Charles Bassett aged 24, a resident of Overland, Mo., met his death four miles west of Astoria on Route 31 Thursday evening at 6:30 as a result of icy pavement.
The young man had been in Chicago, according to a telephone message received from a member of his family and was on his way home, driving a Ford runabout. The car it is believed, skidded, causing him to lose control of the machine and as a result it ran into a snow drift and upset at the side of the pavement, pinioning him beneath it.
Ralph Wheeler of Smithfield, who discovered the body, was driving east when he saw a light ahead of him. As he came closer he saw that car was turned upside down. Stopping his car he made an investigation finding the head and shoulders of a man protruding from beneath the car. He called for aid to a farm house close by and Pius Burgard responded. Carl Talbott, in his car was the next party and with the aid of Noah Hamm and others, they removed the body. As the injured man showed signs of life, he was rushed to Astoria in Mr. Wheeler’s car to Dr. H. T. Baxter’s office, who pronounced him dead upon their arrival.
The body was taken to Clint Horton’s undertaking parlors and Coroner Dr. C. L. Lambert of Canton was notified of the death of the young man.
A jury composed of E. E. David, A. N. Price, P. A. Arthur, E. P. Emerson, W. K. Shake and Fred Tidrick were empanelled. After listening to the evidence of Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Burgard, the principal witnesses, a verdict was rendered to the effect that Charles Bassett came to his death as the result of shock, contributatory causes being internal injuries received when his automobile upset upon him.
The young man’s father, Elmer Bassett, a farmer residing near Alma, Ill., arrived in Astoria Friday morning. After the inquest the body was prepared for burial and the father accompanied the remains home.
According to the father, his son was an auto mechanic and was employed at Overland where he had a wife and six weeks old baby.
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