George Stafford ?-1899

STAFFORD

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/17/2012 at 19:17:28

Man Found Dead
A stranger by the name of Geo. Stafford was found dead in his bunk in one of the M. & St.L. boarding cars at Raleigh Friday [December 22, 1899] evening. Nothing is known as to where his relatives live, if he has any. He came to Spencer about ten days ago and hired out to work on the construction train and worked until Wednesday night when he was paid off. He went to Terril the following day and became quite intoxicated. He then came back to where the construction crew was at work, having with him a large bottle of raw alcohol. From the evidence at the inquest held by Coroner Myrick the same night it shows that he died from the effects of imbibing too freely in what is termed as “white line.” Not a letter or a scrap of paper of any kind was found on his body with which identity could be made. His name was taken from the foreman’s voucher where he had signed when receiving his check Wednesday night. He was buried at the county’s expense Sunday morning. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, December 27, 1899)

Geo. Stafford, a workman with the steel force south of here, died unexpectedly Friday evening in one of the boarding cars on the side track at Raleigh. Three or four companions were sitting in the car at the time but none knew that he was sick until after his death. Coroner Myrick and Atty. C. W. Crim were notified and went down to investigate the case. The inquest showed the cause of death to have been alcoholic poisoning. Stafford was a strong, robust fellow in the prime of life, but he had been on a spree for two or three days before his death and had been drinking pure alcohol. There was nothing about the incidents of the case to induce the least suspicion of foul play and no blame for the victim’s condition or death attached to anyone. (Weekly Northern Vindicator, Estherville, IA, December 28, 1899)