Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-23
Tom King Veteran Trusly at
City Jail, Now Appears Before
Higher Court
WAS OLD c. A. R. PENSIONER.
Went Through Civil War to Die Among
The FlotSam ADD Jetsam OF
Misspent Lives.
opoor old Tom Klng Is deadY'

Poor old Tom King Is dead"
when the announcement was made at
police headquarters this morning It
was not readily believed, for Tom had
vowed many times that he would live
to be hundred years old, and the
police officers were beginning to be-
leye he would keep his vow. But
about 1880 o'clock this morning the
veteran, who has known no home for
years except the city jail, tumbled to
the floor Of the drunkhouse and his
spirit took rs flight
Poor old TOM He fought many bat
Ties In the 70 years Of his life. All
through the Civil war he fought gal
lantly Tor his country and the Nag he
often declared was dearer TO him than
life,
During the great struggle between
the north and the south he was wound
ed many times and In the battle at
CorInth, part OF his right foot was torn
of by a shell from the enemy
Many years ago, no one seems TO
know how many, he came To- SAT- Lake.
As long ms he can be remembered ne
had been a heavy drinker Drink did
not curb Toms lighting spirit In the
least. When 1t became a settled tact
that the city JAN would be Toms home,
he was made a trusty and he at once
assumed command over all the other
prisoners and he made them toe the
scratch. He had many vicious nights
IN maintaining his leadership but ne
always emerged from the struggles trl-
umphantly
He was seldom out Of jail
more than two or three days at a time
so, when officer Preece brought MN IN
this morning, his home coming was
greeted In the spirit Of levety as OF yore'
1T Is too bad said an olh-
Ger, but we viii try and
fix it so Tom can get out for Christ
mas"
Yes" said Detective shannon, Tor
he may not be here another christ
mas"
Hardly we're the words spoken when
a commotiOn was heard In the drunk
house,
A soldier who vas there soldering
up" gave the alarm
When the officers got into the cell,
Tom was dead. lie was in highly IN
toxicated condition when taken IN by
the officer but he had been that way
so many times, little was thought Of II.
He fought many battles during the
war and after, but in the battle with
whisky, he was finally vanqulshed.
Young Corbett," the fighter, was
once asked what was the hardest
punch. His reply was. Whisky
punch" This has proved to be true In
Tom Kings case.
No inquest over his remains will be
necessary. II Is clearly a case OF death
from alcoholism,
His body now Hes at Evans UNDER
taking parlors, where Il will be prepar-
ed for burial, and II will probably be
shipped to American Fork. whore he
has a sister, the only known relative Of
the unfortunate old warrior.
Tom received a pension OF about Sl2
from the government, and occasionally
when he received his money he would
visit his sister for a day or two,
Although Tom would fight "at the
drop Of the hat" he was possessed OF
a kind, generous disposition and now
that he Is no more among the living,
he will be sadly pissed around police
headquarters for there he was appre-
ciated and he Will be remembered for
q long time with the most kindly feel
ings.