Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1912 — Verdict of Accidental Death Likely to Be Rendered. [ARTICLE]

Verdict of Accidental Death Likely to Be Rendered.

Coroner Wright has changed his mind considerably about the tragic death of George Newman, who died from a revolver dhot early Sunday morning, and his verdict will be accidental death. First indications, he thought, pointed unmistakably to suicide, but there was no known motive nor nothing in his actions the night of the shooting to bear out this theory except his unusual precaution, to close the door to his room tightly, pull the windows and shades down. He had bought a new pair of overalls that, night and had hared a jig to drive out in the country next day. Relatives and friends assert that he was in the habit of “fooling” with the revolver a great deal, and it may have been that it was accidently discharged while he was handling it. At any rate, unless some other evidence to the contrary is found, the coroner will giv* the dead man the benefit of the doubt and render a verdict of accidental iath.