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YUBA COUNTY OBITS
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THOMAS J. HOUSE (Housch)
Marysville Appeal - Thu 12/7/1911, p1 - Plunged To Death In Waters Of Ellis Lake - Fatal Accident Ends One Life - H. C. Clemens, a prominent merchant of Challenge, Bert Binninger and Thomas J. House of Browns Valley, while returning to Marysville from Browns Valley in a Maxwell automobile, met with a terrible accident last night when the machine crashed through the guard at Twelfth and B streets at Ellis lake and House was drowned. - It was shortly after 9 o'clock when the party arived [sic] in this city. They were driving at a low rate of speed when they made the turn from Twelfth street into B street, but for some unknown reason the machine refused to complete its turn and Clemens, who was at the wheel, was unable to save the care from dashing through the fence into the pond. - When the machine struck the fence it immediately went through and turned turtle in the lake. - Held Under Water - The three men tried to get out, but Clemens and House failed to get free of the machine and the latter was pinioned beneath the top and firmly held. Binninger succeeded in getting Clemens free from the machine, but he could not find House, who was several feet under water. - Clemens and Binninger immediately gave the alarm and in a short time help arrived, but it was too late- House was drowned. The machine was turned over after much effort and the body of House was extracted with considerable difficulty. He was dead and no efforts could resuscitate him. The body was taken in charge by Coroner J. K. Kelly and brought to the morgue. - He was only a young man, being just 32 years of age. He is well connected in Browns Valley. His family were notified last night and will arrive here early this morning. - Driver Clemens Well Known - The machine, which was driven by Clemens, is his own. He has always been able to manage it heretofore and last evening was the first time it has ever failed him. - He is well known in Challenge, where he has resided for a long time and the whole community there when notified last night of the deplorable accident was greatly shocked. - House is his nephew and both thought considerable of each other. They were in town together yesterday morning before they left for their home in the hills. - Where the accident happened the lake is only three feet deep and had House not been held down by the car he would have escaped from the lake easily. The opinion is expressed that he may have been hurt in the fall and therefore unable to help himself or manage to get his head above the water. - Bert Binninger Interviewed - When seen last night Bert Binninger said that the three men saw the corner of the road ahead before they turned and that up to that time Clemens had perfect control of the machine, but that for some reason, he did not understand, Clemens could not make the machine complete its turn. He said that he heard the machine strike the fence and that he immediately made an attempt to get himself free. He said all of the others knew of the danger they were in and that all made attempts to get free from the machine, but that in its fall they misjudged the distance, for the machine turned over on House and Clemens. He explained how he immediately gave assistance to Clemens, but that both of them failed to find House. He said they made a hurried search and called in vain for him, but that the unfortunate young man never answered, so they immediately gave the alarm as quickly as they could. - Both young men were heart broken over the awful accident and Clemens was so much effected that he had to be taken to the United States hotel and put to bed. He said that he thought that somebody struck him, causing him to lose his control of the machine, but Binninger said that the top fence rail broke into the machine and probably struck Clemens, which made him believe some one had struck him from without. He did not believe that that fact caused Clemens to lose control of the machine, however. - When the officers arrived on the scene they immediately made an examination of the accident and proceeded to turn the automobile over. Binninger waded out into the lake and hunted around for a while, with the result that he finally found the foot of House. A rope was tied to it and then the parties on the other side of the machine carefully maneuvered the machine, first to one side and then to the other and finally got the body free. - Coroner Kelly was present and took the body in charge. An inquest will probably be held today.
Marysville Appeal - Fri 12/8/1911, p1 - Story of Accident By Participants - Statement of Wednesday Fatality - The terrible accident that resulted Wednesday evening in the death of young T. G. House from drowing [sic] in Ellis lake while held under the water by an automobile driven by his uncle, H. C. Clemens, was the subject of general discussion yesterday, and there were rumors that the men had been drinking considerably before the fatality. That was strenuously denied by both Clemens and Binninger, the latter a young man who was with the other two at the time of the accident. - During the course of the evening Clemens and Binninger called at the Appeal office and prepared and signed the following statement, to which they declared they were willing to make affidavits if necessary: - Marysville, Dec. 7, 1911,- To the Editor of the Appeal - Sir: In order to set at rest all rumors that may have gained current in connection with the terible [sic] accident of last night in which T. G. House lost his life, I beg to say that I left this city about noon Wednesday for Browns Valley, after I had had dinner on my way home to Challenge. At Browns Valley I met my nephew, young House, and Bert Binninger, and they hired me to return with them to Marysville. We left Browns Valley shortly after 6 o'clock in the evening and came to Marysville slowly, arriving at the lake shortly after 8 o'clock, although I do not know exactly the hour. We were running at about ten miles an hour and the night was clear. As we endeavored to turn from Twelfth street to B and had gone 100 to 150 feet the machine became unmanageable, and the streering [sic] gear would not work and we struck the fence sideways and rushed through into the lake. - I struggled to get from behind the wheel, and with the aid of Binninger, managed to get myself free. We at once tried to find House, who had been sitting next to me, with Binninger in his lap. We could not find him and I ran over to the brewery, the nearest building for help. I was spitting blood, but Mr. Ressinger at once recognized me, and at my request telephoned to the police for help. I do not recall anything more until I found myself in bed at the United States hotel this morning. None of us were intoxicated, and while we had had a drink or two we had not had anything of the kind to excess. [s] H. C. Clemens - I have heard the above read and agree that the statement is correct in every particular. [s] Bert Binninger.
Marysville Appeal - Sat 12/9/1911, p1 - Will Be Buried By Lodge of Owls - The funeral of Thomas J. Housch, who was killed Wednesday night in an automobile accident at the corner of Twelfth and B streets, will be held under the auspices of the Browns Valley lodge of Owls No. 1513. M. H. Binninger and G. F. Gorman have arranged the details. The members of the lodge have been requested to be present at 6 o'clock Sunday morning in Browns Valley. From there the funeral will go to Indiana ranch.
[same issue - pp 1, 8] - Clemens Exonerated By Coroner's Jury - Doctor Says Man Was Sober - The coroner's inquest over the remains of Thomas J. Housch, who was killed in an automobile accident Wednesday night in Ellis lake, exonerated H. C. Clemens, an uncle of the young man and chauffeur of the machine in question. - At the inquest it developed that the jury had received several reports stating that Clemens was intoxicated when he drove the machine into Ellis lake, so the inquest was postponed until the afternoon, when the district attorney assisted in the taking of testimony. - Several witnesses were placed on the stand who testified that they thought Clemens had been drinking when they saw him downtown the night of the accident. - Testimony About Drinking - Several of them testified that they saw Clemens in the fire department after the tragedy and that he had a cut upon his head where he had been struck by a fence board in the wreck. When asked if they thought Clemens had been drinking they said that was their impression. - The district attorney and coroner endeavored to ascertain if Clemens was intoxicated previous to the time of the accident and whether the wreck was due to Clemens being under the influence by liquor and unable to manipulate the machine for that reason. If such was the case he would have been guilty of a misdemeanor under section 367 of the penal code, which is as follows: "Any person operating or driving an automobile, motorcycle, or other motor-vehicle who becomes, or is intoxicated while so engaged in operating or driving such automobile, motor cycle or other motor vehicle shall be guilty of a misdemeanor." - Says Clemens Was Sober - Dr. B. Kaufman was next placed on the stand and he said he thought that Clemens was not drunk, but that he was dazed from the blow he received on the forehead in the mixup. Mike Reissenger, when placed on the stand, said that he thought Clemens was perfectly sober, and that he was acting queer as a result of blow he got on the forehead at the time of the tragedy. - As a result of this last evidence the coroner's jury brought in a verdict that Clemens was sober when he was manipulating the machine previous to the tragedy and that the accident was not due to intoxication on his part.
Marysville Appeal - Sun 12/10/1911, p1 - Funeral of Housch - The funeral of Thomas Housch will take place from the undertaking parlors of Kelly Brothers at 6 a.m. this morning and thence to Indiana ranch, where additional services will be held at 2 o'clock. The interment will be made in the Indiana ranch cemetery.
[same issue and page] - Will Investigate Housch Case Fully - Authorities Not Satisfied With Verdict - Although the coroner's jury in the case of Thomas Housch, who was drowned in Ellis lake as a result of an automobile accident, returned a verdict that the driver of the machine was perfectly sober at the time, the authorities, it is understood, are by no means satisfied with the verdict or some of the testimony that was produced on that occasion. It is said that there is abundant proof that the whole party had been drinking, and that the effects were visible, even after the terrible experience in the lake. - It is more than likely that the attention of the new grand jury, which convenes on the 19th, will be called to the matter, and that a searching investigation of the whole case will be made. It is rumored that some of the witnesses contradicted themselves when their remarks and statements before and at the inquest are compared, and that they may be asked to explain the seeming discrepancies. - Rumor has it that there was drinking at Browns Valley as well as on the trip to Marysville, and the facts in the case will be thoroughly investigated and the truth brought to light, if it has not already been.
Marysville Appeal - Tue 12/12/1911, p1 - Warrant Out For Arrest Of Clemens - A complaint was sworn to yesterday and a warrant issued for the arrest of H. C. Clemens, the young man who was driving the automobile which toppled into Ellis lake at the corner of Twelfth and B streets crushing Thomas Housch and causing his death by drowning. The charge is committing a high misdemeanor. - The law under which Clemens is arrested reads: Section 367-e, Penal Code. "And [sic] person operating or driving an automobile, motorcycle, or other motor vehicle who becomes, or is intoxicated while so engaged in operating or driving such automobile, motor cycle or other motor vehicle, or who, by reason of such intoxication, doe[s] any act, or neglects any duty imposed by law which act of negligence of duty causes the death of or bodily injury to any persons, shall be punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not exceeding five years, or in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding $500, or by both such fine and imprisonment." - Sheriff George Voss has the warrant for Clemens arrest, which was given him late last evening, and he will leave for Dobbins the house of Clemens, early this morning and place him under arrest immediately. - It was reported yesterday that certain evidence gathered in the vicinity of Browns Valley was responsible for the man's arrest.
Marysville Appeal - Wed 12/13/1911, p1 - Clemens Has Been Arrested - H. C. Clemens was arrested yesterday by Deputy Sheriff Steve Howser at the former's home in Dobbins and brought to this city. He appeared before Judge W. E. Langdon, and his preliminary examination was set for Thursday morning, Dec. 21, at 10 o'clock. In the meantime Clemens was given his liberty under $1,000 bail, which was deposited by Milton Haney Bruce. Attorneys Brittain & Raish appeared for Clemens, while District Attorney Manwell represented the people.