Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, August 27, l903

From the Omaha Daily Bee we glean the following particulars of the death of DELL FRANKS, who years ago was a resident of Leon, being a nephew of MRS. F.M. OSBORN:

DELL FRANKS, a lineman for the Thompson-Houston Electric Light Company, who lived at 2627 Decatur Street, was electrocuted at eighteenth and Q Streets in South Omaha Thursday night at ll o'clock. He, with his wife started early in the evening for a drive and at the same time to make an inspection of the area lights, the work which has been the duty of the unfortunate man for some time past. The light located where MR. FRANKS met his death was not in working order and he climbed the pole to fix the wires. No sooner had he reached the top of the pole than his wife heard agonizing groans and looking up saw her husband hanging suspended on the wires with his body enwrapped in blue flames. The horrible scene caused her to scream for help. The firemen in the engine house nearby heard her and rushed to the scene and in a few moments, with the aid of long ladders, the lifeless body was brought down and taken to the undertaking rooms. A physician was summoned who pronounced the man dead and stated that death had been instantaneous.

MR. FRANKS had been in the employ of the electric light company for four years and always had been held in high esteem by his employers. He was 25 years old and was married six weeks ago. He had a number of years been a member of Omaha Lodge No. l59, Ancient Order of United Workmen and in all probability the Order will have charge of the funeral services.

His wife, who sat in the buggy and witnessed the tragic death, is prostrate and it will be weeks before she recovers from the terrible shock.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
March 2l, 2003