His Neck Was Broken

William Erdman Fell From a Ladder.

With An Empty Hod

On South Main Street in the City of Ann Arbor and Died Instantly

William Erdman, of 532 Third st., fell from a ladder at about 5:30 o'clock last night and broke his neck. He was working as masons' helper at 446 S. Main st., and had been carrying a hod up and down a 28 foot ladder all day, while Gottlob Schneider, the mason, was finishing the chimney of the three story house of Mrs. Catherine Rayer. Erdman was coming down the ladder with an empty hod and his dinner pail. He had got down below the second story window and was probably 10 or 12 feet from the ground when he fell striking probably on his head. Schneider heard a fall and not hearing Erdman say anything looked over the eaves to see what had happened and saw him lying on the ground. He went down the ladder, which had not been moved. Erdman breathed once or twice after he got down. There was blood on his month.

A crowd quickly gathered and Coroner Watts was summoned. Dr. S. R. Boyce was called and worked over him to restore respiration in vain.

Coroner Watts summoned the following jury: V. Crittenden, M. C. Peterson Fred R. Gillen, Chas. F. Saur, Fred Huhn, John R. Miner. The body was taken to Dieterle's  undertaking rooms. Dr. M. L. Belser made an examination and found his neck broken. When he turned his head, the grating of the broken bones was heard by the bystanders three feet away.

The testimony at the inquest was taken this morning. Mrs. Catherine Reyer saw him pass the second story window and heard the fall. Mrs. Elizabeth Paul saw him falling. Gottlob Schneider testified to his going down the ladder and hearing the fall. Dr. S. R. Boyce and Dr. M. L. Belser furnished the medical testimony. The jury found that William Erdman "came to his death at 446 S. Main st. , Ann Arbor, Mich., on Tuesday, Aug. '23, 1899, about 5 o'clock p. m. by breakage of the neck from a fall from a ladder while descending from the roof and that no blame is attached to any one. "