15 May 1891 - Republican Watchman (Monticello, New York)
The Deaths of John Halliday and Hugh H. Vredenburg Judicially Inquired Into.
On the 5th last. Coroner Joseph Rosch held an inquest upon the remains of John Halliday whose tragic death near Burlingham by burning was narrated in our last issue.
Mrs. Lizzie Halliday, the step mother, testified that she was in the house when “Johny” woke her up and helped her out, after telling her the house was on fire. John saved some of her clothing and helped her out. He then went back into the house for more things and the last she saw of him he was going up stairs. At that time the fire and smoke were in the stairway and entrance. She never saw or heard him after that. From some evidence it appeared that the fire might have originated from an exploding lamp, as there was but little fire in the stove.
It appeared that the victim was a little “soft-minded,” and also that he was good natured and on good terms with his father and his father’s wife.
The Coroner’s jury rendered a verdict that in their opinion death was cause by suffocation in trying to rescue property from the burning building.