Iowa
Old Press
Quad City Times
Davenport, Scott co., Iowa
Sunday, December 1, 1918
KILLED IN SCUFFLE OVER GUN
Marshalltown, Ia., Nov. 30.—Scuffling over the
possession of a 22-calibre rifle, held by 13-year-old Charles
Sexton, son of a farmer living near Ferguson, Ia., resulted in
the death of Merrill Spease of Ferguson. Young Spease and several
companions had gone on the Sexton land to hunt, and ran across
Sexton, who ordered them off the place. The lad had his rifle
with him and, it is said, threatened to shoot Spease. The latter
tired to take the gun away from Sexton. In the scuffle the rifle
was discharged and the ball penetrated Spease’s groin. He
died three hour later.
ROBBED in “Bullpen"
Sioux City, Ia., Nov. 30.—Peter and Elmer Dingman
are robbers bold, if the claims of H. M. Michelson, a Lithuanian,
are true. Michelson was arrested for drunkenness and managed to
secret $20 in his shoes before being locked in his cell. Shortly
after, the Dingmans were arrested on robbery charges and lodged
in the same cell with Michelson. When the police left the
Dingmans, they jumped on Michelson and taking off his shoes got
the money. The Dingmans denied the theft, but a search revealed
the $20 in the clothes of one of them.
[transcribed by L.Z., November 2017]
The Daily Times
Davenport, Iowa
Saturday, December 7, 1918
POLICE OFFICER DIES OF PNEUMONIA.
Officer Roy Liesveld of the Moline police department, who died Friday afternoon at the Moline City hospital following a brief illness of pneumonia, contracted the illness while driving the city ambulance during the present influenza-pneumonia epidemic.
He drove the city ambulance that carried hundreds of Moline people to the Red Cross emergency hospital and other hospitals. While doing this work he contracted the influenza a few weeks ago. Knowing that he was greatly needed, he left his bed to return to his post and in his weakened condition contracted the pneumonia.
It was just a few days ago that Chief of Police Ben DeJager noticed that Liesveld appeared ill and urged him to return to bed, but he refused saying, “I am too greatly needed to drive the ambulance to do that.” He finally convinced the Chief that he was not ill and so remained at work.
LIESVELD BODY TAKEN TO HOME
The body of Roy C. Liesveld, former Moline motorcycle and patrol driver for the Moline police force will be taken to Germania, Ia., Sunday evening for burial in the Maple Hill Cemetery of that city.
Mr. Liesveld made a long hard fight against the influenza-pneumonia, his condition being very serious for the past week. His passing will cause a great vacancy around the city hall, Roy being one of the most popular on the force.
He is survived by his wife and a five-year-old daughter, one brother Arthur, also of the police force of this city, one sister Julia M., and his parents of Germania, Iowa.
His wife and child, both ill of pneumonia at the city hospital, are reported as improving. It is the hope of all that they will soon be recovered.
[transcribed by L.Z., Mar 2022]