Bisbee daily review., 1908-09-05
AGED PHOENIX MAN, DESERTED
BY WIFE, DIES OF GRIEF

PHOENIX. Sept. married July
p, at the age of IA; deserted by his
wife August %; dead September /.
This, in brief. is the story of the last
chapter in the life of David Washing
ton Sparks. Alone, and perhaps
heartbroken. the old man passed away
last night. No one was there to
soothe him as his spirit fed this mum
dane sphere. but he died peacefully,
in his bed. with scarcely a groal.
This morning he lay or his cot as in
sleep, but it was the sleep which
knows no waking.
From natural causes is the rea-
son assigned by the coroner's jury for
his demise, but there is no doubt thai
grief at the desertion of his aged
| bride hastened the end Outwardly
he was as cheerful as ever after her
departure for Oregon, one week ago
( last night, bnt those who spoke with
him concerning his trouble knew taat
/ he was grieving deeply. He triad TO
speak facetiously, but his attempts to
make light Of his marital iafeliciry
were sorry failures.
| Yesterday he was seen down uu-n
seemingly in his usual good health.
He spoke pleasantly TO acquaintances,
even waving ais arm gaily at those he
chanced to see across the street. Yet
those who eonversed with him knew
that he was sorrowing for the wife
who left li.n because she could not
understand him.
Last evening he took supper at the
home OF William Kniveton. a neighbor
/ He did not complain OF illness, but
was somewhat preoccupied. His hosi
charged this to ais domestic troubles
and thought nothing of it.
He went home and prepared for
bed. Dressing in a long white night
shirt that looked like sdroud. he
went out onto the porch in front oil
his home. where he was in the habit
of sleeping. For time he sat in an
easy chair and then lay down upon
his cot, little before 3 O'Clock Mr.
and Mrs F. P. Bailey, his next door
neighbors on the south. were also
Sleeping on their porch and tearu
him groan a few times About 9:SG
they heard aim catch his breath once
or twice, and then he was still.
| Though they did not know it. David
Washington Sparks was no more.
i did not think anything of his
groans." said Bailey this morning
-de continually snored while he slept
and my wife and I supposed he was
merely snoring a little louder than
usual. He did not struggle, as you
viii see by the position in which ID
is lying"
The only near relatives OF the dead
man. son and a daughter, are bot
away. from Phoenix His son is 10
ssph Sparks of Douglas, a conductor
on The FL Paso & Southwestern. His
daughter is Mrs W. E. Deity Of thls
city now on the coast for the sum
1ner. Undertaken Merryman notified
both by telegraph.
David Washington Sparks was born
lin Pennsylvania, seventy-fve years
ago Early in life he moved to iii
pois, and twenty years ago came tc
Phoenix. HIS first wife died a mum
lber,o OF years ago. Recently he decid
led that he would like TO have a com
Ipanion In his old age. and advertised
for wife. His advertisement was an
lswered by Mrs. Viola Davidson OF Al
lbauy. Oregon, who admitted to being
sixty-fire years of age. For some lit
stser time they corresponded, and ther
,sae came to Phoenix They were
married July p, but their romance
was short-iived. Mrs. Sparks left fol
her former home week ago last
night. declaring life uncomfortable with