The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-11-13
Slater Acting Coroner Sets
Date of Inquest Into
Christensen Death.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON
Racine Officials to Be Present
to Hear Testimony Before
Issuing New Warrant.

Judge Slater as acting coroner for
this county after conference with
Assistant District Attorney Simpson
of Racine county, has issued formal
order for an inquest to be held here
at the municipal court next Tuesday
afternoon at o'clock to inquire into
the facts surrounding the death OF
Edward Christensen and Ak the re-
sponsibility for the same If it can be
done.
Mr.. Christensen died Thursday noon
at the Kenosha hospital as the result
of injuries received last Saturday
night when he went to the assistance
of Frank Bowers on Highway 81. 1t
is alleged that Bowers struck him, but
this ii denied by Bowers, and the
facts SO far as it is possible to obtain
them will be presented at the inquest
neRt Tuesday Afternoon.
Warrant May Follow Inquest.
Assistant District Attorney Simpson
informed Judge Slater that the off,
Gals of Racine county would with
hold action until the testimony is all
in at the inquest He said that il the
evidence required such action, war
rant for manslaughter would be is-
sued for Frank bowers, independent
Of whatever verdict the coroner's jury
| In the case returned.
The conference between Judge
Slater and the Racine officials result
ed in a complete understanding as ia
the steps to be taken with regard I'd
the tragic death. 1t was decided that
the inquest would be held in Kenosha
county because the death took place
here, and the prosecution, if any
would go forward in Racine county
because the accident to Christensen
or the alleged assault took place there
It is clear now that the accident OF
assault took place on the road run
ming north and south between York
Vile and Mt. Pleasant in Racine coun-
ty.
Mr.. Simpson told Judge Slater
Frank Bowers version Of the strange
happenings of last Saturday night.
Bowers admits that he was intoxi-
Gated, it is said, when Christensen, a
stranger to him, came to his assist
ance in getting his Ford Car, himself
and two children to his homet after
Christensen's friend Joseph CaSoor Of
Kenosha, had taken Mrs. Bowers and
her baby in his, Catoor's, car to he1
home.
! Bowers says that Christensen ap-
peared unused to a Ford car and that
| in trying TO start he stalled the car
and got out to crank it. He did crank
| it. Bowers thought that he could run
the car better than the other and got
back Of the wheel and started to drive
the car. Christensen jumped on the
running hoard, he says, but then
jumped off in pursuit of his hat which
blew away. Bowers says that he at
no time struck Christensen and did
not know what happened as he him
self drove on home. 1t is said that
this story of Bowers is confirmed by
| the statements of his two children,
one seven and one eight years of age,
who were with him at the time,
| If the story told by Bowers is found
| to be a faithful representation Of the
facts, when all the testimony is in at
| the inquest, it is believed that the
Racine officials will not press any
serious charge against him. If Bow
ers story is found correct, some other
C&ptdAathOH w AZ now w D0 AOOHO ANA
the condition in which Mr.. Christen-
SEN met his death. He was lying
alongside the road with fractured
skull, when Cstpor returned for him
after taking Bowers wife and baby
home. 1t was thought that Bowers
had struck him with his fist or with
the crank for the car
The Racine county coroner did not
come to Kenosha Friday afternoon, as
Assistant District Attorney Simpson
represented him as well as the prose
cutcr's Office. Deputy Sheriff Gus
Derricks of Racine, conferred with
Sheriff Pabst here about the case
Friday afternoon. He informed Sher-
if Pabst of the statements made by
Bowers which were substantially the
same as those told Judge Slater by
the Racine assistant prosecutor.