Burton, J. C. "Clay" ([1888]-1915)

BURTON

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 4/16/2010 at 15:00:46

J. C. Burton

Oct. 1915
NEWELL MAN KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENT
J. C. Burton Meets Death While Four Companions Escape.

A day of pleasure spent in attendance at the Three Link Association meeting in Sac City ended in a tragic manner for five prominent Newell Citizens on Wednesday afternoon between five and six o’clock when the automobile in which they were riding plunged over an embankment. The dead and injured are: J.C. Burton, manager of the Newell Telephone Co., killed instantly. Will E. Holtz, postmaster at Newell, head severely injured, result cannot be known for 24 hours. Ed Lewis, proprietor of Newell restaurant, both limbs badly hurt and bruised. W. D. Rust Jr. automobile dealer, hands cut and otherwise uninjured. Carl Mathieson, prominent citizen, badly bruised and shocked by the accident.

The party of Newellities had left Newell in the forenoon in Mr. Rust’s Chandler car to attend the Three Link association meeting in Sac City. In the afternoon while the ladies in attendance at the convention were entertained at a matinee, the party of five went for a ride a few miles south of Sac City. A car passed them on a narrow grade, and Mr. Rust’s car with its occupants, went over an embankment of twenty feet. The driver of the car, which had shoved them off the road, sped by, apparently unheedful of what had occurred. In the fall, J.C. Burton was killed instantly, having received fatal injuries to his head. Will Holtz, was the next most seriously injured, having been struck on the head which caused great loss of blood. Ed Lewis, son of E. E. Lewis a pioneer of Storm Lake, was pinned underneath the big touring car, and his injuries are confined to his limbs. The driver of the car, W. D. Rust Jr., and Carl Mathieson escaped the luckiest of the party with but minor injuries. Mr. Rust’s nerves were badly shaken and during the night a physician was called to attend to him.

All Newell is in mourning today over the tragic accident. Mr. Burton, who met his death, is the popular manager of the Newell telephone exchange and has lived in Newell for 3 years. He is a young man 27 years of age, and is survived by his wife and parents who reside in Swea City.
Language is utterly inadequate to express the sorrow of the people of Newell and the sympathy that goes out to Mrs. Burton in the tragic death of her beloved husband.

The members of the telephone force went to Newell Friday afternoon to attend the funeral of Clay Burton.

Submitted By: Kellie Smith