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].

ANDREWS, Robert E. - at Hagerstown
- 21 Oct 1919 - by John H. BITNER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Accidental discharge of a gun falling from the hands of 
  William HENSON, on 18 Oct 1919.
- Dr. Peregrine WROTH, Dr. W.D. CAMPBELL
- Witnesses:  William HENSON, Thomas HENSON.
[Book 15, 88-90] (Filed 24 Oct 1919, Judgment Liber 23, 395)


BOWERS, Josie Ellen - at Hagerstown
- 19 Mar 1917 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from being struck by an automobile on 18 Mar 1917; owned 
  and driven by James P. LAMPRAKOPOULOS, an experienced driver.
- Dr. W. D. CAMPBELL
- Witnesses: William BARR, Ed M. TENNEY, Willliam SCHINDLER, H. T. 
  GEASLAN, Charles KNEISLEY, C. W. SNURR, John HOCK.
[Book 15, 6-8] (Filed 9 Apr 1917, Judgment Liber 23, 344)


BUFFINGTON, Samuel - at Sandy Hook
- 24 Apr 1919 - by O.M.C. YOUNKINS, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Struck by westbound train.
- Dr. W. B. MORRISON, Dr. C. Z. WINGERT
[Book 15, 72-73] (Filed 25 Apr 1919, Judgment Liber 23, 381)


BULLETT, Baker - at Hagerstown
- 27 Jul 1917 - by John H. BITNER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from being punched in the face by Charles FRENCH, colored;
  at 10 pm on 26 Jul 1917, SW of North Jonathan St in Hagerstown.
- Dr. W. B. MORRISON
- Witnesses: Samuel J. MILLER, Mary DAVIS, Elnora BEATTY, George SMITH, 
  Jennie LEWIS.
[Book 15, 9-16] (Filed 31 Jul 1917, Judgment Liber 23, 346)


EICHELBERGER, Grace - at Hagerstown
- 15 Aug 1918 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from injuries by being thrown from a motorcycle upon which 
  she and ___ THOMPSON were riding when it collided with an automobile
  near Huyetts Cross Roads on 13th of Aug 1918.
- Witnesses:  Harvey BREWER, Cole WHITTINGTON, Jacob ANDREWS, Edward 
  SCOTT, Harry DOUB, Nancy KLINE, M.G. RHODES, S.M. BROWN, M.C. GROVE, 
  Leslie SUMMERS.
[Book 15, 55-57] (Filed 20 Jan 1919, Judgment Liber 23, 371)


FORBES, Ted - at Hagerstown
- 21 & 23 Jun 1919 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Electrocuted by accidentally coming in contact with a high 
  tension wire while hanging a transformer on a pole for the Cumberland 
  Valley Railroad Company.
- Dr. E. A. WAREHAM
- Witnesses:  Tom REEDER, Willliam SENSEIMER, Daniel NAGLE, George 
  ALEXANDER, J.C. DULABON.
[Book 15, 83-85] (Filed 26 Jun 1919, Judgment Liber 23, 385)


FRIDINGER, George W. - at Hagerstown Hospital
- 26 & 27 Feb 1918 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from collision of trolley car and a ford automobile at 
  corner of Maryland Ave and South Blvd, about 11 am on 26 Feb 1918.
- Dr. W. B. MORRISON
- Witnesses:  H.C. WOLF, Isaac GROVE, Santo ARENA, Clarence DUB, 
  Clyde C. WACHTEL, E.L. BITTLE, Mrs McLUCAS, Albert BEYARD.
[Book 15, 32-38] (Filed 29 Mar 1918, Judgment Liber 23, 357)


GILES, Thomas - at Hagerstown 
- 30 Apr 1918 - by John H. BITNER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from a fractured skull; cause unknown.
- Dr. W. B. MORRISON, Dr. A. B. WILSON
- Witnesses: Virgie KEETS, Emma KEETS, Daniel WASHINGTON, Robert 
  STEVENS, Samuel STARLIPER, C.D. TURNER.
[Book 15, 48-50] (Filed 1 May 1918, Judgment Liber 23, 360)


GOOD, William - at Hagerstown
- 3 Feb 1919 - by John H. BITNER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from natural unknown causes; was in the Washington 
  County Jail.
- Dr. W. B. MORRISON, Dr. C. Z. WINGERT
- Witnesses:  Lester BAKER, Frank WILLIAMS, H.T. FRUSH, Frank BROWN, 
  Howard S. BROWN, Alonza WARD.
[Book 15, 69-71] (Filed 5 Feb 1919, Judgment Liber 23, 373)


HARTLE, Clarence - at Hagerstown Hospital
- 22 & 23 Jun 1919 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - He was riding a motorcycle at excessive speed and collided 
  with a automobile operated by D.S. SEIBERT; cause ruled as reckless 
  driving by the motorcycle.
- Dr. Peregrin WROTH
- Witnesses:  Thomas M. BRAGUNIER, Elizabeth BRAGUNIER, Daniel S. 
  SEIBERT, Mary E. SEIBERT, Helen B. HULL.
[Book 15, 80-82] (Filed 24 Jun 1919, Judgment Liber 23, 384)


HOSE, Nettie (Mrs) - at Hagerstown
- 7 Nov 1919 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Murdered by George KAUFFMAN.
- Dr. D.A. WATKINS
- Witnesses:  John H. BITNER, Bruce S. ZELLER, John W. CABLE, 
  Thomas H. BARBER, Charles E. SUTER, 
[Book 15, 91-93] (Filed 21 Nov 1919, Judgment Liber 23, 400)


JONES, Harriett - at Hagerstown
- 10 Jul 1917 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from strangulation on 7 Jul 1917; cause/details unknown.
- Dr. W. B. MORRISON
- Witnesses: William EARLY, Laura THOMAS, Reva THOMAS, Charley TENNEY, 
  Bertha WILLIAMS, Calvin BAUGHMAN, John W. BROWN, Frank WILLIAMS, 
  George W. FRIDINGER, Albert CRAMPTON.
[Book 15, 17-24] (Filed 22 Aug 1917, Judgment Liber 23, 347)


MALOTTE, Early - at Williamsport
- 18 Oct 1918 - by David M. TICE Sr, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Indications he was struck by a Hagerstown & Frederick 
  Railway Company car at Snyder's Stop on the 17th of Oct, but 
  unable to validate it was the cause. 
[Book 15, 51-52] (Filed 19 Oct 1918, Judgment Liber 23, 365)


MAXWELL, Beulah - near Hancock
- 29 Sep 1919 - by Leonard P. SNYDER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Automobile accident, unavoidable, with machine driven 
  by Frederick COYSTON on 28 Sep 1919.
[Book 15, 86-87] (Filed 3 Oct 1919, Judgment Liber 23, 395)


MINER, Edward Earl - near Keedysville
- 9 Jan 1919 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - fell from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Bridge, some 
  90 feet, and landed on the bank of the Antietam Creek; injuries 
  caused his death, on 8 Jan 1919.
- Dr. G. H. LONG
- Witnesses:  Charles E. RICKETT, Howard F. DRURY.
[Book 15, 63-68] (Filed 20 Jan 1919, Judgment Liber 23, 372)


MITCHELL, Carrie (Mrs) - at Hagerstown
- 15 Jun 1919 - by John H. BITNER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - She was in an automobile hit by a trolley car of the
  Hagerstown & Frederick Railway Co on 15 Jun 1919 at Funkstown; 
  she died from injuries.  Trolley company found to be negligent.
- Dr. Warren MILLER, Dr. J. Davis REICHARD
- Witnesses:  J.F.T. HARSHMAN, John WHITMORE, E. WAUGH, Herbert OSBORN, 
  Jefferson DAVIS, E.P. EYLER, Lewis SAGER, Fred BLENNARD, J.R. HOOK, 
  Violet HEMPHILL, Pearl RUDICELL, John HARVEY, E. L. THOMPSON, David 
  WILLIAMS, C.D. REESE, Mrs. J.C. WEISNER, Mrs. Harry FINBROCK.
[Book 15, 74-79] (Filed 17 Jun 1919, Judgment Liber 23, 383)


MONTGOMERY, Solomon J. - near Rohrersville
- 13 Feb 1918 - by David H. SNIVELY, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - struck by train #75, west bound, 1 mile from Rohrersville 
  Station, branch of B & O Rail Road. 
  There was a curve and the engineman couldn't see him; decedent was 
  also deaf and couldn't hear the noise of the train.
- Dr. H. H. SUMMERS, Keedysville
[Book 15, 28-29] (Filed 20 Feb 1918, Judgment Liber 23, 357)


MOORE, Thomas Boteler - near Weverton
- 7 Aug 1918 - by O. M. C. YOUNKINS, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - struck by engine #852 near Stonebraker's Station, and died 
  from a fractured skull. 
[Book 15, 30-31] (Filed 9 Aug 1918, Judgment Liber 23, 362)


PLEASANT, Joseph - at Hagerstown
- 16 Jan 1919 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from being struck by an automobile, driven by Martin L. 
  SMITH; determined to be unavoidable accident.
- Dr. E.A. WAREHAM
- Witnesses:  Harry TURNER, Bert HANBY, Edward ROBINSON, Bernard 
  MITCHELL, Homer ANDREWS, Harold HUTSON, Guy UHLER, Frederick 
  FOUCHE, Martin SMITH, T.E. SEIBERT.
[Book 15, 58-62] (Filed 20 Jan 1919, Judgment Liber 23, 372)


SHRINER, Clarence - at Hagerstown 
- 24 Apr 1918 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from electrocution caused by a wire of Cumberland Valley 
  Telephone Company coming in contact with a high tension wire of 
  the Municipal Electric Light Plant, due to excessive slack in wire 
  of the telephone company.
- Dr. W. B. MORRISON
- Witnesses:  Norman HALLER, Elmer E. DYER, M.S. HEARN, Fred SHILLING, 
  T.H. BARBER, Charles HARRIS, A.B. GRUBMYER.
[Book 15, 44-47] (Filed 25 Apr 1918, Judgment Liber 23, 359)


SLICK, Emma and Ferrell F. SLICK - at Hagerstown Hospital
- 1 Mar 1918 - by Howard P. HARTMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from asphyxiation from gas escaping from an opening in pipe 
  from the meter.
  Determined Hagerstown Light and Heat Company should have closed the 
  opening when the meter was installed on 29 Jan 1918.  At that time, 
  there was no flow of gas due the pipe being frozen.
- Witnesses:  J.W. STONES, Mrs A.J. HOOVER, A.J. HOOVER, Benjamin F. 
  GIFT, Frank W. WILLIAMS, R. C. SAYLOR, Mrs Guy MILLER, J.S. LILLIARD, 
  Guy MILLER.
[Book 15, 39-43] (Filed 29 Mar 1918, Judgment Liber 23, 358)


SPRINGER, Carl - at Hagerstown
- 4 Apr 1917 - by John H. BITNER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from automobile, driven by C. E. MILLER; declared unavoidable.
- Dr. C. R. SCHELLER
- Witnesses: Carl WOLF, Pearl CROMER, Ernest SHERRY, Max SCHINDLER, 
  Louise CROMER, Margaret GRIFFITH, C. E. MILLER.
[Book 15, 1-5] (Filed 6 Apr 1917, Judgment Liber 23, 343)


WADE, T. Walter - at Hagerstown
- 19 Jan 1918 - by John H. BITNER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - killed by Max A. BOYER; shot in left shoulder and left side. 
- Dr. W. B. MORRISON, Dr. E. A. WAREHAM
- Witnesses: Mrs Nellie BOYER, Miss Helen DUNN, Jacob SALES, Thomas 
  BARBER, Albert CRAMPTON, Samuel STARLIPER.
[Book 15, 25-27] (Filed 22 Jan 1918, Judgment Liber 23, 356)


ZIMMERMAN, Jessie - at Antietam Iron Works
- 21 Sep 1918 - by William F. BLACKFORD, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from a broken neck. On night of Sep 20 or early morning 
  of Sep 21, he accidentally fell upon a rough and steep pathway 
  at Antietam Iron Works and broke his neck, causing his death.
- Dr. S. Howell GARDNER
[Book 15, 53-54] (Filed 22 Oct 1918, Judgment Liber 23, 366)

 

The End of Book 15 of Washington Co, Maryland Inquisitions - 1917-1919