NEWSPAPERS: J. W. Plymire, death and inquest, Jackson County, Oregon *************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with United States Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by noncommercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *************************************************************************** Transcribed and formatted for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Elizabeth Corethers 21 May 2003 *************************************************************************** Medford (Oregon) Mail, Friday, 4 Jan 1895, p. 4, c. 3 DEATH OF MR. J. W. PLYMIRE Mr. J. W. Plymire, an old resident of this part of Jackson County, died at his farm house, three miles northeast of Medford, on Monday of this week. Funeral services were held the following day, conducted by the members of the A. O. U. W. lodge, of this city, to which he belonged. Some twenty odd members were in attendance. Mr. Plymire had been ill but about two weeks prior to his death and was only confined to his bed five days. His malady was Bright's disease. Deceased came to Jackson County in 1870 and located upon the land upon which he died last Monday. He was born in Missouri in 1839. In 1866, or soon after the close of the war, he moved to Nevada where he remained until 1870, when he came to Oregon, as above stated. He leaves a wife and four children to mourn his sudden demise. Of the children there are two sons and two daughters, the oldest, Lilah, being fourteen years of age, the three younger being Jesse, Carrie and Clyde. Medford (Oregon) Mail, Friday, 11 Jan 1895, p. 4 AN INQUEST WAS HELD. The Remains of J. W. Plymire Were Disinterred for Examination. In noting the death and burial of J. W. Plymire in last week's Mail we little thought that before another issue of our paper an inquest would have been held over the remains. A few days after the funeral of Mr. Plymire, which occurred on Tuesday of last week, a report was circulated--by whom started we are unable to state- -suffice it to say that it was started, that there might have been foul play connected with his death, and as soon as this report became generally current, those immediately interested demanded an investigation. On Sunday morning Coroner Brower and District Attorney Benson came to this city and ordered the body exhumed and an autopsy held. The remains were brought to I. A. Webb's undertaking parlors about noon Sunday, and at 1 o'clock a jury was impaneled and the inquest began. The jury was composed of L. G. Porter, N. B. Bradbury, J. R. Wilson, J. W. Redden, W. F. Shawver, and W. K. Davis; J. R. Wilson being chosen for foreman. The following witnesses were examined by Attorney Benson: Drs. Jones and Cole, Mrs. Louise Plymire, wife of deceased, Chas. Wilkinson, Mrs. H. C. Nute, Mrs. A. Garrett, Mrs. S. E. Garrett and Mrs. M. A. Castill. The testimony of all the witnesses tended to show that everything was done for the man's comfort and that the attending physicians did all in their power to save his life, the cause of death given in by them being Bright's disease of the kidneys. While the inquest was being conducted in the city hall an autopsy was being performed by Dr. E. B. Pickel. The brain was first removed and was found in a very healthy condition, and weighed 50 ounces. The other organs which are needed in an investigation of this nature, were removed by the doctor, and all found in a normal condition, with the exception of the kidneys, which were found in a completely degenerated state. These parts of the human anatomy should weigh about five ounces, or as the physician stated, anywhere from four to six ounces each, but those removed greatly exceeded that weight, the right one weighing 30 ounces and the left one 34 ounces. To one familiar with these organs it is no surprise that Mr. Plymire's death was sudden--in fact, the surprise would be that he survived as long as he did. The autopsy demonstrated clearly that there are undoubtedly many sudden deaths which are not caused by the administration of poison or by other foul means and when reports of this nature gain circulation they should be stopped at once, as this one was, by a thorough examination. If the cause of death is found to be as stated by the attending physician and nothing of a suspicious nature discovered, then relatives and friends, over whom there has been thrown a shadow of suspicion, are at once relieved fo a burden, which under other circumstances they must--though perfectly innocent--carry with them through life. Persons who circulate stories which must in the end throw suspicion upon innocent persons should first consider well what they are saying. They should think well of the humiliation they may cause. On the other hand, if there is the least shadow of existing evidence of crime then they should be just as considerate and just as active to bring to justice the parties who would take this means by which to take a human life, and should do so by being instrumental in causing a speedy and thorough examination.