The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-19
DROWNED IN A BATH TUB.
The Sudden Death of william A.
PeeIIe, Jr., Occurs

William A. Peelle. jr., ex-chief of the
bureau of state statistics, met death yes
terday by drowning in a bath tub at the
new Visitors home. a fine hotel just
built by the Sisters of Providence outside
s.. Mary's institute, five miles west of
Terre Haute.
The accident occurred about o'clock in
the afternoon. The peculiar means of
CATION by Coroner Payne disclosed the
fact that il was purely accidental Mr..
Peelle was to open and take charge OF
the hotel and with is wife went there from
this city for that purpose last Friday, in
tending TO open il next Monday.
He had been in poor health OF late. He
started to take a bath in the new bath
rooms. He had been in the room some
time when Mrs. Peelle went to assist him
IN dressing. She could get no answer at
the door and becoming alarmed she called
for assistance. The door was forced open
and Mr.. Peelle was found dead stretched
out in the bath tub.
In the excitement no effort at resuscita-
ton was made. He was lying partially on
his right side with his left arm beneath
his body and his right arm pinioned to
the side Of the tub by the weight of the
body The tub was but half filed with
water, making it very easy for him to
have prevented drowning by a slight
struggle. The doctors think Mr.. Peelle
was drowned in attempting to turn the
weight Of his body around. They think
that in doing SO the weight of his body
fell on his arms, and being weak, from
sickness, he could not eXtricate himself.
The remains will be brought to this city
today.
William A. Peelle, jr., was born in
wayne county. Indiana, in 1S45. While
Sill 4 lad his father moved to Winchester,
Randolph county. where young Peelle took
a position in dry goods store as clerk.
He remained there for several years. He
was mere lad when the war broke out
but before it closed he put in eighteen
months OF service for his country. He
was in the cOmmissary department at
Nashville, Tenn. He returned TO Win
chester at the close of the war and re-
mained until 1874. when he came TO this
city. He was appointed deputy secretary
OF state and served two terms under
Secretary Neff and was again appointed
by the Hon. ]. G.. Shankin when the
latter was elected in 1873. He was as
sistant clerk Of the legislature in 1881 and
was afterward elected chief of the bureau
Of statistics. an office which the legislature
gave him three times successively.
The Office was afterward made elective
by the people and in 1890 Mr.. Peelle was
elected and a snort time ago completed his
second term
When Mr.. Peelle was succeeded by Mr..
Thompson a few weeks ago ne made bus
mess deal which required his residence at
St Mary's in Nigo county. and about ten
days ago he removed, with his family, 10
that place
Mr.. Peelle was a brother Of Stanton ].
Peelle, judge # the United States court
Of appeals at Washington.
Mr.. Peelle's record in the state house is
a remarkable one. In all he spent a little
over sixteen years there, during ten of
which Re was at the head of the bureau Of
statistics. When he went into the office in
1881 the statistical department of the state
government amounted TO nothing more than
A soft snap for favorite of the party
which controlled the legislature. But by
hard work and a careful study of the adj
vances made in this line in other states Mr.
Peelle was able to bring the department up
to a favorable comparison with other states.
II it fell short Of other states in some re-
spects it surpassed them in others and would
doubtless have exceled in all had it re-
ceived appropriations from the legislature
sufficiently large to carry on the work M
Peelle was well known and liked by all who
knew him. He always associated largely
with young men, and although quite gray
had a youthful appearance which beied his
fOrty-nine years Of age. Until his removal
to St. Mary's. after his retirement from Of
fee. Mr.. Peelle resided with his family at
277 Z. New YOrk-st.
n,T.