Blair County Genealogical Society
431 Scotch Valley Rd.
Hollidaysburg, PA. 16648
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Altoona Tribune, January 1, 1896
During the year of 1895, Coroner Poet held eighteen inquests and Verdicts rendered by jury for the year are as following:
AUTHUR, David October 20, Verdict; death was caused by the collision of a passenger train No. 404 and the water train extra No. 1302, that the wreck was the result of the misapprehension on the part of engineer Blackburn who thought the train No. 404 had passed and so informed the conductor, when it had not and further, because of the dense fog we believe he was honestly mistaken and that neither he or any trainmen are deserving of censure.
BONNECKA, Henry April 7, Verdict; death was caused by a stroke from a blunt instrument on the left side of the head, on the partial bone causing a facture of the skull and being strangled by a white handkerchief tightly bound over his mouth, also a shirt tightly drawn and tied over his face, either of which, in our opinion, causes death, also the acts were done by some persons unknown to the jury.
BOUSE, Newton A. August 15, Tyrone, Verdict; death was caused by a pistol shot wound in the head, inflicted by himself.
CLOSSON, George W. June 14, Verdict; death was caused by being crushed beneath a train of cars in lower Altoona Yard, which train was started while the deceased was repairing a brake under the second car from the rear. The order for the train to start, was given by Frank Kolbenschlog, who testified he had received a signal from some one at the rear of the train, but he would not tell from whom. The jury would earnestly recommend to the Pennsylvania Railroad company the adoption of a plainer system of signals for this dispatching to trains after the inspectors finish their work.
GOOD, W. F. October 20, Verdict; death was caused by the
collision of a
passenger train No. 404 and the water train extra No. 1302, that the wreck
was the result of the misapprehension on the part of engineer Blackburn
who though the train No. 404 had passed and so informed the conductor,
when it had not and further, because of the dense fog we believe he was
honestly mistaken and that neither he or any trainmen are deserving of
censure.
KISER, John July 27, Verdict; death was caused by heart failure.
LINGMER, William E. February 26, Verdict; death was caused by
being crushed by
an engine or cars while on his way to work while going through the yards
about 200
yards east of Fourth Street Bridge. We believe it was purely accidental.
LOWE, Sarah A. May 26, Verdict; death was caused by paralysis of the
heart, super
induced by over-indulgence in alcoholic stimulants, furnished by
frequenters of her
house, two of whom are known. The jury would recommend that the
district attorney
endeavor to find out where the deceased directly or indirectly procured
beer and whiskey by the bucket and bottle.
MELHORN, O. H. September 30, Verdict; death was caused by the slipping of a chain from a broken hook attached to the derrick used in raising part of a broken car and an rod attached there to, striking the deceased on the head, fracturing his skull. We believe that S. S. Davis, conductor of the wreck crew, did not use proper precautions of his men when he knew the hook was broken and continued to use it.
NAGLE, Frank P. February 15, Verdict; death was caused by
apoplexy from the effect
of over indulgence in alcoholic stimulants.
SHAVER, Ella August 13, Verdict; death was caused by being crushed by car No. 21 on the City Passenger railway at sixth Avenue and Lloyd Street. We recommend that the City Passenger railway put fenders or guards on their cars, so that life would be protected of persons being caught on the track, and that the officials of the company be more particular about the speed of the car runs on their lines in the city, and we therefore believes that M. B. Long, motorman, did all he could to stop the car to save the life of the child.
SMITH, Michael November 4, Bellwood; Verdict; death was caused by oven-indulgence in alcoholic stimulants, that on November 2 the deceased purchased liquor at the Bell Hotel and at the Windsor Hotel while under the influence of liquor, and we refer the above case to the district attorney and also Hon. Judge Bell, when license is granted next spring and from testimony produced before us it was proved that the deceased purchased two bottles of liquor on Sunday, November 3, in Bellwood.
SPEAKER, Charles February 6, Verdict; death was caused by being
crushed between a freight train and engine 25 east of ND office of Altoona
yard. We believe it was purely
accidental and no blame can be attached to the employees of the railroad
company. The accident occurred on the morning of February 1, 1895, died at
the hospital the same evening.
SPLACHI, Mike August 23, Grazierville; Verdict; death was caused by the crushing of the skull bone on the left side of the head with some blunt instrument in the hands of some person or persons unknown to the jury.
STRAYER, W. A. July 9, Verdict; death was caused by a bullet wound shot from a revolver in the hands of Christ W. Block.
UNKNOWN, Female Child April 23, Verdict; death was due to causes unknown to the jury.
UNKNOWN, Female Child May 30, Verdict; It appears from the evidence before us that whether the child died from natural causes or by violence we are unable to say, owing to the decomposed condition of the body.
WEISER, Frank January 13, Verdict; death was caused by the deceased not using proper precautions in jacking up the car, had he used the braces the accident would not have occurred.
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