HARLAN, Dwight - Putnam

The death of Dwight Harlan, the young man who was injured on the night of December 20 while on his way to Greencastle from Bainbridge occurred at his home on north Jackson Street at near 6 o’clock Monday morning. An autopsy was ordered by Coroner RJ Gillespie, Dr. Jerome King and Dr. JF Gillespie made the examination. The findings of the injuries of the young man, by the physicians, are fracture of the skull, two and ¼ “ long starting just over the left eye and extending down to the base of the skull.  The base of the skull is badly shattered, several pieces of which penetrate the brain cavity. A scalp wound 1 ½” long on forehead. Over the right eye and over a former injury there was a penetrating wound which entered the skull cavity. The injury and fracture over the left eye was extensive and had been made by a violet blow.  Both physicians state that it is a miracle the young man lived an hour after receiving the injuries.  Harlan had driven to Bainbridge on the morning of Dec 20 with two travelling men. He spent the day in Bainbridge and it has been said that he became intoxicated before starting for home in the evening.  He left Bainbridge about 5 o’clock and was found lying at one side of the road some hours later by two farmers. The farmers took him to their home where his injuries were treated by Dr. Conn.  Later he was brought to his home.  During the 14 days he lived after the accident, he regained consciousness only once and then only for a few seconds. When he was in this condition he muttered the words, “Charlie did it.” The young man was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Newton Harland and was born and raised in Greencastle. He had been in the employ at the Brothers Liver state for a number of years. Harland would have been 24 years of age on the 14th of this month. The funeral services will be held at the home Wednesday morning. Interment at Forest Hill cemetery. kz