The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-20
f. w. CURRY's DEATH.
The Victim Of the EIks' Initiation Was
EX-Indinnian.


DIES MONIES. Ia. Nov. 19.-The death of
Z. w. Curry chairman of the Democratic
State central committee of Iowa, from
blood poisoning caused, it is alleged. by in
juries received while being initiated into
the Des Mones Lodge of Elks. has caused
much excitement here, owing to the prom
inence of the victim Che was one of the
leading criminal lawyers of the State), and
TO the mystery that surrounded the affair.
Mr. Curry was born July %. 1S4S. at Elk
hart Ind and removed to Decatur county
in 1853 Until he was fourteen years OF age
he lived and worked on a farm. When the
war broke out. boy he was, he enlisted
as a private in Company l., Third Iowa
Volunteer Cavalry, and served until peace
was restored. During the lighting he was
under the command of Colonel Busy, COL
IL. Clay Caldwell, who is now United
States Judge, and Gen. John w. Noble. Sec
retary OF the Interior under President har-
rison. lie travelled with Cirearson and VIII
in their celebrated raids throughout
the South, and on Aug. 70, 1900, he was dis
charged. On returning 10 his home IN De-
catur county Mr. curry, then grown up 10
manhood, began to study. he went 10
school and remained with his books for
three years, and then he took up law. His
education in the law was received at the
University Of Iowa's law school, at Iowa
City and in 1869 he was graduated. He at
once began the practice of law at Leon
the leading criminal lawyer of southern
Iowa. and was considered shrewd poiti-
cal manager.
AS stated. Mr. Curry's death is reported
to have been the result of injuries received
while being Initiated into a lodge or Elks.
Blood poisoning resulted from the injuries.
and this caused death. AS part of the cere-
mony, he was seated I'm chair with
thin iron seat and lighted lamp placed
candidate would jump out of the chair
when the heat became unbearable. But he
didn't jump. With some friends he had
been out in the afternoon and had been
drinking, and it is said that when he went
into the hall he was very much under the
influence of liquor The allegation is & that
folded his sensibilities We're SO benumbed
that he was severely burned without know
ing Ii, or being able to move. The on-look-
ers saw him fairly cook for some time.
wondering at his nerve, till they saw smoke
rising from the chair. Then he was taken
trousers were burned away and his flesh
was almost crisp. He was taken to his ho-
tel and cared for by the best physicians, At
his own request it was given out that he
was suffering from another trouble. and
the true story did not leak out until to-day.
Even yet there is much mystery about il.
The story of how his injuries were con-
tracted was given out by members of the
Elks' Lodge after more sensational story
had been current. 1T was that Instead OF a
heated chair he was placed on an electrical
chair and light current turned on in the
expectation of making him squirm. He
manifested no discomfort. and the current
| was increased several times. without pro-
| ducing any apparent effect. Then the
| smoke was seen. and he was taken out
| half electrocuted. This story was denied
| and the story about the heated chair given
| out. The mystery about the affair has
| caused great sensation. The Elks met
| last night but after their session had
nothing to say except to repeat their earl
| ier version
| There has been no disposition on the part
| of Mr.. Curry's family TO blame the MEM
bers of the order. who did all in their DOW
| er for him during the illness Mrs. Curry
| and her daughter the only members of the
| family. earnestly desired that Mr. Curry's
| frequently expressed wish. that the truth
should never he made public. should he
carried out. The remains We're taken to
| Leon to-day and buried in the afternoon.
The funeral was in charge of the Leon
| Masons and Des Moines Elks.
| Elks Here Have No "HOt Chair"
| Regarding the report from Des Moines.
| Ia. that Edward W. Curry was so badly
| burned in an electrical chair while being
| initiated by the Elks' Lodge three weeks
ago that his injuries resulted in his DEATH
the Elks here claim that the story lacks
| truth. prominent Elk said last night
THE Elks do not have an electrical chair
| in their initiation. We have none here and
| L have never heard of any other lodge in
| the order having one. The initiation cere-
| mony is very beautiful and impressive and
| there is no monkey business connected
| with ii. lf the man was burned in such a
| contrivance ii was after the initiation was
| over and while his friends were having fun
ty-if i'm hot fr