The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-12-02
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN PER.
ISLES IN HOME vAINLY TRY.
ING TO SAVE GRANDSON.
LONG POLITICAL CAREER
Representative, as Democratic Leader,
Had Combat With Congress
man Williams On
Floor.

Kansas City, Mo. - Representa-
tive David A. DeArmond, who has
long been n of the democratic mem
Ders or congress, was burned to death
with his grandson, Waddie DeArmond.
aged 6 years. The two persisted in a
fire that destroyed the DeArmond
home in Butler, Mo.
Bone thought to be those of the
congressman, were found by searchers
In the ruins. 1t is thought that both
the congressman and the boy were
cremated without a chance to leave
their rooms.
Mrs. DeArmond and Mrs. Hattie
Clark wife and daughter respectively
or the congressman, and a woman
servant were the only other occupants
OF the house. All three of the women
escaped. Mrs. Clark suffered A slight
burn on one hand.
The first started about 4 in the morn
Ing. The DeArmond home was a large
two-story frame structure, set well
back from the street. On two sides
or the house of equal width, the Sec
ond floor, outdoor sleeping apartments
had been constructed, and at the time
the fire broke out the occupants of
the house were in these apartments
unconscious in slumber.
Congressman DeArmond and his
young grandson occupied one room on
the south side of the building, while
Mrs. DeArmond and Mrs. Clark were
in separate rooms on the opposite side
of the house.
Last Words, am Save You"
Nettie Boles, 20 years old, a servant
girl, had a room on the west side of
the house. Mrs. Clark was awakened
by a cry and going to the door of her
room, saw smoke issuing from the
part of the house where Congressman
DeArmond and Waddie slept.
Get me out of here" she heard
Waddie cry.
Never mind, son, I'll save you"
Congressman DeArmond answered.
Those were the last words either of
the victims uttered.
Congressman DeArmond had three
sons and a daughter. James A. De-
Almond is the only son in the west.
He is editor of the Butler Democrat.
He was adjutant general on the staff
of Governor Joseph w. Folk.
David A. 'DeArmond was first elect
ed to the house of representatives
from the Sixth congressional district
of Missouri in 1891 and had served
continuously. He was one of the best
known members of the lower house
at Washington and had occupied other
positions of prominence in his state.
He was a Democrat always and in
addition to his political prominence
was a ~well-known lawyer. He was
born March Is, 1914, in Blair county,
Pennsylvania.
Came to Blows With Williams.
Inclined to be p~ugnacious, he often
pleaded subjects as an aggressor rath-
er than as a defendant. This quality
of mind was the means of getting him
into a personal alteration two years
ago with John Sharp Williams, who
was then the democratic leader of the
house. The difference between them
arose over Mr.. Williams designation
of a Missouri colleague of Mr.. De
Almonds for a committee position in
the or Sanization of the Sixtieth con-
gress. Williams and De Almond
came to blows, but both being light
weights, neither was badly hurt.
Mr.. De Almond was an aspirant for
the leadership of the house, but the
recognition of Mr.. Clark effectually
cut him out of that position.