OBIT: William H. LEE, 1887, Shade Gap, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm 
__________________________________________

Death by Suffocation.

  Mr. William H. Lee, of Shade Gap, came to this city on Tuesday, and 
about 9 o'clock the same evening entered the office of the Leister 
House, where he remained until about 10 o'clock, when he inquired of 
Mr. Graffius, the clerk if he could accommodate him with lodging and 
breakfast.  Being answered in the affirmative he inquired the time of 
night, and being told that it was 10 o'clock, he said he believed he 
would go to bed.  Mr. Graffius accompanied him to his room, turned on 
the bas, and before leaving his guest inquired if he knew how to manage 
the gas.  Mr. Lee replied, "Oh, yes, I know how to do it."  About half-
past 5 o'clock on Wednesday morning Cyrus Beers, the porter, went up 
stairs for the purpose of calling a guest who desired to take the early 
train west, and noticing a strong odor of gas he began an 
investigation, when he soon discovered that the smell came from the 
room occupied by Mr. Lee.  He found the door bolted inside, when he 
climbed to the transom, which was open, looked in and saw the body 
lying on the bed.  He forced the bolt and upon entering the room 
discovered that the gas was escaping at full head.  He lit the gas, and 
upon going to the bed found the dead body of Mr. Lee lying with face 
toward the wall and the left foot on the floor.
  He promptly reported the case to the clerk, who at once summoned a 
physician, but the unfortunate man was beyond human aid.
  On Wednesday morning Coroner Dr. A. B. Brumbaugh summoned a jury to 
inquire into the cause of death.  After hearing the testimony of Cyrus 
Beers, Clifford Graffius and Miss Ida Leister, the jury returned the 
following verdict: "That W. H. Lee came to his death from asphyxiation 
by illuminating gas escaping into his room, he having blown out the gas 
on retiring, or turning it out re-turned the stop or key, allowing a 
full head of gas to escape into the room as it was found in the 
morning, the occurrence being accidental or from ignorance of the use 
of gas."
  The deceased was aged about 40 years, and leaves a wife and four 
children in indigent circumstances.  He was a blacksmith by occupation 
and for some time had been employed by the Rockhill Iron Company.
  The remains were prepared for burial and on Wednesday afternoon were 
taken to his late home by Mr. J. M. Cree.

The Huntingdon Journal, Huntingdon, Pa., Friday, October 28, 1887