McKEE, Melville
Source: Crawfordsville, Indiana Weekly Argus News, Jan 16, 1892
The death of Mel McKee, which occurred at 7 o’clock this morning at the Nutt House, was a shock to his friends in this city, who had been led to believe that he was fast recovering from his injuries received in the Monon wreck, and that he was not in any immediate danger from the injuries sustained. About 6 o’clock this morning his wife administered cough drops which had been left by the physician. Mr. McKee being troubled with a hacking cough. After this he requested Mrs. McKee to lie down and they would get a comfortable nap before the house began stirring, but in a very short time afterward he was attacked by a smothering spell and remarked that if he just have some air. Mrs. McKee at once summoned Mr. and Mrs. Brenizer and restoratives were administered, but nothing availed, and death ensued at a few minutes before 7 o’clock. Mr. McKee was born in Kentucky about 62 years ago. When about 16 years old he came to this state with his parents who located on a farm in Putnam County, where he grew to manhood. While a young man he took a lively interest in political matters and allied himself with the democratic party, which in 1862 elected him to the office of county clerk of Putnam County which office he held for 8 consecutive years For several years past he was engaged in the brokerage business, having an office in this city for about one year. The remains were taken in charge by undertakers McClure & Scott and prepared for burial, the arrangements for which are to be completed on the arrival of James McKee, a son, from Indianapolis. The interment will be in Brick Chapel cemetery, near Greencastle, Thursday afternoon. - kbz
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Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Tuesday, 19 January 1892
The many friends of Col. Melville McKee were shocked to hear of his death, which occurred at the Nutt Hotel a few minutes before 7 o’clock this morning. Col. McKee was in the late Monon wreck and was brought from the scene of the disaster to the hotel in a cab. All that evening he sat in the office by the stove in a large arm chair. To the inquiries of his friends, he replied that no bones were broken, but that he felt terribly shocked and broken internally. About 8 or 9 o’clock the doctors made an examination of his injuries and assisted by a friend he walked upstairs and went to bed in a room on the second floor. The next day he complained greatly of his injuries and was unable to leave his bed. His injuries outside of a few cuts and bruises were all internal, and no one could tell what extent he was injured. He seemed to improve, however, until Sunday night when he had a sinking spell, but rallied and improved all day yesterday. This morning, Mrs. McKee, who was prevented coming here until Sunday by sickness, got up at his request and administered a dose of cough medicine. A few minutes later he called out that he wanted air and died immediately. Mrs. McKee was greatly prostrated and her only child, James A. McKee, of Indianapolis, summoned at once.
Mr. McKee was born in Kentucky, but passed most of his life in Putnam County where he served eight years as county clerk. He was a resident of this city two years, but went to Chicago to reside about eighteen months ago. At the time of his death he was 62 years of age and Mrs. McKee states had never been sick a day in his life until injured in the wreck. He was a brother of Milton McKee, of this city. He was one of the five injured persons who had not settled with the company.
The remains will be shipped to Greencastle for burial and the funeral will occur at Brick Chapel where is located the old family burying ground. Dr. Esminger will make a post mortem examination this evening or tomorrow.
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Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Wednesday, 20 January 1892
Dr. Ensminger, the local surgeon of the Monon road, yesterday stated that the death of Col. Melville McKee was due more to heart disease than it was to injuries sustained in the wreck of January 11. To verify this belief, or rather to discover the true cause of the Colonel’s death, he made preparations last evening for a post mortem examination. The preparations were all that were made too, as Mrs. McKee flatly refused to allow an examination of the remains to be made, and Dr. Ensiminter accordingly retired with his best bow.
Coroner Bronaugh arrived from New Ross in the evening and decided to hold his inquest at McClure & Scott’s undertaking establishment. The inquest, although it was begun, was not completed. Mrs. Schoenheit, the lady who nursed the Colonel, gave evidence concerning his sickness, of the pain he manifested on being moved, and of his announcement to the effect that he would talk of it was the best thing he ever did. Hon. M. D. White, who has been retained by Mrs. McKee, conducted a cross examination but nothing important was developed. Dr. J. R. Etter, who waited upon Mr. McKee when he was first hurt, was sworn and gave some exceedingly racy and sensational testimony. Among other things he stated that last Monday after he had been dismissed for three days by the road, he called on McKee at the Nutt House and found him with his pulse very low. He told McKee he was in danger from the medicine he had taken and wished him to tell Dr. Ensminger so, but not to use his (Etter’s) name, as he was a personal enemy of Ensminger. This statement of a surprising character to say the least, led to Dr. Ensminger giving expression to a few strong thoughts which must have stuck in Etter’s crop. After a little more testimony the two gentlemen locked horns again and exchanged compliments until Coroner Bronaugh threatened to call the police. When cross examined by White, Etter stated that he thought McKee’s death was chiefly due to injuries sustained in the wreck. The coroner adjourned the inquest and will continue it this evening. At half past eleven today there were short services held at the Nutt House conducted by Rev. G. W. Switzer, and this afternoon the remains were taken to Greencastle for interment.
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Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Thursday, 21 January 1892
Coroner Bronaugh arrived from New Ross again last evening and proceeded to take evidence in the case of the late Melville McKee. Leo A. Shane, who nursed the deceased, was placed on the stand and his examination occupied all the evening. Summed up in a few words, it amounted to this: Shane believed that McKee died of heart disease, super induced perhaps by the injuries received in the wreck.
This morning Dr. Cowan was placed on the stand. He had given McKee medical treatment and believed that he had the grip and was predisposed to heart disease. This with his age and the tobacco used accounted for his slow pulse, his smothering sensation, etc. His injuries did not seem to be dangerous, but the shock might have had something to do with his death. Dr. Cowan stated in conclusion that to the best of his belief McKee died of some heart trouble.
Mrs. Hattie Dixon was the next witness and was greatly flurried while on the stand fearing that customers were waiting her at the shop. She knew Mr. McKee quite well when he was in business here two years ago. He came up into her room one day and when he reached the top of the stairs was out of breath. He panted and placed his hand over his heart and rolled his eyes.
Dr. Warren H. Ristine was called down from his office in No. 6, Fisher Block, and gave expert testimony. He also had some attendance on the wounded man and believed that he was predisposed to heart disease. He thus accounted for his slow pulse, and smothering sensation but he believed that Mr. McKee’s death was undoubtedly accelerated by the injuries received.
After hearing the testimony of Dr. Ristine, Coroner Bronaugh adjourned until tomorrow when the testimony of Dr. Ensminger and two or three other witnesses will be heard and a verdict rendered.
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Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Saturday, 23 January 1892
Coroner Bronaugh came down from New Ross to end up the inquest regarding the death of the late Col. Melvin McKee. Dr. Ensminger was on the stand for about two hours and a half and gave full testimony regarding the injuries, illness and death of McKee. He did not believe that the injuries of McKee were in themselves at all dangerous, but as he was predisposed to heart disease, they very likely had something to do with accelerating the demise. People suffering from heart disease frequently die after receiving a severe shock or being greatly excited. Dr. Bronaugh reserved his verdict until this evening when he will probably decide that Col. McKee came to his death from heart disease which was greatly aggravated by the injuries sustained in the Monon wreck of January 11.
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Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal
Coroner Bronaugh reached his verdict in the McKee case several days ago but owing to a press of professional duties has not been able to get down from New Ross to file it with the clerk. The following is a true copy of the verdict taken from Mr. Bronaugh’s manuscript at New Ross: “From the evidence and the examination of the body, I find that Melvin McKee came to his death from an organic lesion of the heart super induced by the injuries and shock received January 11, 1892, in a railroad disaster on the L. N. A. & C. R. R.
C. T. Bronaugh,
Coroner M. C.”
Mrs. McKee will probably begin suite against the railroad in the near future.
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Source: Greencastle Banner-Times 21 Jan 1892 p 1
A special dispatch to the Indianapolis News on Tuesday from Crawfordsville announced the death of Melville McKee. Mr. McKee sat up until 8 o’clock on the night of the day he was injured and then retired suffering with internal injuries. He had a sinking spell Sunday night but rallied until early Tuesday morning when a similar attack carried him off. Mr. McKee refused to compromise with the company after the Monon accident in which he received the injuries which resulted in his death. Two weeks ago Mr. McKee came to Greencastle to attend the funeral of a nephew, Frank Bridges and visited friends and relatives for several days. He was a son of Mrs. Lucinda McKee living at Bainbridge. He was 63 years of age and his mother is still living, being a twin sister of Mrs. Martha Darnall. The aged ladies are 81 years old. Mr. McKee wrote a letter to Greencastle friends last Saturday stating he was not hurt as badly as reported and that he hoped to pull through all right. He had been married three times and lived in Chicago for the last several years. His son, James McKee of Indianapolis, brought the remains to Greencastle yesterday and today they will be interred at Brick Chapel, where a number of relatives of the deceased are buried. They were taken to the residence of James Bridges last night.
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Source: Greencastle Star Press 23 Jan 1892 p 8
Melvin McKee, formerly Circuit Court clerk of this county died at Crawfordsville on Jan 19 from the effects of injuries received in the recently railroad wreck near the city named. Deceased was 64 years of age and was widely known in this county. The remains were brought here for burial; the funeral took place on Thursday morning from the Christian Church; interment at Forest Hill Cemetery. Messrs Thomas and Alonzo McKee of Tuscola, Ill; Milton Mckee of Crawfordsville; William and James McKee of Indianapolis, brothers of Melvin McKee, deceased were here to attend the funeral on Thursday. The funeral took place from the Christian Church and was largely attended. The services were conducted by Elder VanBuskirk of Indianapolis assisted by Elder Morris of this city.
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Source: Greencastle Star Press, Putnam County 6 Feb 1892 p 1
On Friday last the Coroner of Montgomery County returned his verdict as to the cause of the death of Melvin McKee, who was injured in the recent railroad wreck near Crawfordsville. The verdict is in substance that the deceased “died of lesion of the heart, superinduced by his injuries in the wreck.” Report has it that the widow will immediately begin suit against the railroad for damages. – kbz