The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-10-29
DEATH BY GAS
JlJRY'S VERDICT
Inquest in Case of Mrs.
Jennings is Completed
by Coroner.
ACCIDENTAL, IS FINDING

Finding that the deceased came to
her death by accidentally inhaling
gas, coroner's jury heard testimony
yesterday afternoon in the Office of
Coroner Joseph Friend in the court
house and completed the case involv-
ing the discovery of Mrs. Clara Jen-
nings dead in the basement of her
home at SO South Ridge street on
September 20.
The verdict was returned by jurors
James Filbin, Market street; Walter
Priddis, Herbert street; Peter Elsen.
North Chicago street; Thomas Gillick,
Bronson street; Albert Brankow,
North Chicago street,; John Wade,
Lake avenue. Only three witnesses
were sworn.
Police Captain Emil Claussen testi-
fed that he responded to call from
the Jennings home about $50 a. M,
on September 20, that Mrs. Jennings
was thought to have committed sui
eide. He stated the pulmotor and
lung motor were taken along, as in all
cases of suicide or drowning. When
he arrived, he explained, Mrs. Jen-
nings was lying on the basement floor,
to all appearances dead, but with help
she was carried into the yard and
there the pulmotor was applied for
about 40 minutes, but without success.
Meantime DR.. DAWN was called, and
on arrival he pronounced her dead.
No Marks on Body.
The body, the witness testified,
lay near a wash tub and a gas plate
resting on a bench. The basement was
full of gas, he said, which apparently
had escaped from the connections to
the gas plate. There were no marks
on the body showing injury, save
some light scratches on. the left side
of the face that might have been re-
ceived in falling. The basement door,
he said, was open when he arrived.
Gas pefmeated the house, he testified,
and it was his assumption that Mrs.
Jennings had been overcome.
Captain lClaussen was questioned
as to his impression of Mrs. jennings
soundness of mind, and related that
she had frequently called the police
office and berated them for not es-
tablishing a policeman at their street
corner, and that she had in long tele-
phone conversations complained of
members of the police force to him,
and in talks with others of the de-
partment had complained of him. He
further said that Mr.. Jennings had,
on the da, of his wife's death, re-
marked to him that the state of Wis
consin, the city of Kenosha and
especially Captain Claussen were re-
sponsible for what had happened.
Policeman Paul Rohde testified that
he was on duty at the desk when the
police call was received from Mr.. Jen-
nings, and that he was told to bring
the wagon right away, that the speak
err believed his wife had committed
suicide in the basement. Ronde re-
sponded in company with Captain
Claussen, and they found Mrs. Jen-
nings lying on her back on the base
ment floor apparently dead, while the
air smelled heavily of gas. He helped
to carry her outside and assisted in
applying the pulmotor, but to no avail:
Gas Hose Disconnected.
The witness said he found the hose
which connects the gas 1eeu pipe Win
the gas plate, disconnected, and that
after asking Mr.. jennings if he had
turned the gas off, and receiving a
negative reply, he went into the base
ment and turned it off. He further
ssid that the wash tub was filled with
clothes and water, and from the posi-
ton of the body he assumed that she
had been engaged in washing when
she fell, overcome by the fumes.