
sponsible for the two deaths.
No fare was charged for the
employ of the WindmilleS company
and it is said that in such case
there is no liability.
This afternoon at one O'Clock there
was a meeting in the office of the
chief of police which was attended
| by County Attorney Phillips, Chief
Landmark, Coroner Dahl, DR.. c. c.
Pratt, who performed the autopsy,
Thilgen and Enfield and all their in
formation collected by the various
officers was pooled with the result
that all concerned were absolved of
any blame and the bodies of the
dead were surrendered to the fam
lilies of each for funeral arrange
mentS.
No Founda alton For 'Moonshine' Story
A rumor of "moonshine" had
gained wide circulation but Coroner
Dahl and DIR. Pratt were emphatic
in their statements that there was
nothing to warrant such belief and
both Thilgen and Enfield reiterated
their statements denying that any
member of the party had taken a
drink of intoxicating liquor. The
theory that the deaths had been
caused by carbon monoxide gas pois
oning were borne out by the post
norton. In the case of such pois-
oning there is no clot of blood in
the heart after drainage and such
was the case today. The hearts of
both had been drained of all blood
and no clots remained.
Isabel Beatty, Mankato agent for
the Mutual Life Insurance COMPANY
of New York stated this afternoon
that Rose Augustine held policy
| for $1,000 in the Mutual company
and arrangements were made today
by the local agent for the payment
of that amount to the parents of the
deceased.
At the time Miss Augustine left
Mankato she was a forewoman in
local shirt factory and it was said
today that she was one of the most
efficient women employed in the
plant. Marie Augustine who was a
passenger in the car at the time of
| the fatal ride was at one time a chief
operator in the Citizens Telephone
company here, and at one time had
been bookkeeper for Lamm & Yen
| ter, dealers in plumbing supplies.