To: KYF
Subject: Meredith.Gus.1929.Edmonson.OBIT



Gus Meredith June 1929
Edmonson County KyArchives Obituaries

The Edmonson County News - June 6, 1929
Foul Play Suspected in Meredith Death
Body of Gus Meredith Found in Shallow Pool; Accidental Is Coroner's Verdict

That foul play and not accidental drowning was the cause of the death of Gus Meredith, 16-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Green Meredith of Straw, is the belief of the boy's parents and partially corroborated by a check up of the evidence started by County Attorney Whittle and was being continued today (Thursday). This investigation was started after a coroner's jury empanelled Monday returned a verdict of accidental drowning. Discrepancies in the statements of young Meredith's companions in a drinking party Sunday caused the new investigation, which may result in warrants being issued.

The lifeless body of the Meredith boy was found Monday morning in a shallow pool of water in Dog Creek a short distance below a water mill operated by Willis Meredith. The head and shoulders of the boy were above the water and there was no bloating of the body and little other indications that he had drowned. Then, in preparing the body for burial it was found that blood had oozed from a slight wound at the base of the skull and a physician, who examined the body, is said to have declared that the boy's neck was broken.

According to the story told by two Childress boys and another lad named Homer Sanders, they, with Meredith, attended church in Hart County Sunday. They bought some whisky in Hart County and when they were returning home Gus became so intoxicated that he could not walk and was left lying under a tree near the creek where his body was found. When the boy did not return home Monday morning, his mother started an investigation which resulted in the discovery of the body partially submerged in a shallow pool of water, his head and shoulders being above the water, but it is believed that the opening of the gates of the dam at the water mill above may have caused the body to be washed to the position where it was found.

When notified that the body had been found, Judge Houchin and Sheriff Vincent went to the scene and conducted an inquest. The jury composed of Will Page, J. 
T. Buster, Ila Pierce, Trentan Waddell, W. E. Trulock and Emmett Rigdon, returned a verdict of accidental drowning.

Murdered, Says Dr. Wood
Dr. Wood, in an interview with a News representative Thursday morning, expressed the unequivocal opinion that Meredith was killed before his body was placed in the creek. Dr. Wood said that a blow on the head heavy enough to dislocate the neck would have caused instant death and that the body would have fallen head first and would not have been found in almost sitting posture. The gravel in Meredith's hands was also placed there after death. Dr. 
Wood said, as the muscles relax when the neck is broken causing instant death. 
These thing also convince Dr. Wood that Meredith's death could not have been caused by a fall. The wound on the head was made by a smooth instrument and was delivered with great force, the doctor said.

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The fact that air but no water was found in Meredith's lungs was also proof to Dr. Wood that he did not die in the water, the doctor said that had he fallen in the water he would have inhaled one dying breath and in doing so some water would have been drawn into the lungs.

History of the Case
The lifeless body of Meredith, who was 16 years old, was found in Dog Creek Monday morning, June 3. It was in a shallow pool of water, the deepest part being less than 18 inches. The boy's head and one hand were above the water but at the conclusion of an inquest conducted by Judge Houchin, the jury, composed of Will Page, J. T. Buster, Ila Pierce, Trenton Waddell, W. E. 
Trulock and Emmett Rigdon returned a verdict as follows: "We, the jury, find that Gus Meredith came to his death by accidental drowning."

Evidence heard at the inquest was to the effect that Meredith, in company with two Childress boys and Homer Sanders, attended services Sunday at a church in Hart County. They procured some whisky and while returning home, Meredith became intoxicated, his companions said, and at a point near where his body was found he sank to the ground in a stupor. Unable to get him up, Sanders and the Childress boys said they left him, thinking he would get up and go home when he was sober. All denied that there was any fight, though it developed there had been some words passed between Sanders and Meredith over possession of a coat.



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NOTE: I have no connection, no furhter information and am not seeking additional information. Posted for Charles Finn.


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