This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Author: KarinKing45
Surnames: Garner, Cox, Castell,
Classification: obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
Decatur Daily Democrat
Adams County, Indiana
Monday, Nov 30, 1914
VES GARNER FOUND DEAD
Body is Found in Stall in Horse Barn in Steele's Park on Sunday
INQUEST IS HELD
Witnesses Give Contradictory Evidence at Hearing This Afternoon
Sylvester Garner, a hay bailer and well known farmer, living on the Pat Kinney farm in
east Washington township, was found dead at about 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon in the
second stall of one of the horse barns on the north side of the driveway in Steele's
park. When found the dead man was lying in the corner of the stall, his face downward,
toward the north, and partly buried in the straw. Jacob Gause and Joe Baker found him.
Mr. Garner and his helper, Jacob Gause, left the Garner home at about 12 o'clock,
and when they arrived in this city they met Charlie France, who got into the buggy with
them, and drove to the park. Arriving at the park they went to the room of Joe Baker, in
one of the horse barns. Gause and France then came back to the city, later returning to
the park, and later on meeting Baker, they went to the horse barn, where Garner had turned
in, and found him laying in the stall dead. One of the men immediately ran to the George
Zimmerman home, where they telephoned to Coroner D. D. Clark, he arriving a few minutes
later and after pronouncing the man dead, the undertaker was sent for and the dead man was
removed to the Yager Bros & Reinking morgue, where the body now lies.
At the coroner's inquest which was held this afternoon at 12:30 o'clock, in the
office of Sheriff Durkin, the testimony of the men sworn in as witnesses, did not
corroborate. Each one had a different story to tell. Some denied the fact stated, while
others had an entirely different story to tell. After the testinomy of Jacob Gause, Joe
Baker, Joe Coffee and Roy McClure had been given, it was found that the story of Gause,
and Baker and that of McClure's were contrary. The men were put through the strictest
kind of an examination and the further the case went, the more the evidence given was
contradicted. It was finally decided by Coroner Clark that the case be postponed until
tomorrow at 9 o'clock. A postmortem will likely be held this afternoon. Prosecutor
Parrish assisted Coroner Clark at the inquest.
According to the story of Gause, when he and Garner arrived at the park they went to
Joe Baker's room in the horse barn, near the one in which Garner was found, and while
sitting around they had a number of drinks. Another witness, Mr. McClcure, stated that
Garner was so drunk that they had to assist him to the barn and that they put him in the
stall where he died. Baker denied giving any one liquor. Gause also stated that Garner
did not get home until 6 o'clock Sunday morning, and that he was partly drunk then,
having been on a little 'bender' Saturday night. It is the opinion that Garner
was drunk at the time he died. When the dead body was searched, a half-pint bottle,
partly empty, was in his pocket.
The deceased was forty-two years, five months and twenty-four days old. He was born in
Windfall, Tipton county, Ohio, and came to Decatur a number of years ago. He is survived
by a wife and ten children. They are: Mrs. L. Cox, of Chicago, Mary Garner of this
city, Mrs. Carl Castell, living east of the city, and the following children at home:
Laura, Arthur, Paul, Sylvester, Edna, Agnes and Joe, the baby.
Important Note:
The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply
to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.