The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-01-16
IS STRICKEN DOWN
WITHOUT WARNING.
J. a.. THOMAS EXPIRES SUDDEN
LY At HIS OFFICE.
MANAGER IOWA TELRpRoNEco co.
Was In Good Health Up To Final
Moment-Had Lived In oska-
ioosa Three Years, Com
ING From Sigourney.

j. A. Thomas. district agent Of the
iowa Telephone Company and man
ager of the local exchange, expired
suddenly and Unexpectedly Tuesday
evening at his office in the Harbach
building, No. Ira First avenue west.
The summons came while Mr.. Thorn
IS was seated in his private Office at
ais desk engaged in the routine OF his
iaily work and within few moments
ne was dead.
MI Thomas has been among Oska-
loosa people about three and baif
years in the capacity of superintend,
ent OF the local interests of the Iowa
Telephone company, and during that
time he had grown into a large ac-
luaintance in bushes and social cir
eles. The announcement of his death,
coming as it did without a moments
warning, is shock 10 the business
circles of the city and to all friends
rhe stricken family, which is all but
Frustrated over the affair, has the
iympathy of the entire city.
n Mr. Thomas had been feeling excep-
.ionally we'll during the past few days.
No complaint had passed his lips that
night have been indicative OF an
preaching trouble. He had remarked
20 employees OF how well he was feel.
ng and he had been vigorously at his
work, planning for future accomplish
nents for his people in Oskaloosa.
That he suffered intensely as the
stroke was upon him was evident
,nt fhe epmloyes about him were now
.rless 10 ascist him. Physicians were
allied nj once -,.sd Doctors Williams
md Hook were ~ tbsSnfice almost inl-
nediatelv after tho r,a,e. had fallen
,ut he was onite dead whan- they ar
sivad ana ,nothirg co,,la ~ ,o,,a
Mr. Thonoas was saasaa II NJ {zri.
tata dasl ~ rba ,niaa,a raona III the
relenhonal Cona,,,,nv ana artrnes,tsl pau
aoxvIe oat,s,s4$,. .s.s,, IL. y
ather desk N b,s left Thn, N i, ..... -.
yersed aIo,,t Ana ,,s,,at b,,es,,ass. ,tss.s
If the Local excbanoa and ~. ,,,.,,d ~
,on,olaint bad Neon ofyersd II, tha
manager Mrs Doiiia uil, chiaf ~.
.rator of the excbange came IN frou,
tbe onaratins room, win snn,e worx
which Mr. Thomas had given ber to
.look I'm Che handed Mr. Tbomas the
,nns with the statement ~ what che
,ad done He turned toward tbe
adv took tho slins and then looked
# her as If TO sneak He seemed
suddenly confused ana his face tprn.
Vi scarlet Great heads of nersnira.
ion stood ont unon his face and fore.
,aad and the man was in evident die.
tress Mrs uilI asl.od N no wara m
Mr. Thomas made M reply but arose
,lowIv n his feet took handkerchief
from his hin nocket shook N ont and
yiped the nersniration from his face
which was now livid red Mrs hin
ttood watching the evident suffering
II the man ana smoke 10 Mr.. Bowles
Mr. Thomas stenned 10 the door of
tbe office room entered The hallway
and went out upon the stairs landing
near at hand and leaned forward upon
the railing. Mrs. Hill admonished Mr..
Bowles to keep an eye upon the man.
as he was eS IDENTIFY i'll and suffering.
She then turned and re-entered the
operating room. AS she did so she
heard the fall OF heavy body and Mr..
Bowles calling to the men, G. II.
Johnson and Cap Wise, in the work
room for assistance Mr.. Thomas,
after leaning upon the railing for a
few seconds, had turned toward the
stairway leading to the street and
had fallen with his head to the steps.
His men lifted him up and took him
into the office. The face was now OF
a deep purple and the muscles OF the
body were tensely drawn. The man
gasped couple of times, the muscles
relaxed. the hands fell Imply to his
side and Mr.. Thomas was dead. The
body was carried to the McCurdy un-