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 24].

BAKER, Charles A., age 68 - at Sandy Hook
- 17 Jun 1938 - by C. Edward HEARD, J.P., acting coroner
- Body found lying in shallow water in the C & O Canal, about 
  one mile north of Harpers Ferry on 16 Jun 1938.
- Death - from unknown reason and believed he was placed in 
  the position found by person/person unknown.
[Book 19, 28-30] (Filed 8 Jul 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 260)


BARNES, Archibald - at Hagerstown
- 17 May 1938 - by John D. DUNN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - as result of an unavoidable accident.
[Book 19, 19-21] (Filed 18 May 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 258)


BECK, Laura - at Hagerstown
- 25 Mar 1938 - by John D. DUNN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - struck by automobile, driven by R.S. BREITWEISER 
  at Hagerstown on 19 Mar 1938; died by 24 Mar 1938; deemed 
  unavoidable accident.
[Book 19, 16-18] (Filed 29 Mar 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 256)


BOWERS, Frances E. - at Williamsport
- 16 Aug 1938 - by C. Edward HEARD, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from shot gun wounds received while gun was carelessly 
  handled by Mrs. Susan M. BOWERS at Pinesburg, MD.
- Dr. R.V. HAUVER
- Witnesses:  Samuel H. DUKES, Charles BRECKER, Pet SIMINWICZ, 
  Clarence BAKER, Kenneth STANGLE, L.R. ISANOGLE, Mrs. William 
  BOWERS.
[Book 19, 37-39] (Filed 20 Aug 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 266)


BROWN, Mary Estelle - at Hagerstown
- 27 Jan 1938 - by Walter B. SLEASMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from natural causes on 25 Jan 1938; found in bed 
  at her home in Smithsburg.
- Dr. G.A. KOHLER
[Book 19, 10-12] (Filed 3 Feb 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 252)


COLLINS, Eugene John - at Hagerstown
- 18 Jan 1938 - by John D. DUNN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from negligence of Walter Alfred COSENS, driver of 
  the car in which COLLINS was a passenger on 12 Jan 1938.
- Dr. R.B. NORMENT
- Witnesses:  Charles SHILLING, Albertas SHIPLEY, Richard HENSON.
[Book 19, 7-9] (Filed 19 Jan 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 251)


DAYHOFF, Benjamin - at Hagerstown
(Age 63; died at Washington County Hospital on 11 May 1939)
-  13 May 1939 - by Harry E. SNYDER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from automobile accident on 9 May 1939, on West 
  Washington St in Hagerstown; driver was Walter SYLCOX; 
  deemed unavoidable accident.
- Witnesses:  Mrs. Pearl KNODLE, Lewis KNODLE, Kelly REED, 
  R.F. LEWIS, Fred HOLDEN, F.E. WELCH, Walter SYLCOX, 
  W.H. PETERS.
[Book 19, 87-92] (Filed 17 May 1939, Judgment Liber 24, 294)


DELAUTER, Lawson Clayton - at Hagerstown
- 14 Mar 1939 - by C. Edward HEARD, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from gun shot wounds inflicted by Charles E. SWEIGERT 
  on 13 Mar 1939 in Hagerstown; found to be unlawful.
- Dr. Jack BEACHLEY
- Witnesses:  Mrs. HARTLE, Mr. RIDENOUR, Leslie HIBBETS, 
  George AUSHERMAN, Mrs. Harry HUDSON, Earle DELAUTER.
[Book 19, 77-79] (Filed 16 Mar 1939, Judgment Liber 24, 292)


DRAKE, Jesse J. - at Williamsport
(Age 55; 160 lbs, 67" ht; dark brown hair with gray at temples, 
  bald vault; blue eyes; tattoo at inner surface of right lower 
  are  of girl wearing short trousers and a blouse)
- 11 Feb 1939 - by John D. DUNN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Died from injuries to head, broken ribs, legs and back 
  with severed spinal cord and multiple internal injuries on 10 
  Feb 1939; declared unavoidable accident.
- Dr. J. Walter LAYMAN, Dr. Kurt E. LANDE (full autopsy report)
- Witnesses:  John DRAKE (son of Jesse), W.A. SELLMAN, William C. 
  McKEE & wife, Carl B. HOOK, Dep. BENDER, LT. CHAPMAN, Officer  
  LEWIS, Carl McCAULEY, Donald RUDISILL.
[Book 19, 68-76] (Filed 13 Feb 1939, Judgment Liber 24, 291)


GORDON, Gary - at Boonsboro
-  15 May 1939 - by Elmer G. MILLER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from being struck by an automobile at Gapland; 
  car driven by Noah MULLENDORE on 12 May 1939; deemed 
  unavoidable accident.
- Witnesses:  Mrs. Catherine KAETZEL, B.H. MOSS & wife, 
  Vernon GORDON, Noah MULLENDORE, Virginia CROWL.
[Book 19, 93-95] (Filed 19 May 1939, Judgment Liber 24, 295)


HAMBURG, Ralph - at Hagerstown
- 20 Oct 1938 - by John D. DUNN, J.P., acting coroner
- Died from accident from roof of the Maryland Theatre through 
  faulty construction of hoist at top of building.
- Dr. LANDE
- Witnesses:  Lewis MULLINIX Jr, L.G. COST, Wilson O'CONNELL, 
  Robert ELLIOTT, C.B. McCUNE.
[Book 19, 54-56] (Filed 25 Oct 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 278)


HINEBAUGH, Lebland - at Williamsport
- 18 Sep 1938 - by Harry L. HARSH, J.P., acting coroner
- Died from an unavoidable accident which occurred on Friday 
  evening, 16 Sep 1938.
[Book 19, 46-47] (Filed 3 Oct 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 275)


JACKSON, Howard - at Hagerstown Hospital
- 23 May 1938 - by John D. DUNN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - as result of an unavoidable accident on 21 May 1938.
- Witnesses:  Raymond YOUNG, Maurice MUSSER.
[Book 19, 22-24] (Filed 25 May 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 259)


LAVELLE, Nora, Mrs - at Hagerstown
- 2 Aug 1938 - by C. Edward HEARD, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from being struck by an automobile, driven by John HULL, 
  on Route 40 near 'Yellow House', between Benevola and Boonsboro, 
  about 11 pm on 1 Aug 1938; deemed unavoidable accident.
- Witnesses:  Mrs. John WILHIDE, Betty WILHIDE, Charles SCUFFINS.
[Book 19, 31-33] (Filed 3 Aug 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 264)


LEATHERMAN, Lawrence L. - near Leitersburg
- 11 Oct 1938 - by John D. DUNN, J.P., acting coroner
- Died 8 Oct 1938, about 4:15 pm, on the bridge crossing Antietam 
  Creek, on road between Leitersburg and Greencastle, from being 
  run over by a truck driven by Frank S. LOWMAN; deemed unavoidable 
  accident.
- Dr. Walter H. WISHARD
- Witnesses:  Ernest KNOTT, John KNOTT, Charles MYERS, Harry MARTIN, 
  Russell SHAFER, Lawrence NEAL, Mrs. Cora BROWN, Miss Esther BROWN, 
  John D. WALLACE.
[Book 19, 48-50] (Filed 13 Oct 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 276)


LEITZ, LOUIE - at Hagerstown
- 12 Oct 1938 - by John D. DUNN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death from unavoidable accident on 8 Oct 1938.
- Dr. HAUVER
- Witnesses:  Eugene BUTTS, Mr. BRILL, Mr STARTZMAN, Roy 
  HAMMOND, Gordon OROMPBERG, J.W. JUDY.
[Book 19, 51-53] (Filed 20 Oct 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 277)


MERRILL, James W. - at Boonsboro
(Age about 20; died about 11:15 pm on 29 May 1939 at Washington 
 County Hospital)
-  31 May 1939 - by Martin V.B. BOSTETTER, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from being struck by an automobile; car driven by 
  Charles A. WIGAL on 29 May 1939; deemed unavoidable accident.
- Witnesses:  R.F. LEWIS, William E. BAKER, Ofc. MILLER, Gene 
  McNABE, I.C. SPONSETTER, Mrs. James NORRIS, G.H. STRONG, 
  C.A. WIGAL.
[Book 19, 96-99] (Filed 5 Jun 1939, Judgment Liber 24, 297)


MILLER, Earl - at Smithsburg
- 26 Sep 1938 - by Walter B. SLEASMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Died from injuries after being struck by an automobile driven 
  by Fred KLINE on road in Cavetown on 19 Sep 1938; deemed 
  unavoidable accident.
- Dr. BENDER
- Witnesses:  Cora GARVER, James SHROYER, George GARDNER, Mrs. 
  John MILLER, Richard WELTY, Frank TRACEY, Peter TRACEY, Clifford 
  TRACEY, Howard KLINE, L.R. ISANOGLE.
[Book 19, 42-45] (Filed 1 Oct 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 274)


MILLER, Earl - at Hagerstown (2nd entry)
- 19 Sep 1938 - by Walter B. SLEASMAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Struck by automobile driven by Fred KLINE in Cavetown; 
  deemed unavoidable accident.
- Dr. BENDER
- Witnesses:  Cora GARVER, James SHROYER, George GARDNER, 
  Mrs. John MILLER, Richard WELTY, Frank TRACEY, Peter TRACEY, 
  Clifford TRACEY, Howard KLINE, L.R. ISNOGLE.
[Book 19, 60-61] (Filed 2 Nov 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 284)


MYERS, Fred T. - at Hagerstown
- 3 Mar 1938 - by C. Edward HEARD, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - struck by motor vehicle, driven by Donald William ROHRER 
  at 117 E. Lee St in Hagerstown on 2 Mar 1938; was taken to the 
  hospital and died 3 Mar 1938; deemed unavoidable accident.
- Dr. BELL
- Witnesses:  Dorris ROHRER, Vivian ROHRER, Pauline DOMER, Charles 
  BENDER, Eugene RUDISILL, Lee MARTZ, Catherine WAGNER, Mrs. WAGNER, 
  Wilbur STOUFFER, S.Warren LANE, L.W. BROOM, F.E. WELCH. 
[Book 19, 13-15] (Filed 10 Mar 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 253)


MYERS, Sarah Louise, Miss - at Hagerstown
(of Clearspring; age 65/76; 110 lbs, 55 1/2" ht; long gray hair, 
 brown eyes)
- 31 Mar 1939 - by John D. DUNN, J.P., acting coroner
- Cause of Death - Multiple traumatic injuries with concussion 
  hemorrhage, fractures of the lumbar spine and broken right leg; 
  beginning peritonitis and bronchopneumonia; died 21 March 1939; 
  deemed unavoidable accident.
- Dr. BREWER, Dr. HAUVER, Dr. Kurt E. LANDE (full autopsy report)
- Witnesses:  Mrs. Mary M. BELL (sister of Sarah); Raymond FOSTER, 
  Calvin SHIRLEY.
[Book 19, 80-86] (Filed 4 Apr 1939, Judgment Liber 24, 293)


POWERS, Mabel Virginia, Mrs - at Hagerstown
- 10 Jan 1938 - by C. Edward HEARD, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Came to her death on 5 Jan 1938 at Route 40, Conococheague 
  while riding in a car with her husband who was driving; death 
  from his misjudgment, resulting in her accidental death.
- Witnesses:  J.A. WHITE, L.R. ISANOGLE, Wilbur KEFAUVER, John 
  F. SHUMAN Jr, Edith MASON, Russell S. BREITWEISER.
[Book 19, 1-3] (Filed 11 Jan 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 249)


RAYSKI, James Vincent - at Sharpsburg
- 17 Jan 1939 - by J. Fred MOSE, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Died from injuries received in an automobile accident 
  on 15 Jan 1939; Otho BENDER is exonerated from blame.
- Witnesses:  Vicent RAYSKI, Charles STUMP, Mary RAYSKI, John 
  CALAHAN, H.E. CARNAHAN, B.C. BENDER.
[Book 19, 65-67] (Filed 7 Feb 1939, Judgment Liber 24, 290)


REYNOLDS, Mary - at Clearspring
- 12 Nov 1938 - by Charles E. HENSON, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Died from injuries received in an automobile accident 
  occurring at 1:30 am on 12 Nov 1938, on Route 40, 1.25 miles 
  west of Clearspring; car was driven by Ray COFFMAN; caused 
  by negligence on part of driver.
- Dr. David BREWER
- Witnesses:  Mrs. Tom MILLS, John MILLS, Roy MILLS, Charles 
  STALEY & wife, Paul E. POWERS, Ray H. HOFFMAN, Corp. 
  DILLINGER.
[Book 19, 62-64] (Filed 13 Dec 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 289)


ROHRER, John T. - at Hagerstown
- 3 Aug 1938 - by C. Edward HEARD, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - He was riding on the right running board oa a passenger 
  automobile driven by Walter BOWERS who swerved his car to avoid 
  striking an approaching truck on Walnut Lane from the south, near 
  S. Prospect St in Hagerstown, at which time John ROHRER was struck 
  by a pole at side of road and received a fractured skull; occurred 
  on 3 Aug 1938.  
  It was determined the negligent act of Walter BOWERS, in permitting 
  John ROHRER to ride on the running board, contributed to the fatal 
  accident.
- Dr. Phillip J. HIRSHMAN
- Witnesses:  Preston COOK, Marshall WINTERS, Bill PARLETT, Lewis 
  BARRETT, Gardner BOWERS, Fred HOLDEN, James RAY.
[Book 19, 34-36] (Filed 4 Aug 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 265)


SCHROYER, Thomas - at Middletown, Frederick County
- 8 Jul 1938 - by C. Edward HEARD, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - was run over by a trolley car driven my Motorman CULLER 
  of the H & F. Railway Company on 4 July 1938 about 4:25 pm at 
  McCauleys Lane between Funkstown and Beaver Creek.  He died from 
  the injuries on 5 July 1938 about 2:30 am.  Deemed unavoidable.
- Dr. Victor MILLER
- Witnesses:  Irene ROUTZAN, Corine GROSSNICKLE, Mrs. Jacob S. DICK, 
  Hugh CULLER, J.S. McCAULEY, Mrs. C.G. ECCARD, L.R. ISANOGLE, 
  Raymond GROSSNICKLE.
[Book 19, 25-27] (Filed 9 Jul 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 260)


SMITH, William H. - at Boonsboro
- 3 Sep 1938 - by Oscar J. MORGAN, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - from being struck by a car driven by Bruce KESSLER on 
  2 Sep 1938, about 8:30 pm, on road from Boonsboro to Mapleville.
[Book 19, 40-41] (Filed 7 Sep 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 267)


STUMBAUGH, Marvin E. - at Hagerstown
 - age 18, Avon Road, Hagerstown
- 11 Oct 1938 - by C. Edward HEARD, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - Killed in auto accident in a car driven by Elmer SMITH 
  on the Middleburg Pike on 10 Oct 1938.  Jury believed both cars 
  were driven recklessly and drivers had exceeded the speed limit 
  and recommended the suspension of the dirver's licenses of all 
  parties concerned.
- Witnesses:  Elmer R. SMITH, Lewis F. TURNER, John C. MOORE, 
  William H. TWIGG, Charles THOMAS, Raymond KLINE, Robert EBBERT.
[Book 19, 57-59] (Filed 9 Nov 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 282)


VERNA, Anticeto - at Hagerstown
- 8 Jan 1938 - by C. Edward HEARD, J.P., acting coroner
- Death - by being struck by an automobile driven by John L. DAVIES; 
  deemed unavoidable.
- Witnesses:  John LISKEY, Frank BOGER, James COOK.
[Book 19, 4-6] (Filed 18 Jan 1938, Judgment Liber 24, 250)

 

The End of Book 19 of Washington Co, Maryland Inquisitions - 1938-1939