OFFICERS INVESTIGATE DEATH OF TWO MEN

REYNOLDS, WILSON, NEARHOOD, MAIN, SAUNDERS, __MENDSON, CARY, COLLINS, BIGGER, DOTSON, MURPHY, MCLAUGHLIN, ROPER

Posted By: Judy Kelley, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/24/2010 at 18:04:24

Sheldon Reynolds and Joe Wilson Found Dead in Cell.

FOUL PLAY IS FEARED.

Two Men Found Dead in Cell Full of Smoke - Bedding in Two Bunks Burned - Coroner's Jury Return Verdict of Death From Suffocation, But Circumstances Cause Officials to Conduct Investigation.

This community was thrown into chaos Monday morning when it became known that Sheldon ("Red") Reynolds and Joe ("Silvertop") Wilson were found dead in the cell room at the city hall, with the room full of smoke, the bedding on the west bunks burned up and the clothing of the latter on fire.

Mr. Reynolds had been placed in the cell about three o'clock Sunday afternoon and Mr. Wilson about 7:30 that evening. They were in a state of intoxication when put in. Shortly after midnight, Marshal Nearhood, as is his custom when prisoners are interned there, visited the cell, accompanied by Robt. Main. Mr. Wilson appeared to be still under the influence of liquor, although he recognized the voices of both visitors and spoke to them. Reynolds, to the contrary, was apparently sobered up, for he got to his feet and talked rationally. At the time he had a watch on his person and he took it out in their presence and told them the time. When Marshal Nearhood left he locked the cell door, but left the outer door unlocked.

At 6:30 W.C. Saunders, the engineer and caretaker, came to the hall, and as customary, went to the cell room and unlocked the cell door to let the prisoners out. He saw the men laying there on the bunks. At 7:10 o'clock he left the plant, and as far as he could see, there was nothing wrong. At 8:30 Messrs. Cary and Mr. __mendson, the former relatives of Reynolds, who were in town, upon hearing that he was in the station, went down to get him out and look after him. Opening the door to the cell room, they found it full of smoke and turned in an alarm of fire. Firemen and others were soon on the scene and found the two men dead in their cell, Wilson lying on his back in his bunk on the east side, with his head hanging over the end, untouched by fire, and Reynolds lying on the floor with his limbs on the bunk he cocupied and his clothing on fire. He was dragged outside and the fire extinguised. The bed clothing and mattresses on both upper and lower bunks on the west side, were burned up. Both men were in an advanced stage of rigor mortis when found. Attempts to bend the members of their bodies were useless they were so stiff.

Coroner J.H. Collins was at once notified and with J.A. Bigger, O.P. Dotson and C.C. Murphy as jury, the inquest was held that afternoon at 1:30, Atty. Briggs examining the witness and Court Reporter McLaughlin taking the testimony. The jury returned a verdict of death caused by suffocation from fire of unknown origin.

No blame is being attached to city officials for the tragedy.

Shortly after the inquest, W.C. Saunders, superintendent of the waterworks plant, and a veteran of the Civil war, collapsed under the stress of the shock and but for timely assistance would have died.

Mr. Reynolds was a resident of Fredonia and was about forty-two years of age. His mother Mrs. Jane Reynolds lives at Corning, Iowa, with a daughter, Mrs. F.L. Roper. He has two brothers living, Herschel and Ad__n of Fredonia.

Mr. Wilson is said to have a brother in Illinois and his parents and a brother and sister are said to reside in St. Paul, Minn., but up to this time no word has been received from them. They are said to be wealthy. He had been employed by J.G. Grimm and Robt. Garrett in this vicinity for a year.

The remains of Mr. Reynolds were taken to his home in Fredonia, and on Tuesday burial took place there. The body of Wilson remains here, unclaimed by his relatives.

The fact that the fire was incepted, the men suffocated and rigor mortis well advanced in the short time of an hour and ten or fifteen minutes, too soon for all that to occur, and that a watch which Reynolds had, was missing after diligent search was made, the authorities decided an investigation of their unusual death and the circumstances surrounding it, should be made. Accordingly, this afternoon an autopsy was performed on the body of Wilson, the result of which can not be ascertained at this time.

There are many here who are of the opion that death came to these men some time before the fire.

LCHS scrapbook; clipping from the Republican, Wapello, Iowa, Thursday, January 25, 1917