Coroners Inquisitions

Coroners Inquisitions are investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden, violent, unnatural, or suspicious manner, or who died without medical attendance. The coroner would summon a jury of twelve white men, usually prominent citizens of that locality, to assist him in determining cause of death.

Additional information may be found in Judgment records [Book 23].

BLACK, James - at Beaver Creek
- 20 Apr 1914 - by John ANKENEY, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from accidentally being killed by Russell REYNOLDS 
  on the 17th of April 1914.
- Dr. S. M. WAGAMAN
- Witnesses:  Roy BLACK, Mrs. Cord SUMMERS, Mrs. Ellen BLACK, 
  Stella SCADDEN, Mrs. Julia IRVIN, Clarence RUDY.
[Book 14, 1-3] (Filed 23 Apr 1914, Judgment Liber 23, 253)


BOWARD, Max - at Hagerstown
- 1 Dec 1914 - by John ANKENEY, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Accidentally shot and killed by Frank NORRIS, a 
  youth of 11 years; at his home on South Canon Ave, Hagerstown.
- Witnesses:  Mrs. Vernie LAPOLE, Mrs. Lovell WOOD, Herbert 
  ANTHONY, Edgar NORRIS, Charles E. NORRIS.
[Book 14, 52-55] (Filed 2 Dec 1914, Judgment Liber 23, 267)


BRADY, James - at Pearre
- (not dated) - by C. F. W. REMSBURG, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from being struck by a Western Maryland Railroad 
  train on the tracks and instantly dying.
- Witnesses:  George APPLE, Vincent DONEGAN.
[Book 14, 76-77] (Filed 2 May 1916, Judgment Liber 23, 326)


CAREY, J. W. - at Weverton
- 18 Oct 1914 - by O. M. C. YOUNKINS, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - accidentally struck by a train on the west end of 
  Weverton at the railroad crossing on 18 Oct 1914.
[Book 14, 47-48] (Filed 19 Oct 1914, Judgment Liber 23, 266)


CROMER, J. Earl - at Hagerstown
- 16 Oct 1915 - by John ANKENEY, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from injuries sustained in a collision of his 
  motorcycle and an automobile driven by Jonathan JENKINS 
  on 14 Oct 1915.  Vehicles were near a crest of a hill 
  and were traveling in opposite directions.  Ruled as 
  an accident.
- Witnesses:  Mrs. Etta BURGAN, Mrs. Eliza BRAGENIER, George 
  McALLISTER, William LOGAN.
[Book 14, 59-61] (Filed 21 Oct 1915, Judgment Liber 23, 301)


DIXON, Susan - at Hagerstown
- 29 Dec 1915 - by John ANKENEY, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Murdered on 24 Dec 1915 by John BROWN, being shot 
  in the right side of face, head and neck; she died instantly.
- Dr. H. H. SIMMERMAN
- Witnesses:  Silas H. NORRIS, N. O. MULLENDORE, Elias GRIFFITH, 
  Asbury TOYER, Charles FISHER, Isaac LONG, William McLAUGHLIN, 
  Barbara FISHER, George CLARK, Mrs. Sarah GRAY, Morris LEWIS, 
  Pierce KING, Harry GRUBER.
[Book 14, 62-64] (Filed 29 Dec 1915, Judgment Liber 23, 311)


ELIASON, John L. - at Hagerstown
- 18 Jul 1916 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from accident while in the performance of his duties 
  as an employee of the Western Maryland Railway Co, on 18 Jul 1916.
- Dr. H. L. KNEISLEY
- Witnesses:  Patrick NEVILLE, C.V. STONE, W.H. MASON, W.M. SETTLES, 
  B.F. MULLIGAN, C.B. RUDOLPH, C.B. RHODES, W.K. TURNER, E.C. HARBAUGH, 
  E. BENNETT, W.R. JUDD, J.E. EICHELBERGER, Charles A. BROWN.
[Book 14, 98-100] (Filed 1 Nov 1916, Judgment Liber 23, 333)


GILLESPY, James L. - at Hagerstown
- 7 Nov 1916 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from heart failure superinduced by excessive drinking.
  He was a prisoner in the detention cell of the City of Hagerstown.
- Dr. W. B. MORRISON
- Witnesses:  George W. FRIDINGER, Frank W. WILLIAMS, Thomas BOWERS, 
  Edward SCHLEIGH.
[Book 14, 101-103] (Filed 7 Nov 1916, Judgment Liber 23, 337)


HEMPHILL, Roger M. - at Hagerstown
- 9 Jun 1914 - by Daniel W. DOUB, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Died from a beating by Harvey Blaine HERTZLER; 
  injuries resulted in his death.
- Dr. S. M. WAGAMAN, Dr. Leroy WATKINS
- Witnesses: Albert L. FOSS, Gillian GRIMM, Roy SHUPP, Harry B. 
  MARTIN, I. M. BROWN, Mrs. Fannie DORSEY, J. A. SHIPP, George 
  W. FRIDINGER, H. H. SHRODER, Nathan SOUDERS, W. G. SOUTH, Carl 
  HOOK.
[Book 14, 35-38] (Filed 10 Jun 1914, Judgment Liber 23, 253)


HIXON, infant of BESSIE HIXON - at Hancock
- 17 Apr 1915 - by C. F. W. REMSBURG, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - ruled as negligence on the part of the mother in not 
  receiving the attention as required for infants at birth.
- Dr. W. F. SAPPINGTON, Dr. I. H. TOBIAS
- Witnesses:  Dr. P. L. STIGERS, Charles RANKINS, Edward MUNSON, 
  Lula FOX, Cora ROBINETTE, Frank HELLER, Roy INGRAM, Mrs John HIXON.
[Book 14, 74-75] (Filed 2 May 1916, Judgment Liber 23, 326)


HOUSE, George, colored - at Hagerstown
- 4 May 1916 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from heart failure superinduced by chronic alcoholism.
  He was a prisoner in the Washington County Jail.
- Dr E. A. WAREHAM - undertaker, A. K. COFFMAN
- Witnesses:  Isaac S. LONG, George W. FRIDINGER.
[Book 14, 78-81] (Filed 12 May 1916, Judgment Liber 23, 327)


KIDWILER, Michael - near Mountain Lock
- 13 Sep 1915 - by Charles N. HOFFMASTER, J.P., acting coroner
- Body found in the Potomac River near Mountain Lock on the 
  towpath of the C & O Canal.
- Death - from drowning; unknown if accidental or otherwise.
- Dr. S. Howell GARDNER
[Book 14, 56-58] (Filed 8 Oct 1915, Judgment Liber 23, 300)


LEGGETT, Clifford T. - at Hagerstown
- 11 Jan 1915 - by John ANKENEY, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Murdered by Minnie LEGGETT by being shot with pistol.
- Dr. O. H. W. RAGAN
- Witnesses:  C. E. SUTER, Earl LEGGETT, William BROWN, D. W. B. 
  MORRISON, Vier LEGGETT, Ethel HOCKENBERRY, Pearl BLACK, 
  Albert CRAMPTON.
[Book 14, 49-51] (Filed 16 Jan 1915, Judgment Liber 23, 267)


LONG, Lewis H. - at Weverton
- 1 Oct 1914 - by O. M. C. YOUNKINS, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - accidentally killed by a west-bound train #5 on 
  the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Miller's Bend, leading 
  from Weverton to Sandy Hook.
[Book 14, 42-43] (Filed 2 Oct 1914, Judgment Liber 23, 265)


MIDDLEKAUFF, John C. - at Hagerstown
- 18 Aug 1914 - by John ANKENEY, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Murdered by John W. WINGERT; victim being shot in 
  the abdomen with a pistol on 15 Aug 1914 and then dying 
  on 16 Aug 1914.
  Cecil STARLIPER was accused of aiding and abetting.
- Dr. MORRISON
- Witnesses: Peutz SAYLOR, Frank HENNINGER, A. P. HARPER, 
  J. A. LEILEY, Walter BEALE, Jacob SAYLES, Gil FRIDINGER, 
  William LOGAN.
[Book 14, 39-41] (Filed 20 Aug 1914, Judgment Liber 23, 262)


NEAL, Charles - at Hancock
- 10 Jun 1914 - by C. F. W. REMSBURG, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from being struck by a Western Maryland Railroad train 
  on 10 Jun 1914 at Hancock Station.
- Dr. H. E. TABLER
- Witnesses:  Walter SCOTT, Washington WILLIS, William SULLIVAN, 
  Walter STEVENS, John EASTON, J. W. HOKE.
[Book 14, 68-69] (Filed 2 May 1916, Judgment Liber 23, 324)


RIPPLE, William R. - at Hagerstown
- 30 Sep 1916 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from a fractured skull from being willfully struck on 
  the head with a shovel by Maysfield WOLFORD on 30 Sep 1916.
- Witnesses:  Oliver GALLOWITH, Walter ARDINGER, Charles D. BURNETT, 
  Peregrin WROTH, W. D. CAMPBELL.
[Book 14, 95-97] (Filed 1 Nov 1916, Judgment Liber 23, 332)


STEWART, St Clair - at Hagerstown
- 11 Mar 1914 - by John ANKENEY, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from accidentally falling off the top of a box car 
  after braking the car at #14 track, opposite the old coal 
  chute, and then being runover by the train, on the 10th 
  of March 1914.
  He had been a brakeman/yardman on the Western Maryland 
  Railroad for two years.
- Dr. S. M. WAGAMAN
- Witnesses:  Carl RIDENOUR (braking in the yard), George CLARK 
  (engineer), M. C. MILLER (brakeman), Murray D. SMITH (fireman), 
  John D. CHISHOLM (train/yard master of Western Maryland Railway).
.....Wilbur HENDRICKS (age 12) - He was sitting on the bank with 
  John LANG and saw a man on top of the cars and saw him letting 
  the brakes off, the train stopped, and he walked down to the 
  other end of the box car and then saw him fall off on the north 
  side where the trestle is.
.....John LANG (age 11) - mostly the same as HENDRICKS.
[Book 14, 4-34] (Filed 24 Mar 1914, Judgment Liber 23, 253)


STOTLER, U. S. - at Hancock
- 25 Jan 1916 - by C. F. W. REMSBURG, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from falling off the Hancock Bridge into the 
  Potomac River and drowning; on the 24th of Jan 1916.
- Dr. P. E. STIGERS
- Witnesses:  James KERNS, James EVERETTS Jr, James EVERETTS Sr.
[Book 14, 70-71] (Filed 2 May 1916, Judgment Liber 23, 324)


STROCK, Joseph - at Hagerstown
- 18 Jun 1916 - by John H. BITNER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from being struck and runover by an automobile on the 
  Cavetown pike on 18th of Jun 1916 in Hagerstown.
  Ruled as an accident; driver was John G. LATSHAW.
- Witnesses:  D. L. PIKE, Earl BUTTS, Mrs Nettie LATSHAW, William 
  P. LATSHAW, Joshua BRAGONIER, Mrs. Frank HARN, William BOWERS.
[Book 14, 82-84] (Filed 19 Jun 1916, Judgment Liber 23, 328)


THOMAS, George - at Hancock
- 16 Dec 1915 - by C. F. W. REMSBURG, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from suicide by cutting his throat with a safety razor 
  blade in the bathroom of the Danielton Building in Hancock on 
  the 16th of Dec 1915.
- Dr. W. S. GRAY
- Witnesses:  H. J. KING.
[Book 14, 72-73] (Filed 2 May 1916, Judgment Liber 23, 325)


TYLER, Benjamin, colored - at Williamsport
- 13 Dec 1913 - by J. C. HERSHBERGER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - accidentally fell into the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal 
  near Cushwa's Basin, while walking on the towpath and drowned, 
  on or about 27 Nov 1913.
- L. W. KREPS, undertaker
- Dr. Theodore BOOSE
- Witnesses:  William CORBY, John ARDINGER, John TICE, Russell 
  CALAMAN, George LEAKE (colored).
[Book 14, 44-46] (Filed 13 Jul 1914, Judgment Liber 23, 257)


VENTORINO, Josia - at Hagerstown
- 10 Jan 1916 - by John ANKENEY, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Murdered by Antonio CODINO on 7 Jan 1916, being 
  stabbed in the right side of face and neck; he died instantly.
- Dr. W. B. MORRISON
- Witnesses:  Isaac D. LONG, Jose JACONA, Carlo LATINI, Nicole 
  DEBENIBETTO, Pirinte NAZARENI, Frank FRALIANNI (interpretor).
[Book 14, 65-67] (Filed 12 Jan 1916, Judgment Liber 23, 311)


YOUNG, Charles - at Indian Springs
- 24 Sep 1916 - by Leonard P. SNYDER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from injuries by being struck by an automobile driven 
  by Jesse E. CLEM.
- Dr. F. W. RICH - Victim suffered a depressed compound fracture 
  of the skull, crushing the brain substance with considerable 
  hemorrhaging; probably died within 20 minutes.  No other injuries 
  to other parts of the body; didn't indicate he was runover.
- Witnesses:  
...Paul AMBROSE of Berkeley Springs, WV - he and Charles were 
   riding on a motorcycle and about 6 pm stopped to get Charles' 
   hat, turned around 100 yards, came back and pulled on the 
   right side and Charles went in the road to pick up his hat. 
   We heard no car and didn't see it until it was 10 feet from 
   our motorcycle and didn't hear a horn until it hit him, 
   knocking him 20-25 feet and ran over him.
...Jesse E. CLEM of Hagerstown - stated he came around a turn 
   and noticed a motorcycle about 100 yards ahead, saw it turn 
   around and pull off of the road; saw man starting across 
   the road and blew his horn and slowed the car. As the car 
   got close to him, the victim stopped, startled like, and as 
   the car got about 10 feet from him, he stepped directly in 
   front of it.  He slowed the car to the right to miss him, 
   but struck him on the fender and light.  The car ran about 
   two lengths after hitting him.  He stopped the car and went 
   back and found blood rushing from his head and nose.  We 
   telephoned for the doctor.  Car was running about 15 miles 
   an hour.
...Lyme E. FULL, 408 Washington St, Hagerstown; passenger in car.
...John D. SPIELMAN - only saw the man get hit; didn't see the auto.
...Newton McALLISTER - He saw the auto hit him and knock him down; 
   didn't remember if the car blew its horn.
[Book 14, 85-94] (Filed 25 Sep 1916, Judgment Liber 23, 332)

 

The End of Book 14 of Washington Co, Maryland Inquisitions - 1914-1916