Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-13
Charred Trunk of Unfortunate is
Found in the Ruius.
MET DEATH WHILE INTOXICATED
Lived Alone on the Outskirts of the
Lucas County Town--Goes Home,
upsets Lamp and Loaes Life in the
Resulting Fire.

Charlton, Nov. IL Especial y
Horror stricken, number of Chart
ton people, including the members of
the fire department, in this city last
evening at about $50 o'clock watched
a dwelling house burn in which was
contained the body of its owner. The
dead man, whose scorched and black
ened skull could be seen through the
windows of the blazing structure be-
fore the superstructure fell into the
ceilar, was Thomas Baxter, an old
man who resided on the outskirts of
Charlton and was a gardener He
eddy due to the fact that a lamp
which he lit just previous to the fire
in some mysterious manner was over
turned and fired the dwelling, which
consisted of but two rooms. Consid-
ering the size of the building and the
apparent ease with which Mr.. Baxter
might have escaped had he been in
full possession of his senses, the mat
ter is shrouded in some mystery. Foul
play, however, has not been limited at.
Later developments.
Charlton, Nov. II - Especial y
Later developments in the cremation
of Thomas Baxter in this city last
night indicate that the unfortunate
man was intoxicated at the time he
met his death.
Mr.. Baxter was seen last evening
travelling toward his home about five
blocks from the main street in the
southwest part OF town. He lived
alone in house of but two rooms and
made his livelihood from the product
of small garden patch. He was
seen to enter his dwelling about 8
o'clock and light lamp. In a half
hour a. Mr.. Benson, who lives across
the street, noticed bright light in
the house and went over to inyeSti-
gate. He found both doors locked
He kicked in a window and Bakers
dog jumped out By this time the in,
terror of the house was a fierce, blaZ-
ing mass, making ingress impossible.
At this time nothing could be seen of
the owner. The fire department was
notified, but by the time it arrived
nothing could be done to save the
building or rescue the burning body
of its occupant While they were
fighting the flames the firemen
thought they could see Baxters head
detached from the body lying on the
floor In few moments the build
ing fell into the cellar and the body of
the unfortunate man with it, After
the embers had been extinguished a
search was made for remnants of the
body. What bones could be found
were taken care of and this morning
a further search was made, resulting
in finding the trunk with the head
and arms and the legs to the knees
burned off.
Mr.. Baxter was about eighty years
of age and mad been for long time
addicted to the use of intoxicants.
Everything points to the fact that
while intoxicated he upset the lamp
and after the fire started was helpless
to make his escape from the burning
building
About ten years ago Mr.. Baxter had
a narrow escape from similar fate
under about the same circumstances
He leaves two children, son, Will
liam, who resides in Lincoln town
ship, and daughter, Mrs Mary Bro
kaw, of What Cheer.
1t was decided this morning that no
. inquest will be held, it having been
taken for granted that the facts as
herein related are too plain to need
official investigation.