Charlotte Marie Lauth 1928 - 1937

LAUTH, HADFIELD, PERKAUS

Posted By: Deb (email)
Date: 10/19/2012 at 14:30:15

Daily Hawk-Eye Gazette, The - Burlington, Iowa
Thursday 2 September 1937 - Page 2

9 Year Old Charlotte
Lauth Electrocuted in
Her Home Last Night

Little Girl, Seated on Radiator, Touched Shorted Metal Floor Lamp - Planned Birthday Party Today for 15 Guests

As preparations were under way for a party in observance of her ninth birthday today, Charlotte Marie Lauth, 1001 South Starr avenue, was electrocuted as she touched a shorted metal floor lamp at her home last night.

A squad of five firemen and two physicians worked over the little girl for more than three hours in an unsuccessful effort to revive her, after injections of adrenalin above the heart failed to bring back life.

Charlotte had been seated on a radiator of the house, which has the hot water heating system, and in looking over the shoulder of her brother, Louis, Jr., 13, she inadvertently touched the lamp with one hand, and fell over unconscious.

Electrocution Cause.

Pronouncing death to electrocution, Coroner Chris Adank said the girl probably died when she struck the floor.

Coroner Adank investigated the case this morning, and conferred with physicians on the case before giving his report, showing electrocution as cause of death.

Inspection of the bridge-floor lamp by firemen at the Lauth home last night revealed covering of the electric cord entering the lamp at the base had worn off, leaving a part of wire exposed and touching the bottom of the lamp. Fire Chief Robert Collatt reported this caused the lamp and resulted i the shock to Charlotte, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis F. Lauth. Her father is sales director of the Burlington Basket company.

Party Planned.

A birthday party for which invitations had been issued to 15 little girls, was to have been held today in honor of Charlotte.

As she sat on the radiator, birthday gifts for the girl were spread out on a nearby table, and she had looked forward to opening them today.

The mishap occurred at approximately 7:40 last night, according to firemen who reported they arrived there five minutes later. They began work on the girl promptly, keeping at their task diligently unit after 10:30.

Born In Burlington.

Charlotte was born in Burlington Sept. 2, 1928. Surviving besides her parents and brother, Louis Jr., are a grandmother, Mrs. Marguerite Hadfield, mother of Mr. Lauth, Chicago, Ill., and two other grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John J. Perkaus, Chicago, parents of Mrs. Lauth.

Services will be from St. John Catholic church at 9 o'clock Saturday morning and burial will be in Sacred Heart cemetery.

Charlotte was a fourth grade student at St. John school, and was a member of St. John church. Members of last June's seventh and third grades and of Boy Scout Troop 3 of the school will meet at the Lauth home at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon to recite the rosary. The body will be taken to the home from Giles chapel this evening, and remain there until the funeral.