The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-23
NEGLIGENCE
Of the Most Reprehensible Kind
is Responsible
For the Failure to Notify the
Middaugh Family
Of the Death of Lester Mid
daugh at MOntauk.
HIS SUPPOSED BODY
Was Buried by His Relatives
Yesterday
But No Proof That 1t Was His
Remains.
HIS SUPPOSED BODY

Mrs. j. Small OF SnOreys Formerly MIS-.
Middaugh, although in much doubt at
first owing to conflicting statements
which reached her ears, is now partial
Iy convinced, at least, that her son Les
ter Middaugh died in the hospital at
Montauk Point where he was taken af-
ter contracting fever with the Twenti-
eth U. S. infantry at Santiago.
Now Mrs. SmalPs consuming fear is
that there may have been mistake
made in exhuming the body and that
the corpse which was buried in this city
yesterday was not the remains of her
son.
The Middaugh home is between the
suburbs of North Topeka and ShOrey.
Back from the road, fifty yards,
stands an old-fashioned home, built at
ter the style of southern architecture.
Hospitable verandas. fronting on an i'm
mense lawn offered not the usual well
come to callers. Instead the blinds were
drawn and the house darkened. Those
who moved about did so with mufi1ed
steps.
Lester Niddaugh enlisted in the regu-
lar army under a false impression. The
mother and members of the family
grieved when the young man talked of
going to the army when the war with
Spain was first declared. The young
man was fired with the ardOr of patri-
OtiSm and did all that persuasion could
do to induce his mother to give her
consent to his enlistment. After pro-
tracted pleadings she consented.
Within a short time after his enlist
ment the Twentieth was ordered to the
front. After the Twentieth led the
charge which made them famous at Ell
Caney, the Middaughs were overjOyed
to find that the name of their son did
not appear in the list of killed or
wounded.
When the regulars started to return
to the United States the young soldier
was taken sick. He was sent to the
hospital at Montauk Point, where he
died September 10th and was buried the
same day.
Although the young soldier did not
a word of information came to his
mother. He was buried and still no
report from the war department. A
young lady acquaintance of the family
took the first news to the home. She
said that reading an eastern paper she
had seen something about the death Of
Lester Middaugh. Then the family
started an immediate inquiry. A tel
egram to the soldiers captain brought
a response that the boy was buried the
day Of his death.
Beyond this solicited information the
family has heard nothing from the war
department. Nothing concerning his
effects, clothing or money. Among
the things the soldier took with him
were some family relics and keepsakes.
He also wore two or three valuable
rings and it is believed was paid off af-
ter arriving at the hospital. Trinkets,
money, clothing, nor man, were heard of
The report is that the boy died Sep
TENDER 10. The body was exhumed, in
accordance with the request of the fam
lily, September 49, and forwarded to To-
peka, arriving yesterday. The remains
were enclosed in a plain pine box and
the heartbroken mother and sorrowing
relatives were compelled to witness the
burial in that rude coffin. The mother
insisted upon seeing the remains of the
son and only the utmost persuasion on
the part of the remainder of the family
could dissuade her. Not having seen
the body, which was of course entirely
unrecognizable the mother now fears
from the large number of graves at the
hospital, the wrong body may have
been secured. Another feature of I'M
certainty connected with the affair is
the fact that Earl Anderson who re-
turned with the regiment to Leaven-
worth and is now at home, says that he
saw young NIiddaugh September 9, the
day prior to his death, and that he
seemed to be greatly improved and felt
that he would be out of the hospital in
a day or two. But this is only one of
the puzzling questions connected with
the case. Another man who was with
the regiment says that he believes he
saw the Topeka man in st. Louis.
George Niddaugh, a brother of the
young man said: 'fOur family is so
wrought up over this affair that we
don't know what steps to take next in
attempting to get at the truth. Why
did they not notify US. What became
of his blankets, his clothes. It is a hor-
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