Daniel Stapleton

STAPLETON

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 7/7/2014 at 14:09:08

The following items were included in the old obit board, and are being moved here for that reason, even though they are not technically obits.

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

The family of Daniel Stapleton, 306 East Ninth street, are in great distress over his disappearance. He left his home about 7 o'clock Saturday evening last to come down town and get a paper; at 9:30 he was seen on the corner of Fourth and LeClaire streets by an acquaintance who conversed with him. He was all right at that time. Since that hour his have family heard nothing from him - and all efforts to find him frutless. He has lived in Davedport for nearly thirty years, and is well known to many people in the city. He is a boiler maker by trade. He is short in stature, a thin, spare for, rather sunken cheeks, and keen dark eyes. He is genial and inclined to converse on slight encouragement. His family are of the opinion that he has been foully dealt with.
Source: The Davenport Democrat, 03 April 1883, p.1.

WAS HE MURDERED?

A Body Known to be that of Daniel Stapleton found in the River - Marks of Violence.
The evening of the 31st of March, Daniel Stapleton, 306 east Ninth street, left his home to come down town and get a paper - and he did get the paper from Mr. Ottersen. He then stepped into a friend's house on Iowa street, above Second, and staid there until 9 o'clock, when he started for home. And that was the last his family ever heard of him. He had lived in Davenport 18 years, and never spent an evening from home when in the city. He was employed in the railroad shops.
This afternoon the body of a man was taken out of the river, near Grant's old saw mill, it having arisen among some logs of Paige, Dixon & Co. Chief Kessler pronounced it to be the body of Daniel Stapleton. The skull was mashed in as with the back of an axe. If it be the body of Mr. S., he was undoubtedly murdered and thrown into the river.

The body has been fully identified as that of Mr. Stapleton by his elder son.

Source: The Davenport Democrat, 02 May 1883, p. 1.

THE STAPLETON INQUEST

This forenoon Coroner Bawden commenced an inquest over the remains of Daniel Stapleton, whose body was found in the river near Paige, Dixon & Co's mill yesterday afternoon and reported in last evening's DEMOCRAT.

The jury was composed of Chas. Seims, Thomas O'Brien and William Steffen. A little important testimony was taken during the forenoon. Phillip Schultz a barber, who had known Mr. Stapleton for fourteen years, testified that he shaved him on the 31st of March, when he (Stapleton) was going to Dan King's funeral. Stapleton seemed depressed, though he was always jovial before, and said, "you give me the last shave like Dan King." Witness thought nothing of the remark until he heard that Stapleton was missing, and told Mrs. S. that he though Dan was in fun.
Michael Coughlin testified that Stapleton was at his house, 312 LeClaire street, at 9 o'clock the evening he disappeared, was in good spirits, could not say he was drunk, and "walked just as good as I ever saw him walk." He wanted witness to go over to Pat Stapleton's with him, and, when he left witness' house he said, "Well then, this boy will go up the hill," meaning LeClaire street, in the direction of his home.

The coroner made a statement of his examination of the body, which had undergone great post mortem changes. The only thing worthy of special mention was a contusion over the right eye; and while there was a blood-clot on the skull, the skull was not broken. In the coroner's opinion it might have been caused by a fall, and could have been caused by a blow.

Mrs. Stapleton, her daughters Maggie and May, and son Daniel, all testified that the husband and father had been cheerful when they last saw him before his death. He visited May where she words, the evening he disappeared, leaving her about 8:15 o'clock, saying Maggie was with her mother and he must accompany her to her home. He was not downcast - showed no signs of feeling ill or down-hearted.

The inquest is in progress as we go to press.
The jury will probably return verdict of death by accidental drowning - or death from cause unknown.

Source: The Davenport Democrat, 03 May 1883, pg, 1.

CAUSE UNKNOWN
The coroner's inquest in the case of Daniel Stapleton was resumed by Dr. Bawden this morning. No evidence of any importance whatever, additional to that published in this paper yesterday, was secured. The witnesses examind were Chief Kessler, Captain Falkner, officer Gartland, Antoine LeClaire, and Patrick Shanley. All but Chief Kessler testified to seeing the deceased on the 31st ult., the date of his disappearance, and that he was perfectly sober. The Chief testified as to the finding of the body and the contents of the pockets - specs and handkerchief.
So there was no account of Mr. Stapleton's movements after he left Michael Coughlin's, on LeClaire street, above Third, and started up that thoroughfare saying he was going home.
The jury - Messrs. Thomas O'Brien, Carl Siems and Wm. Steffen - returned a verdict "that the said Daniel Stapleton came to his death on or about the 31st day of March, 1883, by causes to the jury unknown."

Source: The Davenport Democrat, 04 May 1883. pg. 1.

As submitted by Donna Walker.