The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-04-24

Coroner Rules Warning
Sufficient to Keep Out
Meter Reader.
ORDINANCE IS URGED
City Expected to Take
Action to Prevent Other
Tragedies.

Absolving the T. N. T. EXtermi-
mating Company from blame IN the
death Tuesday Of a Citizens Gas
Company meter reader by poison
gas, Coroner Charles H. KeeVer to-
Gay announced that he would dis
cu5s with Dr. Herman G.. Morgan,
city health board secretary the adj
visibility of seeking an ordinance
requiring safeguards against recur-
renee of the tragedy.
Alfred Ayers. %, of 9l3 Chadwick
street, died III city hospital Tuesday
~ 2:3O D. m. an hour and a half
after he ignored warning signs and
entered the gas-hllcd basement OF
an apartment building at 1907 North
PENNSYLVANIA street.
After an autopsy, Coroner keever
pronounced death due TO poisoning
by hydrocyanlc gas. He cXonerated
James w. Mcmillan. 80. of North
Oriental street. owner of the T. n.
T. Exterminaitng Company, which
vas fumigating the apartment, and
Ray Upton, %, of l29 East Ohio
street, his employe.
Both we're arrested late Tuesday
on charges Of assault and battery
and yagranCy.
Warning Signs Posted
The men we're released Tuesday
night on their own recognizance.
Large warning signs posted at the
front and rear entrance or the
apartment when the fumigation be-
gan Tuesday morning were adequate
warning, Keeyer held after taking
statements from Mcmillan and TIP
ton TODAY.
although there IS no ordinance
requiring such safeguards tried
to get one two years agO-we al
ways keep the signs posted and 3
Waterman on guard" Mcmillan
said.
"Tipton was watching the doors
A carpenter was sitting NEARBY. eat
ing his lunch. and Upton told him
he was going away for a few min
utes to get Bottle Of milk.
He came back in five or ten
minutes and was told by q pas5erby
that a man had entered the rear
door. Ayers either must have failed
to see the sign or ignored it. Wet
paper was packed around the rear
door. sealing it 50 that it must have
opened with difficulty. and the paper
must have fallen all around him.
Carries Out Victim
Holding his breath, Upton ran
down the rear stairs. found Ayers
unconscious at the foot, and carried
him out. Police we're summoned,
who, with Mcmillan. administered
ammonia. in an effort to reSuscitate
the man. Then he was taken to City
hospital.
Ayers was carrying meter book
of Fred Smith, 6523 BellefOntaine
street, fellow meter reader, caus-
ing police to think. at first, that the
stricken man was Smith.
Mcmillan has been in the fumi-
eating business four and half
wears. he said. Two years ago, he
declared, he drafted an ordinance,
COPYING features of similar Ordi-
nances throughout the country. en-
listed the aid of the Chamber OF
Commerce. and tried TO have it in
troduced in the council, but
couldn't get anywhere.
The ordinance would have re-
uuired warning signs and other
safeguards, and would have required
800 yearly license fee from fumi-
gators and $50 for operators.
No State Law
DR.. Herman c. Morgan. city
health board secretary, said the use
of hydrocyanic gas as fumigant
is a recognized method. but fraught
with great danger. When inhaled,
the gas causes the blood to become
sluggish, he said.
DR.. Morgan asserted there IS
neither city ordinance nor state law
regulating the fumigating of build
ings or prohibiting the use of dead
" gas for the purpose.
Ayers had been employed by the
Citizens Gas Company for ten years,
officials said. He was unmarried
and is survived by his parents,
Thomas and Mrs. Ella Ayers, with
whom he lived; two sisters, Mrs
Edna Underwood. 1888 Union street.
ard Mrs. Esther Henry. 1884 Naomi
street. and two brothers. Homer
A,-are Of2 CbaSu-iCL street and