The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-09
It IS A MYSTERY
David Ford Drowned at Clay
Center Under
PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES
Believed to be Son of D. w.
Ford of This City.

Mr.. D. W. Ford of this city has receiv-
| ed intelligence that the David Addison
Ford who came to his death by drowning
at Clay Center last Monday, is in all
probability his SON Mr.. Ford has sor
by that name, but during the last two
| years did not know where he had been
| residing. The son was married, and it
is said that he and his wife had trouble
! at different times. Nothing was definite
ly known about the death of the younger
Ford until yesterday, when young man
arrived in the city from Clay Center and
| related the circumstances in regard to
the affair
According to the statements made yes
ter6ay to D. w. Ford regarding the cir
cumstances of the drowning, there seems
to he some mystery in regard to it. The
man and his wife were in a boat at the
time the accident happened, and it was
with some difficulty that the woman es-
capped. Ford was in the water for some
time before his body was found. Imme-
,dia:ely after the finding of the body, a
coroner's inquest was held and the YER
dict Of the jury was that he came to
his death by accidental drowning
Patsy Nolan is the name of the young
maa who gave the history of the acct
Cent to Mr.. Ford. Mr.. Nolan owns a
farm in Oklahoma, near Lamont, and
for few days had been on business in
different parts Of the state. He was seen
yesterday at the court house by a re-
porter for the Eagle, and to him said:
'I happened to be in Clay Ctenter dur
ing the time Of the drowning and know
something Of the affair It seems that
the two people, the man and his wife,
had secured a boat Of an old colored man
and had gone out on the river. The wo-
man asked the colored man to go along,
and according to the old mans story, the
woman said that she was afraid the
man would be drowned before ne came
back. When the accident was discovered
the boat was turned over and the wom-
an on the bank Of the river gasping for
breath
after the body had been embaimed by
an undertaken went up to see it in COM
pany with a friend. TIE face Of the man
was scratched and there were bands of
cotton around the neck. My companion
a part Of the bands and there
was a long mark on one side OF the neck.
The body was well preserved. I do not
know that foul play was committed. |
There had been stories as to the man
quarreling with his wife. Whether these
were true I do not know There was /
also another story that the man was in !
toxicated
at seems that the man Ford had visit !
ing to induce his wife to return home
with him. Whether they were on coed .
terms o. not do not know.
''On account of the many stories af1oat
It was hard to find out anything definite
about the matter, but to me the drown
ing is very mysterious, owing to the
marks on the face and neck and some
bumps on the head. Whether there was
foul play CT not would hardly know
what to say
Mr. Ford is connected with the Blue
Front restaurant on East Douglas ave-
1ue He is much grieved over the acct
4nt to his supposed son and at first was
Inclined to think that Nolan knew moro
about the drowning than he had explain
I'd &c him. After being thoroughly inter-
.ogated on the details of the case. the
d.a % his being implicated in the mat
ar was dissipated.
Mr. Ford will take the proper steps to
lave the matter investigated The au-
horities at Clay Center will be asked to
lelp explain the circumstances Of the
lrowning, and something more definite
will be known in a few days.
The young man, David Ford, was we'll
znown in this city and had many friends
lere He was liked by those who associ-
ted with him, but is said to have had
he drink habit. Nothing much is known
f his wife. but 1t seems to be the i'm
'ression among those who knew the two
'eople that they had trouble at various
ines.
Patsy Nolan, the young man who gave
he information concerning the accident,
7ft for his home in Oklahoma last night
yer the Rock Island. He claims TO have
topped here for the purpose Of telling
fr. Ford about the accident 10 his son.
mann urn