The daily gazette., 1876-04-24
From ST. Louis Republican, of April 18th
Death of Hon. Trusten Polk,

Hon. Trusten Polk, ex-governor of
the State of Missouri and ex. United
States senator, expired very suddenly
at half past l o'clock yesterday morn
ing, at his residence, No. l406 Lucas
Place. For several weeks he had been
troubled with an affection OF the throat
but was still able, by reason of the re-
markablc energy of character he pos
sessed, to discharge his professional
duties, though under great embarrass.
ments. For the last two weeks he has
been engaged on the part of the de-
fence in the trial of very important
law case, involving the title to the
SIXTEENTH (schooD sectional suit which
was commenced in the year 1S53-and
on Friday last, owing to what was sup
posed to be only temporary indispo-
sition on his part, the case was con-
tinued over until Monday morning.
He had become much better on Satur.
day, and was occupied until half past
10 o'clock on Saturday night in the
examination of papers and the prepa-
ration of his case. He was writing at
his desk until half past ten o'clock,
when he retired without intimating to
any of the family that he was at ali in.
disposed. About twelve o'clock he
was taken with somewhat violent
cough, which was soon relieved by
seme simple remedy, and a few min
utes sleep were obtained. Presently
another fit of coughing ensued attend
ed with considerable difficulty in
breathing. Mrs. Polk, becoming
alarmed, dispatched messenger for
DIR. McPheters. In very short time,
Mr.. Polk became worse, fell back
helplessly on the bed, and expired
after few labored breaths. He left a
family, consisting of a widow and four
daughters. One of the daughters is
married to DR.. Draper of Whining
ton, Delaware.
Only few circumstances are known
which tend to throw any light upon
the sad and entirely unexpected event.
Some weeks ago Mr.. Polk called upon
DR.. w. M. McPheeters, and said he
had been troubled lately with diff.
Guilty in the upper part of the chest,
apparently something like asthma
After talking the matter over for few
minutes, Mr.. Polk went away, promis-
ing to come in again and have a
thorough examination made. AT the
time nothing serious was expected
from the affection, and Mr.. Polk never
called again in reference to the matter.
He has since complained at home how
ever, of the same difficulty.
MIR. Polk with Mr.. Britton A. Hill,
were the counsel in suit of the Pub
lie Schools, represented by Glasgow
and Taylor, surviving Commissioners
of Fractional Section 16, versus The
Lindell Heirs. The suit has been 23
years in the courts, and involves all
the knotty questions affecting titles in
the Grand Prairie common field let's
since the occupation of Louisiana ter
ritory by the United States in 1904. 1t
was carried up to the supreme court,
where it was reversed and remanded,
and is now pending before Judge
Knight. 1t has occupied the court two
weeks, and Mr.. Polk was TO appear in
the case to-day.
For many years Mr.. Polk has been
hsnorably and prominently associated
with the history of The city st. Louis
and of the state. He was born In Sus-
sex county, Delaware, on the Goth of
Nav, 1911, and WIS therefore near the
close of his 65th year. He was the
son of VIM. Nj. Polk, and his mother
| was the sister of Gov. Peter +. Causey
the father of VIM. F. Causey, Esq :,
the law partner of Gov. Polk. He
graduated at Yale college in 1881, in
the goth year of his age. He after
wards studied law for two years in the
law school at Yale college. In the