The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-07-25
DEATH LAYS HAND
ON MR.. RAGSDALE.
South Carolina Delegation Dissatis.
fled With Statement of Physi-
clans and Coroner.
P. H. MCGOWAN in The State.


from Sixth South Carolina district.
died here suddenly today just before
noon. Those attending him at his
death were: Dr.. J. Arthur Hooe, Dr
H. II. Hareen ard DR.. Doorman. For
several days Mr.. Ragsdale had been
under treatment but was not consid-
cred seriously ill. He was at the
capitol yesterday and voted on the
prohibition bill. His death occurred
at DR.. Hooe's office.
Early this morning Mr.. Ragsdale
sent for his physicians and the report
they made this afternoon was that
Just before noon he died Of acute
heart disease, going to the physicians
office for treatment.
Although not apparently suffering
from ill health in any way and about
/ his usual business yesterday, Mr.
Ragsdale was said by, his physicians
not to have been in robust health fo1
some time. Mrs. Ragsdale is at their
home at Florence. Mr.. Ragsdale also
leaves James w. Ragsdale, Jr., about
!18 years of age, and daughter
about IA years of age.
| House Adjourns.
Immediately upon the announce
ment of Mr.. Ragsdale's death like a
flash, the members of the South Car
olina delegation in congress got TO-
gether. Representative Byrnes mace
the statement to the house that Mr.
Ragsdale had died. The house then
adjourned out of respect to his mem
iory.
| The remains were taken to an un-
dertaking establishment and Coroner
iNevitt held an inquest, after which
the body was prepared to. be taken
to Florence, where the burial will
take place Friday AFTERNOON.
|. The funeral train, bearing the
members of the South Carolina dele
CATION and special committee from
the house and senate, will leave
Washington tomorrow night at 600
o'clock over the Atlantic Coast Line
arriving at Florence early Friday
morning. The burial will take place
Friday and the party will reach
Washington Saturday morning on It's
return trip.
/ The committees have not been full
ly announced yet, but will DE selected
when the house and senate meet to-
morrow.
Senator Smith made the announce,
ment of Mr.. Ragsdale's death in the
upper house, and Vice President Mar,
shall appointed committee to at
tend the funeral composed Of Sena-
tors Smith and Dial of South Caro-
lima, Ashurst of Arizona, Bechham
of Kentucky, Harrison of Mississippi
Fernald of Maine, Spencer of Mis-
souri,, Sterling of South Dakota and
Southerland of West Virginia.
A resolution expressing sympathy
with the family was introduced by
Senator Smith and adopted.
Delegation to Probe Death.
The members of the South Caro-
lima delegation will probe Mr.. Rags
dale's sudden death. They said to-
day, after conference at Mr..
Brynes' office, that they were far
from satisfied either with the state
ment of the physicians or with the
report of the coroner, who rem
dered verdict of death from "nat-
ural causes" or acute heart dlla-
ton.
Tonight a meeting of the delega-
ton was held and committee was
appointed to see both the physicians
who were with him when he died and
the coroner who held the inquest and
autopsy. They expect to 60 to the
bottom Of the matter.
Many kilograms of sympathy were
sent Mrs. Ragsdale this afternoon by
numerous friends in Washington.
The funeral train to Florence will
be in charge of sergeants at arms
of the senate and of the house, re-
spectively, and will bear floral tok-
ems of various kinds from friends and
persons in official life.
Governor Cooper, it is understood,
will call special election to be held
some time in September to fill the va
cancy in the Sixth district.
REUNION AT DELMAR.
Newberry College Graduates and Stu