Barbour County index., 1909-02-17
j. ". Debson Dies Suddenly.

intensely shocked on Monday to hear
that ]. w. Dobson. deputy warden Of
the Kansas State peniteniary. and at one
time sheriff Of Barber county, died very
suddenly in Kansas City on Sunday.
We clip the following account Of his
death from Mondays Topeka Capital:
James w. Dobson. dupty warden of
the Kansas penitentiary, died suddenly Of
heart disease In drug store at Thirty
seventh Street and Troost avenue, Kan
sas City. this afternoon. He was in KAN
sas City to consult heart disease special
ist. and visit ex-Warden Harry Lands.
an old friend. While at the home Of
MIR. Lands he was taken i'll, and after
lying down while. concluded to try and
get back to Lansing. Mr.. Lands was
accompanying him. and while waiting in
the drug Store for car, he fell over and
died.
Mr.. Dobson was deputy warden Of
the Kansas penitentiary for the last eight
years, and when the news Of his death
was telephoned, it caused a painful SUI
! prise among the officials. Warden w.
II. Haskell started for Kansas City to
look after bringing the body home. Mrs.
Dobson has been Ill for more than two
months. part Of the time with pneumonia,
and the news Of her husbands death
came near proving fatal to her. Mr.. and
Mrs. Dobson had one son. fine lad Of
eighteen years. when they came to Lam
sing. and when he died Of fever, four
years ago. just after graduating as
physician. it was blow from which they
never fully recovered.
Mr. Dobson was one of the early
settlers Of western Kansas. He was
sheriff Of Barber county two terms. and
once held responsible position in the
forestry division Of the federal govern
ment He was en- able politician and
helped Senator Chester |. Long manage
his congressional canvass against Jerry
Simpson. IN the Seventh district.
Prison men who knew Mr.. Dobson
looked upon him as an able deputy
warden. He was quiet and kindly, but
firm in enforcing the discipline Of the
penitenhary.
The Kansas City Star says Of Mr..
Dobson, in part:
Since leaving Lansing yesterday mom-
ing Mr.. Dobson had been complaining
Of pains in his heart. In the afternoon
his condition became so serious that a
doctor was summoned. After his visit
the sick man said he felt much better
and announced his intention Of returning
to Lansing. MI. Lands insisted on ac-
companying him. Together they walk
ed to the corner Of Thnty-seventh street.
Mr.. Dobson still said that he felt better.
Suddenly he brushed his hand acros.
his eyes. Harry" he said. I'm get
ting dizzy"
The next instant the muscles Of the
stricken man relaxed and he sank into
his friends arms. He was carried in
to the South Side drug store, twenty
feet away, and a doctor was called.
He arrived in few minutes, but too
late to be Of any assistance.
in the eight years he was deputy
warden at the Lansing prison there was
never an attempt at mutiny among the
convias." Mr.. Lands said. They re-
speded and almost loved him, and I
guess that's about the highest complI-
ment possible. He never had a chance
to distinguish himself by quelling OUT
breaks, because he never let one be-
GIN"
| Mr.. Dobson was born in l84o.
From 1884 to 1883 he was mayor
Of Kiowa, Kansas, then a wild and
boisterous cow town." At the ex-
piration Of his term as mayor he was
sheriff Of Barber county. Later he
went into the forest service, where he
rose to the position Of Inspector. In
1901 he became deputy warden at
Lansing.
He leaves widow IN Lansing.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dobson had one son
when they came to Lansing and four
wears ago. iust after he was graduated