Man ill is shed at hospital site dies, no inquest

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, December 1, 1930.

(The Ypsilanti State Hospital was still under construction when this story was published.)

No inquest will be held into the death of an unidentified man who died at University Hospital Saturday night where he was taken from the site of the new Ypsilanti State Hospital. An autopsy performed Sunday at University Hospital revealed that death was caused by edema of the brain. Coroner E. C. Ganzhorn ordered the autopsy.

Ambulance from here was called when it was reported that a man at the hospital site had been stricken suddenly ill. He was found by attendants in a shed in an unconscious condition.

Due to the unusual circumstances Dr. Granzhorn impaneled a jury in case an inquest would prove to be necessary. On it were Emil Susterka, Walter Herrick, Roy Miller, Fremont Peterson, Nelson Boutell and Glen Murdock.

Identity of the man has not yet been established. He wore a Detroit city Gas Co. employee’s badge, bearing the number “C-6667.” He had a small gold rivet through the lob of his right ear bearing the initial “W.” On his left forearm an American flag had been tattooed and on his left forearm a crucifix. He was about 45 years old, with closely cropped black hair, weighed 175 pounds and was 5 feet, 10 inches tall.

A check of the badge number at the gas company’s office in Detroit Saturday night showed that no employee during 1930 had been assigned the number on the badge found in the victim’s possession.