LINNAEUS AUXER'S VIOLENT DEATH Linnaeus Auxer, of this city, was found dead about five o'clock on Monday evening in the barn of Martin Meck, West Lampeter township. The appearance of the body indicated that death resulted from an accident, and that life had been extinct for perhaps twenty-four hours.Fell From a Hay Mow in Barn of Martin
Meck in West Lampeter Township.
Auxer was last seen alive on Saturday evening at Stauffer's store, West Willow. His last occupation was that of a book agent, and he was touring that section of the county soliciting subscriptions. It is supposed that he left the store and went to Meck's barn to seek shelter for the night. He went up on the hay mow, but lay down close to the edge, and fell under the span to the barn floor. The family had no occasion to go to that part of the barn on Sunday, and it was not until Monday evening that a young son of Mr. Meck discovered the remains when he went to the mow to throw down hay.
The victim dropped about fifteen feet, and evidently did not move after striking the floor. He was lying face downward. The nose was broken, the skull was fractured, and there was concussion of the brain.
Coroner I.M. Witmer was notified, and with Dr. F.G. Hartman, held an inquest, empanneling a jury consisting of Hon., A.H. Mylin, B.F. Parmer, John R. Kreider, G.W. Meck, W.B. Gontner and A.M. Parmer. Their verdict was that the deceased met death by falling from the hay mow of the barn of Martin Meck which produced a fracture of the skull at the base of the brain and caused concussion of the brain.
Deceased was about fifty years old. At one time he conducted a farming implement business in the Miller & Hartman building. More recently he worked as a farm hand at various places in the county, but at the time of his death he was a book agent. Coroner Witmer found a package of his sample books in the mow and he also had a large number of letters in his possession. Auxer leaves a wife and a number of children, residents of Philadelphia. He was a son of Henry Auxer, of North Mary street. Mrs. Jacob F. Eschbach and Mrs. John McLaughlin, city, are sisters and Phares Auxer, coachman for Dr. S.T. Davis, is a brother.
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