Lafayette Choisser
Verdict of Coroner's Jury

State of California
County of Mariposa

In the matter of the Inquisition upon the body of Lafayette CHOISSER.

We, the undersigned, the jurors summoned to appear before Henry PEARD, Justice of the Peace, residing at Bear Valley, District 3, acting as Coroner, to inquire into the cause of death of Lafayette CHOISSER, found dead on the 18th day of November, 1884, near the trail leading from the Benton Mills to Coulterville, and about a half a mile from the said mills, do on our oaths find on taking testimony in sight of, and on inspection of the body of the said deceased, that he was a native of Illinois, and of the age of fifty.

And we do find after hearing all the testimony that could be adduced concerning the death of said Lafayette CHOISSER, that the same was caused by the effect of two wounds- one to the left temple, which broke the skull or frontal bone, exhibiting a cut some one and a half inches in length- the other, on the back part of the head, cutting through the scalp and causing a fracture of the skull bone. And we, the said Jurors of Inquest, do find and certify that we are unable to say how the said wounds, the immediate cause of the death of said Lafayette CHOISSER, were produced.

Bear Valley, signed this 21st day of November, 1884.
John REPETTO
Pasqual CASTAGNINNO
James ADAIR
John GUEST
G. L. LERTORA
Patrick McELLIGOTT

Thanks to Mariposa County historian
William Disbro for this obituary.