IAGenWeb - Scott County
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FOLK BACKGROUND
JOSEPH TWIEZEL Open Verdict is Returned by Jury In Twiezel Death
After hearing the testimony of nine witnesses at the inquest into the death of Joseph Twiezel, 74, of Le Claire, a coroner's jury Tuesday night returned a verdict that the victim died of pneumonia induced by injuries incurred when he was hit by an automobile driven by Minnie Oliver, Princeton postmistress, in the town of Le Claire about 8:30 p. m. Tuesday at Mercy Hospital in Davenport.
Drs. Joseph Wolf of Davenport and C. Rosendorff of Le Claire testified that Twiezel suffered a compound fracture of the lower left leg and pneumonia developed Sunday morning. Mrs. Oliver told the jury that she was driving the automobile in which her husband was a passenger. She estimated her speed at between 15 and 17 miles an hur while traveling through Le Claire she said she was blinded momentarily by the lights on an approaching car and she did not see the aged man until an instant before the right front portion of the bumper struck him. David Oliver, husband of the woman, also testified that he did not see Twiezel in the road. He said the victim was thrown over the right front finder.
F.D. Buchiet of Le Claire, the driver of the car which was approaching the Oliver coupe, with Richard Vance and Ewald Von Heit, also of Le Claire, testified that he stopped his car and with the aid of his companions took the injured man to the office of Dr. Rosendorff and later transferred him to Mercy Hospital.
Deputy Sheriff Tom Carroll, who interviewed Twiezel in the hospital two hours after the accident, said the victim informed him that he did not see the car approaching. Martin Von Hein of Le Claire told the jury that he had walked with Twiezel to the point where the victim crossed the highway. Von Hein said he had not taken more than 20 steps after Twiezel left him until he heard the impact. He said he turned and saw his friend lying by the side of the pavement.
Source: The Daily Times, Davenport, Ia., Davenport, Ia., Davenport, Ia., 01 May 1940.