[Port Hume County Coroner — Report of Death. Form CRN-17. Filed 15 October 1923.]

DECEDENT. Jarzembek, Wiktor. Male. Age 60 years. Place of death: rectory of St. Casimir's Polish Catholic Parish, 118 Halicka Street, Port Hume. Time of death: approximately 8:45 – 9:05 p.m., 14 October 1923.

EXAMINATION.

External. Body of a well-nourished male, 60 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches, approximately 160 pounds. Good general condition. Clothing: clerical, black cassock, small pectoral cross (recovered), no watch (parish records indicate watch normally kept on study desk, confirmed).

Face: small abrasion, left temple, approx. 1 cm, consistent with contact with rigid vertical surface (baluster). Minor contusion, right cheekbone. No lacerations.

Neck: palpable displacement of upper cervical vertebrae, consistent with C1-C2 fracture. Skin of neck intact, no ligature mark, no bruising characteristic of manual throttling.

Torso and limbs: no fractures observed; minor contusion of right forearm, consistent with instinctive bracing against fall. No defensive injuries to the hands.

Internal examination was not performed, the cause of death being clinically apparent from external examination and consistent with the reported circumstances of the fall.

HISTORY.

Per Dr. David Linden, interviewed by telephone the morning of the 15th, Father Jarzembek had been in "fair general health for his age" with "occasional dizziness on rising, which I had treated with simple measures." Dr. Linden had last examined the deceased on the 29th of September, 1923. The deceased had a history of unsteady balance of several months' standing and had declined Dr. Linden's suggestion of a cane.

Per the Church of St. Casimir's, the deceased had been observed to stumble on the churchyard gate on the 7th of October (witness: Mrs. D. Sobczak).

DETERMINATION.

Cause of death: fracture of upper cervical spine resulting from fall down rectory staircase.

Manner of death: accidental.

No further examination recommended.

[signed] Malcolm Herrick, M.D. Coroner, Port Hume County 15 October 1923

[typed note clipped to reverse:]

To the Port Hume Police Department, for file. Toxicological examination was not ordered and is not, in this Coroner's considered opinion, warranted on the evidence available. Should additional circumstances come to light the Coroner's office stands ready to reconsider. — M.H.