Dudgeon, Allen 1886-1950

DUDGEON

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/24/2012 at 16:03:39

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Friday, August 4, 1950

POLICE DISCOUNT POSSIBILTY OF FOUL PLAY
IN DEATH HERE BUT CONTINUE INVESTIGATION

Allen Dudgeon Found Lying on Floor By Youth

City police are investigating the possibility of foul play in the death of Allen Dudgeon who was found sprawled in his room on Fourth Avenue NW in LeMars Wednesday morning with two gashes on the side of his head. The gashes were reported to have aroused police curiosity.

The 63-year-old veteran of World War I was discovered face down by Charles Zink, a paper boy who delivered his paper to him each morning.

The room was in darkness when Dudgeon was found and Mrs. Minnie Schulz, a neighbor who was called, told police she was unable to turn the lights on in the room “because something was wrong with the fuses.”

On the left side of Dudgeon’s head were two deep gashes about an inch and a half long. One of the gashes crossed his left ear. The other was lower and behind the ear.

In connection with the two gashes was a large swollen lump and considerable bleeding.

County Coroner S. H. Luke ruled that Dudgeon died of natural causes.

Speculation on the possibility of foul play was said to arise partly from the fact that if the death were caused by a stroke or other natural cause there would have been comparatively little bleeding or swelling from the two gashes.

Also the body was discovered with the two gashes facing upward. Unless the body had rolled completely over after being cut by the fall, the cuts would have been facing downward, authorities suggest.

The motive could have been robbery since Dudgeon’s pockets were empty. A key which Mrs. Schulz said he always carries with him was also missing.

Dudgeon was a retired veteran who lived here in LeMars for 23 years. He was born July 3, 1886, in Arapahoe, Nebr. He never married. He was cripple with an artificial left leg.

He is survived by a sister, Viola D. Warner, who lives in Los Angeles, Calif.

Funeral arrangements, being handled by Mauer’s Funeral home, are tentatively set for Saturday with interment in the LeMars cemetery.
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LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
August 8, 1950

PROBE CONFIRMS CORONER’S VERDICT
Drudgeon Death Due To Natural Causes

Additional investigation last week by city police officers confirmed the verdict of S. H. Luken, county coroner who termed death of Allen Dudgeon Wednesday as being from natural causes.

Funeral services for Mr. Dudgeon, 63, were held Saturday from the Mauer Funeral Home. Rev. Ward B. Campbell, of the Free Methodist church officiated, and burial was in the City cemetery.

Circumstances surrounding the death had aroused police curiosity, but each suspicious factor was discovered to have a satisfactory and natural explanation.

The peculiar cuts and head bruise had resulted from a mop handle attachment, authorities stated, which his head had apparently struck as he fell. Authorities suggested that because of his crippled condition (his left leg had been amputated), he would probably have fallen heavily.

Originally it was believed that his pocketbook was empty, but later investigation disclosed the sum of $15 stored in a separate compartment, eliminating the implications suggested by what was at first believed to be an empty billfold.

Coroner Luken placed the time of death at sometime during Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.

Later in the morning, before the body was discovered, E. W. Eaton of the Railway Express Co., attempted to deliver a package that had arrived for Mr. Dudgeon.

When no one answered his knock, he left a note telling of the package’s arrival, and left. The package contained a new artificial limb, worth $250.