Surnames: Lynch, Bliss, Scheafer, Hauge, Gorman, Dormandy, Frank

----Source: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 3 Sept. 1931

Lynch, James (*1862 - 1931)*Could be off.

DEATH CAR DRIVER REMAINS MYSTERY

Jury Unable to Fix Blame in Killing Of James Lynch

A coroner’s inquest Tuesday into the death of James Lynch, who died Sunday night at Marshfield hospital as a result of being struck by an hit and run motorist Friday at 10 p.m. near the entrance of Schuster Park on Highway 10 failed to fix responsibility for the accident.

After hearing testimony of several witnesses who were near the scene the jury handed in a verdict to Coroner A. H. Frank that "James Lynch came to his death by a skull fracture due to being struck by an automobile driven by person or persons unknown who failed to stop."

James Lynch, who was on traffic police duty for the city, has been stationed at the entrance to Schuster park and about 10 p.m. started walking with Mrs. Lynch toward town. When about 400 feet west of the park gate a car knocked him to the pavement. Henry Hauge and Dave Gorman who were driving by at the time heard Mrs. Lynch scream and stopped, they testified, and went back. Louis Kurth, also heard the scream and stopped, he stated, and then went for medical aid. They testified that there were two cars ahead of them which failed to stop and it was held that one of those cars hit Mr. Lynch. Mrs. Lynch testified, also that the car which struck her husband did not stop.

This testimony was corroborated by Miss Frances Dormandy of Hewettville, who said she was trying to crank her car about 20 rods west of where the accident occurred. She said she happened to be looking east and saw a care knock somebody down and a moment later heard screams. As the car passed her she noticed it was painted a dark blue and contained two men in the front seat. Where there was anybody in the back she was unable to state. She testified that the car did not stop but continued on to Hewett Street and turned toward town.

James Lynch was born in Neillsville 69 years ago and was first married to Miss Mina Bliss, three children , Dimple, Donald and Leona, being born to this union. Mrs. Lynch died about 30 years ago and Mr. Lynch was married again 15 years ago to Miss Clara Scheafer of Shortville. Five children were born to this marriage, Norman, Tony , Bobby, Jimmy and Herbert.

Mr. Lynch is also survived by two brothers, Abe and Richard Lynch.

The funeral was held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Schiller Undertaking rooms with Rev. G. W. Longnecker officiating.

His son, Donald of Glendive, Mont., and daughter, Leona and her husband, Ed. Brown of Minneapolis, arrived Wednesday morning. Mrs. Dimple Schinzer who lives in Idaho, was unable to arrive in time for the funeral

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----Source: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 10 Sept. 1931

Obituary Corrected

Erroneous information obtained in the obituary of James Lynch published last week is corrected herewith.

Mr. Lynch’s age was 50 years and he is survived by two sisters in addition to his two brothers, Abe and Richard, reported last week. The sisters are Mrs. Mary Cummings of Neillsville and Mrs. Nettie Ely of Kansas City, Mo.