John L. Crall ___-1895

CRALL

Posted By: deb (email)
Date: 11/27/2015 at 10:22:20

POOR JOHN CRALL.

RAN INTO BURLINGTON FOR A “DAY OFF.”

With the Fumes of Liquor on His Brain and Gas in His Lungs He Has a Final “Taking Off.”

John L. Crall was asphyxiated last night in room No. 47 at the McCutcheon house. He was found stiff and cold in his bed at seven o'clock this morning. Coroner Unterkircher was notified immediately and the body was removed to the morgue. The inquest will be held this evening.

The dead man was about 50 years old 5 feet 8 inches in height and of medium build. His hair is thick and grizzled and plentifully sprinkled with gray; and a mustache and short beard of the same description. Five dollars in paper and $1.55 in silver was found in his pocket book; and an open face gold watch, elgin movement, in his vest pocket. His son in Waynesboro, Penn., and the city marshal in Farmington were telegraphed immediately.

John L. Crall registered at the McCutcheon house last evening between seven and eight o'clock from Farmington, Iowa, paid in advance for his supper, lodging and breakfast, and shortly after eight o'clock retired in a partially intoxicated condition. The clerk saw him safely in bed and turned the gas off before leaving the room. Evidences of confusion about the room indicate that Mr. Crall arose sometime during the early part of the night and turned the gas on, LEAVING IT UNLIGHTED. When entrance was effected to the room this morning it was full of gas, and Crall was dead. Before retiring last evening he sat in the office talking in an incoherent way, remaking inadvertently that he had been “beat” out of some money; had some family trouble and had run down to Burlington for a day off. Several letters which were found in his pocket indicate that he was a man of medium education, of moderate means and probably living with his son, John C., in Farmington. A letter from another son, J. T. Crall, postmarked at Waynesboro, Pa., March 6th, and addressed to Farmington, indicates that the dead man came direct from his home to this city. The letter speaks of the son's satisfaction in knowing that his father has “a good home with Cal and that Cal is doing well.” Another letter dated at Detroit, Kan., March 1st, from J. H. Kuhns, estends an invitation to “come back and stay with them,” and refers to the lost money and the probable person who has it.

Source: The Burlington Gazette, Thursday Evening, March 7, 1895

John Crall, who was asphyxiated with gas at the McCutcheon house Wednesday night, will be buried tomorrow afternoon at Aspen Grove. He was a private in Company A 77th Pennsylvania voluntary infantry, and will be buried in the soldiers' lot.

Source: The Burlington Gazette, Friday Evening, March 8, 1895