Deeds, J.W. 1854-1917

DEEDS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/11/2012 at 16:54:21

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Aug. 14, 1917

DEAD BESIDE HIS CAR
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J.W. Deeds Meets Sudden Summons of Grim Messenger Yesterday Afternoon
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WAS ONE OF CHESTER'S MOST RESPECTED CITIZENS
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Presumption is That He Was Either Unconscious or Dead When Car Left Road
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Death without warning came to J.W. Deeds, one of the respected residents of Chester township, yesterday afternoon, when his lifeless body was picked up from beside his wrecked car. The concensus of opinion of physicians and others is that Mr. Deeds, if not dead, was at least unconscious when his car left the road. He had been unwell for some time and had suffered from attacks of dizziness. It is presumed that one of these came over him, causing him to lose control of the car.

The scene of the accident was the corner just south of the Harvey McFate home in Chester. Mr. Deeds had been to town in the morning and had called at the Grinnell Motor Car Company garage for a Ford car which he had purchased second hand. He drove home in it and after dinner drove up to the McFate home for a short stay. It was as he started on the return trip that he lost control of the car. Just south of the McFate driveway is a little grade leading down to the crossing of two roads. Mr. Deeds went down this grade, going slowly. He was going south. As he crossed the east and west road his car veered to the right and he went into the ditch at the southwest intersection. His car struck a post and overturned. Lloyd Tice, George Christianson and Ralph Berry all witnessed the accident from a short distance. When they reached the spot, they found Mr. Deeds clinging fast to the steering wheel. He never regained consciousness and may have been dead when they reached him.

The body was taken to his home and Coroner George Maxfield was summoned, who viewd the body, but saw no reason for holding an inquest. The injuries seemed to consist only of a deep cut across the back of the left hand, a cut on one leg and a number of superficial scatches on the body. There was nothing which could be considered likely to have caused death. One reason which points to Mr. Deeds' having been dead when the accident occurred is that the cut on his hand bled only very slightly.

The funeral will be held from the Deeds home tomorrow, Wednesday, afternoon at 3 o'clock.

Mr. Deeds was aged 63 years, 5 months and 1 day.