Inc. 1967
Mystery surrounds the death of John Conaghan, aged 42, a well known miner of Belle Vernon, whose dead body was found on steps leading to the Belle Vernon school house at about 3 o'clock Sunday morning,August 4,1912 by Frank Beeman. Constable J. W. Anderson found that while there were no traces of blood on the schoolhouse steps, Coneghan had fresh wounds on the right temple, above the right eye and under the chin. County Detective Frank Smith, of Fayette county and the Belle Vernon authorities are working on a murder theory. No money was found in the man's pockets. Coneghan was about Belle Vernon Saturday night and it is stated two men were seen with him. They were drinking some, but not it is thought enough to cause intoxication. It is possible that Coneghan fell and received his wounds and dragged himself to the schoolhouse. Constable Anderson has in his possession a stone showing blood marks which was found about a hundred feet from where the body was discovered. Deputy Coroner John W. Gordon took charge of the body and had it removed to the morgue of W.E.Reppert. The opinion is that death was directly due to dislocation of the neck. Mr. Conaghan was a man well known among the miners of the Belle Vernon vicinity. He lived on Belle Vernon hill,was married and had five children.
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