OBIT: James McKENZIE, 1919, Altoona, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ "Sorry It Happened," Says Youth Held for Death of M'Kenzie. "I'm sorry it happened. I can't stop thinking about Jim," said Elmer R. Shimer, aged 18, the Pittsburg division brakeman, residing at 2100 Fourteenth avenue, and detained at city prison for the death of James McKenzie, aged 19, of 1521 Eighteenth street, who died after a fist fight Saturday afternoon. Shimer, outwardly calm and apparently undisturbed when arrested and locked up at 3 p.m., was visibly affected Saturday night and yesterday. He has been sleepless and frequently inquired if McKenzie was dead, stating he was hoping the dead youth "would come to." City Detective W. A. Davis preferred a formal charge against Shimer before Alderman Theodore Crawford, Fifth ward, Saturday evening, alleging that Shimer "did strike James McKenzie, who died from the effects of the blow." The prisoner will be arraigned before the alderman tomorrow. GIRL IN CASE Police have learned that the trouble between Shimer and McKenzie had been brewing for several months and that a young woman was the original cause of the affair. McKenzie was engaged to wed Miss Martha Richards, a cousin of the prisoner, and at whose home he resided, but she is not the source of the difficulty. "Jim gave me the name of a girl to call on the 'phone about two months ago," explained Shimer to newspapermen, in his cell last night. "Don't ask me what it was. I can't remember it. I talked to her and she asked me who it was and I said, 'This is Jim McKenzie.' She told Jim about it and he got sore, saying I had no business to use his name instead of mine. We didn't agree about it and had words. We had scraps off and on ever since." Asked if he objected to McKenzie paying attention to his cousin, and if he himself had ever quarreled with Miss Richards about McKenzie, Shimer declared: "She and I often had little scraps and she threatened to hit me with an iron once, but was more in fun than anything else. I told her I'd slap her mouth one time, and she said she'd get a policeman quick and have me put out. I think she told Jim about that. But we never had any trouble about her." NO RELIGIOUS BIAS. Reporters inquired whether Shimer had any objections to McKenzie as a Catholic. "No sir," they were assured, "we never had no trouble about religion. Why, I go with a Catholic girl myself. I talked with him once about Protestants going to Catholic churches and not knowing how to keep quiet and laughing. He showed me his testament and I said we go to his church some time." "I was at the house, (meaning the Richards home) last Wednesday evening when Jim was there to see Martha. He got hold of me and pulled me out to the porch and wanted me to fight then. I told him to wait until Saturday, and unless he'd be working or out of town, we'd settle it and see who was the best man. He said he'd call me up and that I could bet he'd be in town. "He didn't call me at all on Saturday, but after dinner I called him up and told him where to meet me. He answered he'd be there. Another fellow and I went to the place. Jim and five or six fellows come along soon after. He threw off his coat and went after me. His first punch hit me in the mouth. "I don't remember where I hit him. Yes, I believe his nose was bloody. We were on the ground and then got up, but kept hold of each other. He said, 'I got enough' and then fell over. All I remember is the punches some of the other fellows gave me. One of them pulled a gun. No, I won't say which one. I only know his last name. Then I ran to call a doctor," finished the youth. POLICE REACH SCENE. Police were notified that a fight was being staged at Sixteenth avenue and Twenty-first street, shortly before 3 o'clock. The patrol and Detective Davis, accompanied by Sergeants Shiplett and Ickes were sent there. McKenzie was found unconscious, with his comrades about him. He was lifted into the patrol. Sergeant Shiplett went to the Richards' residence to locate Shimer. He found the youth, who made no resistance and asked permission to get his coat in the house. He submitted and went with the sergeant to the patrol. Shimer was taken from the vehicle at city hall and McKenzie was hurried to Altoona hospital. He died as the institution grounds were entered. Shimer made a formal statement of the affair to Chief of Police J. N. Tillard, in the presence of police attaches. The substance of it is cited in his remarks previously given. The youth was at first boastful but his mood altered when told McKenzie was dead. NO MARKS ON BODY. McKenzie's body remained at the hospital morgue until 5 o'clock when it was viewed by Deputy Coroner C. T. Rothrock. That official has decided to conduct an inquest tomorrow evening at the Stevens' mortuary. Six witnesses have been obtained thus far. No marks were found on the corpse, save the trace of where blood trickled from the nose. A post mortem examination was made yesterday and the results will be brought out at the formal probe. No authority could be found for the statement that McKenzie had a weak heart and that the excitement superinduced a strain which proved fatal. A brother of the dead youth says he was always in good health and was never known to have any heart trouble. The statement was likewise made that one of the blows delivered by Shimer landed behind McKenzie's left ear, and came with sufficient force to stun the victim. Names of five youths were obtained by police, as witnesses of the fistic encounter. They are L. J. and Paul McCabe, 1527 Twenty-second avenue; Joseph Cornelius, 2016 Eleventh avenue; Harland McKenzie, the victim's brother and Budd Heim, 2014 Eighteenth avenue. PRISONER'S HANDS BRUISED. Shimer's shirt sleeves were torn when police apprehended him. His hands bore mute evidence of the battle, being slightly cut and lacerated. He is of medium height, strongly built and rather muscular. He admits having a temper, which is hard to control. Shimer is the son of Harvey Shimer, of Stormstown, Bedford county, and came to the city six months ago. He worked for J. B. Mann and later secured employment with the Pennsy. He served as a Pittsburg division brakeman for several months, and made his home with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Philip J. Richards, 2100 Fourteenth avenue, the former being employed by the city. The mother of the youth is ill at a Huntingdon hospital. Police were endeavoring to notify his father yesterday afternoon of the affair. Neither of the fighters had been drinking as was reported. Missionary Colporters and the Mennonite mission here sent representatives to see the prisoner yesterday afternoon. He had attended meetings at both missions. They chatted with him and his lone comment was about losing his temper and agreeing to fight with McKenzie. McKENZIE TO WED SOON. James McKenzie was the son of James H. and Elizabeth McKenzie, of 1521 Eighteenth street, and was born in this city, April 22nd, 1899. He was employed by the Pennsy as a yard fireman. He was a member of St. Leo's Catholic church, and the P.R.R. Relief association. The youth's parents survive, with four brothers and two sisters: Gerald V., Harold, and Joseph, all of this city; Ralph W., in United States naval quartermaster department; Dorothy and Mary, at home. Funeral services will be laid [sic] tomorrow morning at St. Leo's church, with mass at 9.30 o'clock. Burial in Calvary cemetery. McKenzie had been affianced to Miss Richards for some time, and his brother said they were to be wedded in June, although one of her brothers declared the wedding was to have taken place within the fortnight. Altoona Tribune, Monday Morning, March 24, 1919 VERDICT SAYS DEATH DUE TO HEART STRAIN No Evidence at Coroner's Inquest to Show Blows Killed James McKenzie DISTRIC ATTORNEY QUESTIONS The coroner's jury, sitting to inquire into the death of James McKenzie, who died following a fight with Elmer R. Shimer on Saturday afternoon, gave a verdict that death was due to "excess strain and dilation of the heart, and over-exertion." The principal witness at the inquest, which was conducted at the Stevens' mortuary by Deputy Coroner C. C. Rothrock, was Dr. Edwin B. Miller, who made the autopsy on the body. His testimony showed that the muscles of the "right heart" were flabby and to all appearance affected from a pre-existing disease. The other witnesses were L. S. McCabe, of 1527 Twenty-second avenue; Paul McCabe, of the same address; Bud Heim, of 2014 Eighteenth street, and Joseph Cornelius, of 2016 Eleventh avenue. These young men were spectators at the fight. Jury's Verdict. The jury sitting in the case was composed of J. C. Sell, foreman, and E. H. Friedly, G. S. Kling, R. S. McCury, Lee H. Russell, and M. L. Henry. Their verdict was: That James McKenzie came to his death by excess strain and dilation of the heart and over-exertion during a personal encounter with Elmer R. Shimer, in the City of Altoona, Blair county, Pennsylvania, on March 23, 1919, the evidence showing that said James McKenzie's heart was in a weakened condition as a result of some pre-existing disease." Spectators' Stories. The evidence of L. S. McCabe, one of McKenzie's friends, and first called, agreed even in detail with that of his brother, and the other two witnesses of the fight. According to his story, brought out by questions, both participants repaired to the scene, Sixteenth avenue and Twenty-first street, and by mutual consent, and without exchanging a word, faced each other. McKenzie made the first pass, although all the witnesses expressed doubt as whether he actually hit Shimer. A clinch followed and in rolling about on the ground, Shim said: "Do you want up?" "Never mind about me," McKenzie is alleged to have answered. When they separated and rose a number of blows were struck and Shimer struck McKenzie a heavy blow on the side of the head about the ear. He appeared dazed, sank to his knees, saying, "I'm done," and then collapsed on the ground. He was unable to speak and lapsed into unconsciousness almost at once. Cornelius' Testimony. The McCabe brothers and Heim were friends of McKenzie, and had gone to the scene of the fight with him. Cornelius went with Shimer, intending to be a spectator and see fair play. While his testimony was materially the same as the other witnesses, he told of Shimer saying, on his way to the scene: "I don't know what the fight's about. I haven't got any grudge." Cornelius also told of a small boy, whom he thought was McKenzie's brother, kicking at Shimer when the two were down, and trying to assist McKenzie. The first McCabe brother to testify, and Heim, on being questioned, said the fighters were not evenly matched, as Shimer "had about twenty or twenty-five pounds on McKenzie." All of McKenzie's friends said he was reticent to talk about the fight and cause for it when they were walking to the scene. District Attorney Marion D. Patterson was present and questioned the witnesses, seeking to bring out evidence to show whether or not there was anger manifested and as to how the pre-arranged part of the fight had been worked out. Doctor's Testimony. The testimony of Dr. Miller, who made the autopsy, was to the effect that the right side of the heart was abnormally large and that the muscles were weak and flabby. He said the kidneys and spleen were also congested but that the only marks on the body was a slight amount of clotted blood about the nostrils. He said the manner in which McKenzie died, according to the evidence, coupled with the fact that the lips and --?-- were blue would indicate that death was caused by heart failure. Altoona Tribune, Wednesday Morning, March 26, 1919