Wilber J. Lininger (ca. 1871-1930)

LININGER, BURROWS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal November 28, 1930 (page 1)

Front page headline:
Death Mystery Probe Under Way Today

BODY OF CRASH VICTIM TAKEN TO OMAHA BY RELATIVES

The Story county sheriff's office force is still busy attempting to trace the responsibility of the mysterious smashup on Lincoln highway just east of the Nevada city limits, some time Wednesday night, which cost the life of Wilbur J. Lininger, 59, of 2711 Eighteenth street, Omaha.

Dr. D. G. Mills of McCallsburg, county coroner, came down this morning and after a conference with the officers decided to postpone holding the inquest until there was some more tangible evidence, upon which to base a verdict.

While no arrests have been made and there has been no definite action taken, it was said by officers today that matters were shaping up rapidly and they were confident of clearing up the mystery in connection with the death of Lininger.

In the meantime the officers are checking up on the registration ownership, operation and history of the unknown truck that evidently figured in the tragedy.

Identity of Lininger was established Thursday afternoon when the officers secured contact with relatives in Omaha. He was employed in an executive capacity by the Postal Telegraph company and was on his way back to Omaha for Thanksgiving, when he met his tragic death.

It was evidently about 10:30 Wednesday night, when his Chevrolet coupe struck a truck either parked or traveling on the highway, in such a manner that the car, with the top torn off, careened off the highway, through the fence and into a cornfield just east of the Mrs. Briggs place east of town.

It was nearby the wrecked car, on a door of the car, that the unconscious man was found by F. C. Welch, brother of Mrs. Briggs, when he went out about 7:30 Thanksgiving morning to investigate the wrecked car when he noticed it in the cornfield.

A severe pressure fracture just above the right eye, coupled with the extreme exposure and other injuries caused his death at Iowa Sanitarium two hours later.

A truck license plate issued in Sioux county, splintered wood from what appears to be the rear end of a truck body, and the tracks in the gravel nearby the paving near where the crash took place, indicate to the officers that there is mystery yet unsolved attached to the affair.

Not only mystery but evident crime in leaving the unconscious man to the exposure of the long cold night, after the accident, is leading the officers on the check-up on the cause of the accident.

An undertaker from Omaha, accompanied by George E. Burrows, a cousin of the dead man, arrived today from Omaha and took charge of the body, which had been at the Bishop Funeral Home following death.

Mr. Burrows, whose home is at 2711 South Fourteenth street, Omaha, stated that Lininger is a widower and the father of two sons.

Letters which were found on the man indicated that he had a sweetheart with whom an early marriage was contemplated.

There was a considerable amount of new clothing in the suitcase found in the car and something over a hundred dollars in cash was found upon the man.