The coroner arrived at the scene on the day of the disaster and swore in six community leaders that afternoon to serve as a jury investigating the death of Superintendent Huyck.[54] Informal testimony had been taken on May 19 and the formal coroner's inquest started on May 23.[56][57] The Clinton County prosecutor conducted the examination, and more than 50 people testified before the jury.[58] During his testimony, David Hart stated that Kehoe had told him that he had "killed a horse"[59] and The New York Times reported people as saying that Kehoe had "an ungovernable temper" and "seemed to have a mania for killing things". Neighbors testified that he had been wiring the buildings at his farm about that time and that he was evasive about his reasons.[4]