Asa A JONES

JONES

Posted By: Angela Buchhop (email)
Date: 11/10/2006 at 21:40:14

Newspaper Article printed in The Tribune, Webster City, IA Friday 29 Dec. 1905

IS FOUND DEAD IN THE ROAD.

Killed by Whiskey or Frozen to Death.

ASA JONES, NAME

Verdict Given by the Coroners Jury.

A SAD CASE INDEED.

Fell From Buggy and Was Out All Night.

____

The body of Asa Jones, a well known farmer residing on the J. H. Shipp farm four miles northwest of this city, was found dead by the roadside frozen stiff in death Sunday afternoon by Chas. Nelson. The remains were brought to this city where Corner O A Hall empanneled a jury, who found that the man came to his death from exposure to the weather. Two full half pints of whisky and a pint bottle almost drained found on the body told the story of the man's death. He had spent Saturday in Duncombe where he had been drinking. On the way home Saturday night he had fallen from his buggy. Too stupid to realize his position or to even move he had lain where he had fallen and had frozen to death.

Jones' faithful horse had gone on side of the face indicated that when he had fallen from the carriage, he had struck on that side of the head. No bones in the body were broken and as the horse he had driven and the buggy had arrived homoe uninjured the theory that he might have been killed in a runaway was not considered by the jury. Some small change, a check book, a plug of tobacco and other small trinkets, such as a man has about his person, were found on the boyd. The two full half pints if whiskey and the almost drained pint flask bore the stamp of the Eli Dyer saloon in Duncombe. The witnesses examined by Coroner Hall were Chas. Nelson, F. P. Helmick, one of Jones' sons and Undertaker John H. Lee. The testmony of these and the flasks of whisky were sufficient in the minds of the jury and their verdict was rendered in accordance.

Some people acquainted with the facts think the whisky caused the death as they contend that it was not cold enough on that night to freeze a man who was dressed as Jones was. This is a very reasonable view to take.

The deceased leaves a wife and six children. He also has a brohter in this city - S. A. Jones, who resides in the west part of town. Jones was not a confirmed drunkard, as those who did not know him might infer from the manner of his death. While his family and his friends knew that he occasionally drank, it was only at long intervals that anyone knew him to drink to excess. In his family relations he was an exemplary husband and father.

The case is indeed a sad one.

The funeral was held at 11 o'clock Tuesday morning at the home conducted by Rev. Ginn of the Methodist church. The body was then taken to Duncombe where services were held in the M. E. church and the remains intered in the Duncombe cemetery.