Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-04-06
POINTER DIES AT
SALOON HEARING
Ex-Governor Stricken Just After
Making Speech in Favor of
Daylight Bill.
EXPIRES WITHIN FIVE MINUTES
Exertion at Meeting Believed to Have
0vertaxed Heart.
DEATH FOLLOWED BY PRAYER
Short Service Held in Corridor Of
State House.
FURTHER HEARING POSTPONED
Ex-Governor Elected Rs POpulist and
Ono Of Pioneers in Organizs-
lion OF old Farmers
Alliance.
Exertion at Meeting Believed to Have
0vertaxed Heart.
DEATH FOLLOWED BY PRAYER
Short Service Held in Corridor Of
State House.
FURTHER HEARING POSTPONED
ntrom a statf correspondent.l )

LINCOLN. Neb.. April 5.-(Special Tele-
gram. )--ExJGovernor w A. Poynter OF
Nebraska dropped dead in the office or
Governor shallenberger this morning follow
ing a talk In favor Of the o'clock closing
aw for saloons.
The former governor had talked briefly
and then stepped back into the crowd and
Airs. Frances B. Hesld had started her
talk In favor Of the measure. Suddenly the
ex-governor began to breathe hard and
then gradually collapsed, those close to
him catching him as he fell.
still breathing he was carried across the
corridor to the office Of the adjutant gem
sral, where he died Immediately. living
probably five minutes from the time he
vas stricken.
Drs Birkman and Carr who were present
1T the hearing. waited upon the stricken
nan. but could do nothing for him.
Governor shallenbergers office was
cleared and the immense crowd of tenn
perance advocates blocked the corridor on
The outside OF the office of the adjutant
Ieneral
T. NJ. Wimberley mounted radiator in
The corridor of the state house, at the door
Of the adjutant generals office, and an
nounced the death OF Ex-Governor Poynter
and suggested that a committee be APP
pointed TO draft suitable resolutions and
take action in hDnor of the work he had
been doing when he was stricken
Or. Roach offers Prayer.
This was followed by a prayer by DR..
I. F. Roach. pastor OF ST. Paul church,
during which Governor shsllenberger stood
In the corridor beside the minister.
The Office Of the governor, both the
private room and the reception room, was
crowded TO the doors and n large number
of people stood on the outside unable to
gain entrance when the hearing began this
morning owing to the crowd the air was
close and IL is supposed this helped TO
bring on the attack, presumably OF heart
disease, The former governor appeared un-
7asnallsr wen S'hen he Aesan to talk and
made a clear statement OF his position.
For some time the ex-governor has been
a sufferer from heart disease and the un-
usual excitement this morning was too
much for him.
DR.. c. W. NJ. Poynter son, reached
the state house a short time after his
fathers death.
Nebraska's PopuIist Executive.
Governor Poynter served as chief execu-
tive of the state from 1890 to 1901 He was
He leaves a widow. son and daughter.
Governor Poynter was 65 years Of age and
came from Albion to Lincoln. He was en-
gagged In the Insurance business.
Mr.. Poynter was born in Eureka, H., in
1sis. At the age of 10 he graduated from
the Eureka college and then taught school
until coming TO Nebraska in 1879. He To-
Gated on a homestead near Albion, where
ne lived until elected governor In the fall
Of 1898. moving to Lincoln the first OF the
year. 1870.
In 1901 he was defeated for reelection for
governor by republican victory and then
he settled in Lincoln, being the head OF
an insurance company. At the time OF his
death he was at the head Of the Security
and Savings Loan company. Governor
Poynter was married TO Miss Maria Nc
Coorkle. who. with son and daughter. sur
vive him.
The governor was one OF the pioneers in
the organization of the Farmers Alliance
and previous to that he served in the leg
islature. The body was taken In charge
by Coroner Matthews and removed to the
family home on South Twenty-seventl
street No inquest will be held.