The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-08-17
Thomas j. Prickett Drowned

1nOlIldS j. FTlCkett DrOWneQ.
A young man in canoe saw a body
floating in the Delaware river, on Wed.
nesday, and he took it to the shore and
notified the coroner of Camden county
who removed the body to the Camden
morgue. From papers that were found
in the mans clothing it was thought the
body was that of Thomas J. Prickett, OF
Palmyra. A telephone message was
sent to George N. Winner, who was at
Trenton, getting ready for meeting OF
the State Camp of the Patriotic Order
Sons of America. Mr.. Prickett was the
presiding officer and his term of office
was about toexpire. Some papers on the
body referred to the meeting and in
Dictated that he was to be in Trenton on
the day the body was found, hence the
message to Mr.. Winner.
The latter gentleman at once began to
look into the matter and hurried home
to Palmyra, then on to Camden, where
he saw the body and identified it as that
of Mr.. Pickett. The remains were
much discolored owing to having been
in the water for some time, but there
was no doubt about the identity of the
man.
The Camden police started an investi-
CATION. They did not find any marks
indicating violence or foul play, al
though the pockets of the dead mans
trousers were turned inside out. and the
fact that he was last seen in part Of
Gloucester that does not bear the best
name led to the impression that he
might have been thrown into the river.
Mr.. Prickett boarded with lady in
Palmyra and she told that he had gone,
the previous week, to visit some relatives
in Gloucester. 1t was found that he had
carried out that part of his intentions
and that he left on the Saturday
evening before the body was found, hav-
ing said he was going to Ocean City. He
appeared to be in good health and spirits
and there was nothing to indicate that
he had any idea of taking his own life.
d
that will probably never be cleared. Mr..
Prickett was born in Shamong township
and at one time was the proprietor of a
business college in Philadelphia. He
married lady named Baldwin, from
West Chester, Pa. The college did not
prosper and business reverses seemed to
unsettle Mr.. Prickett's mind and he be-
came addicted to drink, causing a
separation from his family. His land.
lady said, however, that for the last few
weeks he had been very steady in his
habits and his friends cannot believe
that he was under the influence OF liquor
when drowned.
The deceased was well known through
out the state. After giving up his bust
ness college he became the editor of the
Burlington County Democrat, a paper
that was started by faction of Demo-
Gratis opposed to the regulars, with the
idea of cutting into the field of the
Herald 1t was while he was in this
work that Mr.. Pickett entered into
politics and was groomed for State Sena-
tor in the contest for the Democratic
nomination against Mitchell b. Perkins.
The latter won, but Mr.. Prickett retained
some of his prestige as politician and
was frequently heard on the stump in
behalf of his party. He was chairman
i of the County Democratic committee
for several years. He was very much
interested in the Patriotic Order Sons OF
America and took an active part in the
deliberation of that society, and the
members held him in high esteem He
is survived by a. widow and two sons,
one of whom is stud ent at Cornell
University.
Mr.. Prickett was 81 years of age. His
funeral took place on Saturday from P
o. S. of A. hall, Palmyra. The services
were in charge of Washington Camp
No. %, of Palmyra, of which Mr.. Pricketi
was a member. Prominent officers o.
the order were present.
Interment was made in Morgan GENE