William Stewart
July 2, 1885-April 29, 1933
Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI) Saturday, April 29, 1933, page 1, col. 5, and page 3, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library
WM. STEWART DIES WITH BROKEN JAW; CORONER'S PROBE ON
Pneumonia Death Cause, Says Doctor; Inquest Set Monday Morning
An investigation was under way today in the death of William “Bill” Stewart, former member of the Niles fire department, ex-boxer and for years a character in the city's community life.
Stewart died in Pawating hospital at 6:30 o'clock this morning. He was taken to the hospital at 4 o'clock last Sunday afternoon with a broken jaw following a fist fight with Charles Pinkerton, 32, police said.
Pneumonia was given as the official cause of death by Dr. R.B. Henderson, who attended Stewart.
CORONER APPEARS
Coroner Irving Talbott, of Benton Harbor, assisted by Policeman Carl Voelkers, started the investigation shortly after the body was taken from Pawating hospital to the Price & Kiger undertaking rooms.
An inquest is scheduled for 10 o'clock Monday morning at the undertaking rooms. A coroner's jury was impanneled[sic] this morning and was sworn in after viewing the body. The jury was ordered to report at the funeral home Monday morning. Members of the jury are Carl Brunk, Marshall Grathwohl, Jacob Bachman, William Burge, H.E. Price and Alderman Sheridan Cook.
Henderson was virtually . . . illegible. . summoned this morning from the operating room at the hospital, where he had just completed a major operation, the surgeon told Coroner Talbott and Officer Voelkers pneumonia alone was the cause of Stewart's death. “In his condition, pneumonia would have developed anyway,” Dr, Henderson expressed his opinion. Stewart was said to have been highly intoxicated at the time of the fight and was still in that condition when taken to the hospital.
The fight took place in the yard at Pinkerton's home, 414 ½ N. Third street, following a mushroom hunt. In the party were Stewart, Pinkerton and Thomas Larson, 214 Cass street. The trip was made in Carson's auto mobile. The fight, according to Pinkerton was started by Stewart after the party reached his home because Stewart was angered over protests made by Pinkerton against interference with Larson's driving.
“Stewart got out of the car and
(Continued on Page Three) shook his fist in my face, “ said Pinkerton, “asking me, what about this?”
“I'm out of the car now. There are the keys. Do as you please.”
“I want to kno[sic] about this, Stewart said and drew back his left fist. I was afraid of him, because he was known to be a tough customer when drinking. As he drew back his fist I struck him on the chin. He fell down but got up and came at me again. I struck again, He did not come back that time. Larson took him to the hospital, as he complained about his teeth.”
Stewart had lived apart from his family for several years. The widow, Mrs. Ida Stewart, resides in the city. A son, Carlisle, 16, and a married daughter, Opal, also survive.
Chief of Police George Francis today was trying to contact relatives at Rensselaer[sic], Ind., Stewart's former home.
Police records show Stewart had been arrested numerous times during the last several years, usually intoxication and disorderly charges, and that he had several times been sentenced to terms in the county jail.