The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-04-20
SUFFOCATED.
SAMUEL DEvoRe MEETS HIS DEATH
UNDER PecULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
He Falls Into Gutter Filled with Water,
Mud and slush and is suffooated-Par-
ticulars of the Unfortunate Affair.

He Falls Into Gutter Filled With Water,
Mud and slush and is suffooated-Psr-
ticulars Of the Unfortunate Affair.
Peculiarly distressing are the circum>
stances surrounding the death OF SAMUEL
Devore, of No. 72 Dunbar street. There
are few citizens in Canton who did not
know Sam Devore. All OF the older resi-
dents knew him. For many years he has
been a laborer in Canton, and usually
worked on the streets. For long time
he has been on the street commissioners
pay roll, and his tall form was seen on
the streets daily. He had friends, many
of them, as unfortunate an ne, bus there
is no man who can soy that Sam Devore
ever did him Rrievoua wrong. de had
his faults, however, one of which was
habit OF lingering too long at ,he bowl,
and as a consequence becoming very
much Intoxicated. tie has quite often
been In that condition, and IL was on &C.
count of this habit that he was found dead
this morning.
and remained until about $3.50 o'clock, or
perhaps little later. He boarded Ma
honing street car, and Motorman Dlaer
states that he was considerably Intoxicat-
ed when he attempted to get on the car
on his way home. He alighted from the
car at Pennsylvania avenue and remained
went into Joe Adams place very much
under the influence OF liquor, and even
did not ask for more. He remained in
Adams place but q short time and then
departed. That is the last that was seen
of him alive.
A. o'clock this morning Henry Schlem-
mer, who resides at No. n Lippert street,
az the corner of Mahoning street, observed
that snow had fallen during the night and
started out to sweep the walk. He noticed
something lying in the gutter, near the
foot of q telegraph pole, but paid no at>
tention 10 it. As he worked his way
nearer he glanced again towards the
object in the gutter and observed that
man was lying there, partly coveredkby
snow. Schlemmer at once went to him
and recognized Sam Devore. Upon lift
ing him up IL was found that the man was
stone dead and the indications were that
he had been dead for several hours.
Word was at once sent to his home and
q son soon arrived. The sou was shocked
and deeply panied at the intelligence of
his fathers death and preparations were
at once made to take the body home.
Homer BauRhman and Officer George
Jacobs assisted in this, but il was neces-
saTy to await the arrival of Coroner Conk-
lin who had been sent for. AS soon as the
coroner arrived and viewed tue remains,
a convenient wagon was brought into use
and the body taken home.
Deceased was 66 years of age lAst
November and leaves u wife and several
children, He was hard working man.
The most acceptable theory concerning
his death IL that he was endeavortuR TO
get home and becoming confused and
unable to walk with any degree OF preci-
sion, leaned against a telegraph pole TO
re OF and to regain his scattered senses.
He became overbalanced and fell face
downward into the mud and water and
slush which was in the ditch, to the depth
of about six inches. His face being
downward IL is thought he smothered to
death. His left hand was clasped at his
throat when he was found and his right
hand lay directly at his side.
The remains were taken in charge by
Undertaken Shilling and prepared for
burial. Coroner CoDklin took testimony
in the case and while the weather was
cold enough to freeze the man to death, ii
10 probable that he died of sutfocation.
Had he simply been unable to rise and
had not smothered, he would doubt
less have died Of exposure and cold be.
fore morning. The funeral will be held
Monday.