THE JUMPS BURIED

Double Funeral of the Unfortunate Brothers Largely Attended at King Ferry

Over 400 people filled every seat and crowded the corridors and aisles of the Presbyterian church at King Ferry Sunday at 12 o'clock to pay a last tribute to the memory of Claudius and Netus Jump, the two aged brothers, who were found dead in bed at their home Thursday morning last as a result of what was probably ptomaine poisoning. The funeral, which was a double one, was one of the largest, If not the largest, in the history of King Ferry.

Rev. W. C. Brass, pastor of the church, officiated. Isaac Hall, Alfred Lauterman, Glen W. King and Alonzo Chase acted as bearers.

The remains were laid to rest in the King Ferry cemetery.

Each body was in a separate coffin and two hearses were employed in the funeral procession. The caskets, however, were lowered side by side into one grave. Relatives from Rochester, Canandaigua, West Bloomfield and Union Springs were present.

The condition of the sister, Susan Jump, who has been critically ill, continues to improve. She is still in a very weak condition, however, and she has not yet been told of the fate of her brothers lest the shock might result fatally to her.

The condition of George Shank, the fourth victim, is growing gradually worse. He is conscious only at intervals and there is no hope of his recovery.

AUBURN DEMOCRAT-ARGUS DECEMBER 25, 1900


THERE WAS NO POISON

The Brothers Jump and George Shank Died from Asphyxiation by Coal Gas.

After weeks and even months of waiting, during which time he has exhausted every effort in a vain effort to determine the presence of poison if such were to be discovered, Coroner Frank C. Smith, of Fleming, yesterday rendered his decision in the mysterious King Ferry "poisoning" cases, in which the aged brothers, Netus and Claudius Jump, and their hired man, George Shank, gave up their lives, deciding that death was due to asphyxiation from coal gas.

For some time Chemist Charles B. Sears, of this city, and a Syracuse chemist, worked over the contents of the stomach of Netus Jump, the peculiar circumstances surrounding the [December 1900] deaths leading to the belief that the victims came to their end as a result of poison and causing the suspicion to spring up that there was foul play in the cases. This suspicion was partially responsible for the arrest of Shank's brother who was at the Jump home on the night of the mysterious deaths. He was arrested for drunkenness but the belief of the possibility of his having had something to do with the deaths was the real cause. He has since been discharged.

Chemist Sears gave up his search some time ago and he reported to Coroner Smith that he could find no trace of any poison. The Syracuse chemist's report was not received by the coroner until Wednesday. In it he stated that he could find no trace of any poison after an exhaustive analysis. With this expert evidence at hand Coroner Smith gave up the poison theory and he rendered his decision as given above—death from asphyxiation by coal gas.

Miss [Susan] Jump, the aged sister of the two dead brothers, who was also seriously affected at the time and was in an unconscious condition when found, has completely recovered.

THE AUBURN WEEKLY BULLETIN MAY 24, 1901