The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-05-21
MOTHER SEEKS
DEATH PROBE
Asks Coroner to Renew In
vestigation Into Death
of Leland Harris.
FELL OFF MOTORCYCLE
Harris Was Found Dying Along
Highway Last August After
Accident with Motorcycle.

Impressed with the belief that all of
the facts have not been brought out in
the investigation of the death of her
son on the night of Aug. 18, 1924, Mrs.
Carolyn C. Girard, 458 Charles street,
today demanded that the inquest into
the death of Leland Harris be re-op-
ened and that another investigation
be made into the circumstances sur
rounding his death. Her request has
been turned over to Coroner Joseph
Friend.
1t is recalled that Leland Harris, a
former city fireman, was taking his
last ride on his motorcycle which he
was to sell the next morning, and had
left for short ride into the country
on the Geneva road. At the intersec-
tion of that road and the Milwaukee
road he met several friends also on
motorcycles and stopped to chat with
them. They all agreed to return to
town together, but while the discus
sion was still on Harris said he would
60 for short spin south on the Mil
waukee road and return in few min
utes All of this information was
brought out at the coroner's investi-
CATION which followed the death of
the man.
Farmer Calls for Help.
Motorcycle officers Chester Bostet-
ter end Stanley Rauen, both of whom
had been patrolling the Geneva road
at the time, and Ray Johnson, friend
of Harris, were still engaged in their
conversation when half hour later
a farmer was seen running north on
the Milwaukee road toward them
shouting that a man had just been
killed.
About a. half mile south Of the in
tersection of the two roads Officers
Bostetter found Harris unconscious
form in a pool of blood in the center
of the road with his motorcycle lying
few feet beyond. An automobile
driven by William Perry Jr., of Ke-
nosha, drove up and with the aid Of
another motorist they brought the in
jured man to the Kenosha hospital.
He died few hours later without re-
gaining consciousness.
Believed Accidental.
Harris had suffered a fractured
skull and had lost a considerable
amount Of blood. According to ply
sicians who attended him at sthe time
he was brought to the hospital, his
condition was such as to be beyond
medical assistance.
An investigation conducted at the
time by the sheriff's Office showed
that the incident was probably acci-
dental The theory advanced at that
time showed that in an effort to dodge
a horse that had been roaming on
the highway, Harris may have veered
off to the side of the highway and in
so doing was thrown from his motor
cycle. 1t was believed that his head
either struck the edge if the concrete
or an iron post nearby. The impact
was swift one. according to physi-
clans, who stestified that the frontal
bones over the left eye had been COM
pletely crushed in.
Coroner Is Undecided.
What action Coroner Friend may
take with the request of Mrs. Girard
he has not yet definitely decided, he
declared today. he will probably hold
a conference with the mother of the
dead man sometime late today in an
effort to determine whether she has
since received any evidence or in
formation to support her contention
that the full facts have not been
brought out.