Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-12-29


The friend that we have cherished.
There is a vacant seat.
When e'er we meet the voice is still
That once was music; never Will
On earth its accents thrill
Our hearts with gladneSS;
On, let it not be said
That he IS dead"
Archie Roy Basford was born IN
Glen Haven, Grant county, Wis,
April Is, 1884. The family came to
Lancaster in the autumn Of the
same year. Archie grew to man
hood here, receiving his education
in the city schools and clerking in
his fathers store until the business
was sold in january 1908. He then
took a course in photography with
artist Walton after which he work
ed for time in studio at Madison,
also in the Ruegge studio in Mil
Waukee, and was for short time
In business for himself in that line
in Michigan. But he did not want
to make photography his life work,
and having opportunity to sell, did
so, and while considering future
course was offered a lucrative posi-
ton as musician in an entertain
ment company, and accepted, think
ing it only a brief eXpedient until q
more permanent work should be
decided upon. He was with clean
company, his parents taking pains
to ascertain this fact. In agreeable
relations and the enjoyment of trav-
ell he continued, growing into more
responsible positions, until last July
he assumed the ownership and man.
agement of a theatrical company
himself, in which position he met
with reasonable success.
On Monday, the 18th OF Deem
Der, his mother received a letter
from him in which he said that he
was not feeling well, had taken
headache tablets enough to dope SIX
men," On Wednesday telegram
was received from him saying he
had closed up all business with his
company and was starting home to
spend the holidays. No alarm was
felt about the telegram; he had fire.
quently wired his parents as to his
welfare ard his route. Archie had
ever been a loyal and thoughtful
son. So far as any friend ever knew
he had never contracted the habit
of drinking or gambling that keeps
a continuous fear and anxiety in a
mothers heart. He did not use to-
bacco in any form. The folks at
home attributed his i'll feeling to
loss of sleep and constant travel and
possibly malaria contracted IN the
4, h In cd
touring, and while feeling the nat
ural mothers uneasiness, yet In the
home aud to all the neighboring
friends. Mrs. Basford was bubbl1ng
over with the anticipated enjoy
ment of having her boys all home
for Christmas, as they had not been
one year ago. Alas her boy was
even then in greater need of moth
er's presence than ever he had been
before.
Between the hours of two and
four on Saturday afternoon, Archie
had registered at the hotel Morrison
in Chicago, writing his own and not
a fictitious name as stated in some
of the city papers. He called for
the house physician. who found him
in his room at four o'clock lying
dressed upon the bed. The action
of the heart was very bad and the
doctor advised immediate rest. But
Archie said mo-, l am going right
on home" As far as can be ascer-
tanned, the unfortunate young man
was never seen again alive. No in
quirieS were made, nor investiga-
ton until about midnight, Sunday,
when a chamber maid reported the
long closed room locked from the
inside. An entrance was effected.
The young man lay in his bed,
clothed in union suit of underwear
and night shirt, a bullet wound in
his heart, a revolver, new and of
fine make, close tc his right hand,
the box from which it had been re-
moved lying on the floor near the
bed. The verdict of the inquest
was, cause of death bullet wound in
breast, accidentally or otherwise.
There was no sign of a struggle.
Neither was there any indication of
premeditated self-destruction. The
position of the body was easy and
its condition gave evidence that
death had come to Archie Saturday
night or in the very early hours of
Sunday morning. One dose. prob
ably no more, had evidently been
taken from the bottle of medicine
which the doctor had prescribed.
Shoes, hat and other clothing had
been laid separately and carefully
by, as had been Archie's lifelong
custom when disrobing for the
night. A valuable ring and his
watch we're untouched. Quite an
amount of money was found in his
pockets, and little book, such as
most travellers carry, bearing his
name and place of residence, also
an unpunched ticket dated Deem