The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-04-05
STRANGE TALK OF HOW QUAR-
TETTE DIED AS ONE PROPHE-
SLED AT CARD TABLE.

At Cape Girardeau, Mo, they are
telling the strange story of how men
tai suggestion killed Chick Snerley
snerley's death was the last of a Sc
ries of four predicted two years ago
by Or. Frank NJ NetjIes.
Dr.. Nettles Albert Cortle Louis
Franck and O. D. CChick) Snerley
were playing game of cards and the
doctor lost.
We'll, you fellows can beat me
playing cards, but III beat you all 10
he cemetery" he said as he pushed
back his chair.
"How's that, doc?" asked Snerley,
not sure that he had heard Alright.
I said ia beat you fellows to the
cemetery" Dr. Nettles repeated.
Here wait minute
He picked up card. 1t was the
nine of spades. He wrote something
across the face of it and handed ii to
Sherley.
We four men will be in our graves
within two years, it read. Il will die
first, Cottle will follow and then
Franck will die. Snerley will live
until the autumn of 1915
They thought it an odd joke at the
tlme-all except Dr.. Nettles. All four
we're apparently in the best of health.
Dr. Netles was 40 years old, Cottle
20, Franck 80, and Snerley 33. The
men were great cronies. They loved
to get together for the little gather
ings, where they had a great deal of
robust fun. SO far as any one knows
there was no reason for the predlc-
ton of their early deaths.
Dr. Nettles went first, according TO
his schedule. Shortly after he made
the prediction he began failing, and
within a few months he was dead.
Some said he died of tuberculosis.
At the funeral Cottle remarked to
Franck: Il guess | am to 80 next.
A few months later he did go. In
his case they called it turbeculosis,
too.
Before the year was out Franck
was in his grave. An abscess develop
ed suddenly on his brain and there
was no saving him.
Snerley's death remained to COM
plete the cycle. He had year yet
to live. The three deaths that had
occurred in the order written on the
nine of spades had convinced him
that he was doomed.
Oscar Rudiger, who knew Snerley
well, told how the fear of impending
death affected the marked man.
He began losing flesh after Franck
died." Rudiger said. His jolly
moods disappeared and he wanted to
ak about the string of deaths all the
time He would write the prediction
rs DR.. Nettles had written it, word
Tor word, on any scrap of paper that
was before him. Whenever l saw
him he would speak of it and won
Ter how many more months he had
eft"
Matt Morrison met Snerley a few
months before the latter's death and
Snerley told him he was giving up his
position as representative for a st.
louis manufacturing firm.
There's no use for me to continue
n business" he said hopelessly. Il
I'm going to die in the autumn, just
ike DR.. Nettles said | was, so what's
he use of trying?"
His wife noticed that he was fail
ng, but she was the one person that
le never told about the death mes
age. He told the story all over town
md discussed it constantly, but at
ZONE he was silent. Looking back
drs. Snerley says she believes he was
Tying to spare her the terrible worry
hat was dragging him down.
Snerley was a man without pecul-
ar mental quirks that one might sup
lose would make him susceptible to
.nything bordering on the occult.
Zone of the others was highly imagi-
lative. In all Missouri it would have
Deen difficult to find four men seem
ngly more nearly normal. They liv
d busy lives and went in for their
with great spirit. DR..
lettles had no reputation as a mys-
ic. He had a large practice and his
extended to everybody
n the town. He was a CHEEKY, affable !
ort, and, as far as known, never
Jefore INDUCED in predictions, No
me knows what caused him to write
he death list. He gave no explana-
ion at the time, Snerley said, but
imply wrote the names across the
ace of the card without telling why,
II on what he based the forecast.
Cottle and Franck were hard-head
ID and practical. Cottle, at the time
# his death, accepted the prophesy
is true. Franck believed it, too, af-
er Cottle died, and told the story
o his friends After Franck died
Snerley was certain that he was to
20 before winter.
He talked of little else. Every con-
7ersatiOn ended with but what's the
use, I'm going to die?" He believed
he was due for the grave as much
as he believed the sun would rise