Bert Mentzer’s Death
Live Wire Kills Button Cutter
Burt Mentzer Accidentally Electrocuted Yesterday
110 Volts through Body
Victim Was Standing on Damp Floor and Touched WireCoroner’s Inquest was asked but considered unnecessary by the physician
In attempting to change the position of the electric bulb which furnished light over his button-cutting machine, Burt Mentzer was electrocuted at 3:30 yesterday afternoon at the Iola Pearl Button Company’s factory. Mentzer was standing on a damp floor partially covered with water and his body took the short-circuit charge and completed the current between the wet floor and the line above. He was killed instantly by the charge of 110 volts and the examination by Dr. R. O. Christian and Dr. G. W. Shadwick county coroner revealed the fact that his body did not bear a single burn as a result of the charge which shot through his form.
The chief electrician from the city department and an assistant were placing an extra battery form to furnish more power through the transformer near the building yesterday afternoon. Over fifty workmen were busy at the time of the accident and one of the workmen cut the switch off instantly.
Examination of the cord about the wiring on the light system above the button cuttin machines shows that they have been handled by workmen and it is barely possible that Mentzer’s hand was wet at the time he reached for the cord.
It is understood that other workmen have received shocks from the live wires before. Electricians stat that these shocks are from natural causes and are not due to defective wiring, however.
The body of Mentzer was removed to the undertaking parlors yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Mentzer appealed to Dr. G. W. Shadwick to hold an inquest over the body but according to the coroner there was nothing unlawful about the death nor is the cause unknown, and he has no authority to fix responsibility for death.
Mr. and Mrs. Mentzer have resided in Iola only a year, coming here from Yates Center, Kansas. The victim was a very efficient button cutter and had been employed with the company several weeks. The Mentzers reside on West Campbell street in Davis Addition.
Funeral services were held over the remains at eleven o’clock this morning, the Rev. Burns of the First M.E. church officiating. The body was shipped to Yates Center this afternoon and interment will be made in the Yates Center cemetery tomorrow afternoon.“Live Wire Kills Button Cutter,” Iola Daily Register and Evening News (Iola, Kansas), 24 January 1919, page 1; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online August 2018).
Bert Mentzer Killed.
The friends of Bert Menter, who was born and raised in Woodson county, will be sorry to learn that he was killed at Iola last Thursday afternoon, Jan. 23, 1919, by touching a live electric wire in the button factory, where he was employed.
The Iola Register of Friday gives the following account of the sad affair:
In attempting to change the position of the electric bulb which furnished light over his button-cutting machine, Bert Mentzer was electrocuted at 3:30 yesterday afternoon at the Iola Pearl Button Company’s factory. Mentzer was standing on a damp floor partially covered with water and his body took the short circuit charge and completed the current between the wet floor and the line above. He was killed instantly by the charge of 110 volts and the examination by Dr. R. O. Christian and Dr. G. W. Shadwick, county coroner, revealed the fact that his body did not bear a single burn as the result of the charge which shot through his form.
The chief electrician from the city department and an assistant were placing an extra battery form to furnish more power thru the transformer near the building yesterday afternoon. Over fifty workmen were busy at the time of the accident and one of the workmen cut the switch off instantly.
Examination of the cord about the wiring on the light system above the button cutting machines shows that they have been handled by workmen and it is barely possible that Mentzer’s hand was wet at the time he reached for the cord.
It is understood that other workmen have received shocks from the live wires before. Electricians state that these shocks are from natural causes and are not due to defective wiring, however.
The body of Mentzer was removed to the undertaking parlors yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Mentzer appealed to Dr. G. W. Shadwick to hold an inquest over the body but according to the coroner there was nothing unlawful about the death nor is the cause unknown, and he has no authority to fix responsibility for death.
Mr. and Mrs. Mentzer have resided in Iola only a year, coming here from Yates Center. The victim was a very efficient button cutter and had been employed with the company several weeks. The Mentzers reside on West Campbell street in Davis Addition.
Funeral services were held over…
…the remains at 11 o’clock this morning, the Rev. Burns of the First M. E. church officiating. The body was shipped to Yates Center this afternoon and interment will be made in the Yates Center cemetery.
“Bert Mentzer Killed,” The Yates Center News (Yates Center, Kansas), 31 January 1919, page 6; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 16 November 2024).
Obituary
Clarence Albert Mentzer was born in Woodson county, Kansas, April 7, 1886, and died in Iola, Kansas, January 23, 1919, aged 32 years, 9 months, and 16 days.
He was the youngest son of George and Emmaline Mentzer, among the oldest residents of Woodson County.
He was a graduate of Yates Center high school and for several years taught in the public schools of the county, but at the time of his death was a resident of Iola.
H was a member of the Methodist church, being converted at the age of seventeen, and was faithful until his Master called him to a higher life.
He was married to Grace Graham May 7, 1913.
Bert was well know to most of the people of Yates Center and vicinity. He was a kind and loving son and husband.
He leaves to mourn his departure his wife, his mother, Mrs. Geo Mentzer, five brothers, C. O., J. F., H.A., P.E., and E.E. Mentzer and one sister, Mrs. Clara E Williams, besides other relatives and scores of friends.
His father and one sister, Mrs. Susie M. Tunnicliff, preceded him to that land where the sun can never go down.
The funeral was held at the Methodist church in Yates Center Sunday afternoon, January 26, Rev C. V. Shulenberger conducting the service.
Burial was in the Yates Center cemetery.“Obituary,” Woodson County Journal (Yates Center, Kansas), 30 January 1919, page 1; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 27 January 2020).
