Gilbert, Jerome (Died Aug 6 ,1939)

GILBERT, CHILTON

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 6/25/2014 at 21:43:08

Source: Sioux Center News (8-17-1939)

Born: ??
Died: August 6, 1939

NO ONE CLAIMED CORPSE--BURIED HERE WITHOUT CEREMONY . Letter from father definitely identifies Gilbert.

Wednesday evening county coroner Vander Ploeg received a letter from Mr. J.M. Chilton of Orangeville, Illinois relating to Jerome Gilbert. Enclosed was a picture which plainly shows that the dead man is the same as shown in the picture on this page and is the adopted son of Mr. Chilton. He states that he received a letter from his son on July 16 and wrote him a few days later but this letter has been returned to him unclaimed. He describes Gilbert’s habits and states he hiked on fright trains and sold pencils, razor blades and other small items for a living. He explains that his son changed his name from Chilton to Gilbert after his wife had him sent to an asylum for drinking.

Jerome Gilbert, killed by the train three miles north of Sioux Center Sunday evening, August 6, was identified by the federal bureau of investigation finger print department. Sheriff Dykstra took the finger prints and sent them to Washington and three days later he received the following telegram.

Finger prints deceased man found on railroad right of way identical Jerome Gilbert received as three naught eighteen, State farm Green Castle, Indiana, June 1927 intoxication forty days--the other arrest investigation desertion. Residences given as Mason City, Iowa and Freeport, Illinois.