The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-11-13

~ turned on. Inc mousse wan
~ vith ras fumes. The bedroom
sssrs and the kitchen doors were
eioood.
~ coroner's Jury based the
~ AZ his death as sometime Mon
~ q testimony Of F. w. Martin.
"a Twenty-third avenue. Mr..
uartin awakened Pierce at $3.50
Nanday morning. heard the justice
= - peace walk about the house
- hard hts voice.
Nartin returned to the Pierce res
aaace two hours later. He called
piarcs. but received no answer.
f,eoper Maberry has been unable
% INA anyone who saw or heard
pieecs after $50 Monday morning.
That the death was an accident
4 based on the fact that it had been
Piercs's custom to heat the kitchen
4 his home with the gas oven. No
circumstances pointed to suicide
"a his friends declare he had had
y trouble.
Nr. Pierce is believed to have
Awakened when Martin called him
n $50 Monday morning, walked to
he kitchen, turned on the oven Jet
md returned to bed 1t is thought
II PLANNED to lie in bed while the
httchen was warmed. He either
forgot To light the gas or else some
daft Of wind blew out the flames.
Mn. Pierce was accompanied by
hsr siei y, Mrs. Oscar Cunningham
kBarstow and the latter's husband
vhsn she stepped up to her home
sasly last evening. The gas fumes
ffightened her and she ran to the
heme Of DR.. D. r. Nelson, 1887
gwsnty-third avenue, a friend and
hasiness associate Of Pierce,
Had Planned Trip
d. Nelson hurried to the Pierce
hcnA He also smelled the gas
fumes. He entered the house, turn
d OIL the jet, opened the windows
md entered Pierce's bedroom.
His legs we're parallel" said Dr..
Nelson. The blankets were ar
r,aged in good order. His arms
we're in natural condition. Ira
NJ q cheerful. resOurceful lad
He'd be the last person in the
world whom I'd expect to kill him.
self."
Pierce, according to DR.. Nelson
had intended to 60 to Springfield
ILL.,, early Monday morning. HI
fas general agent for this district
7 Of the Franklin Life Insurance com
pany with central offices at Spring
hsld, and probably was going thert
"a insurance business.
Dr. Nelson was physician for thu
company ard examined many per
so0s to whom Pierce had sold in
surance. He stated that Pierce ha<
been doing a flourishing business.
Pierce had been working in thu
upper end Of this county most o
the summer and fall. He main
tanned the residence at 2401 TWEEN
ty.hird avenue. but spent q con
Siderable part Of his time with hi.
wtfe's parents. Mr.. and Mrs. Henri!
Ffels. who live on the Hillsdal'
bluff road.
The last time l saw him aliv'
VA about IL o'clock last Sunda.
night" said DR.. Nelson. III
stopped at my home for a few min
ates on his way to his own house
he told me he wanted me to cal
MN early the next morning. as b
ald he had to 60 to Springfield"
Herce's travelling bag was pack
q. ready for the Springfield tril
wen DR.. Nelson and Mrs. Pierc
entered the home last evening. H
probably fell asleep after $50 Mon
ny morning and never awoke.
! told him l couldn't very vel
eali him Monday morning." declar
q DR.. Nelson. But / promised t
s0 Nj. Martin to do it. Ira was q
cheerful as usual then. am sur
aothing was wrong"
NJ. Martin also spoke Of Pierce
aeerfulness and resourcefulnesl
aeciarlng it to be almost impossible
.or . man like Pierce to take hi
own life.
IRA Nels Pierce was known 1
aosine because OF political activi
- his insurance business, hi
sstlon as justice of the peace an
lcf other reasons
Had Sued Stouffer.
ne attained considerable motor
~ IN the fall Of 1917 when he bt
1e involved in q fist fight wit
~ ~, Stouner, then a member Of tn
!: soine city commission, and agai
'uy. 1918. when he sued Stou!
=. Tor $4,000 damages in Molin
Sy court. basing the suit ON IL
;ss,es alleged to have been INQUIRE
'ns the fight Pierce lost tn,
~ M was q likeable, friendly cha
sS asa peculiarities, but he wa
seslul and a good fellow. An
~ friends and acquaintances 10
~ MIN the peculiarities becaus
le many good qualities.
y, NJ. Fierce was elected Justice
M tAs peace Of Moline township
s ~ spring Of 1917 and he held III,
uon at the time Of his deaf
p 5. once on the fourth door Of Il
ssm sace building still bears b
~. Ie. although Pierce had not o
led the room for several month
s. "s nad given up the duties Of
~. nearly a year ago and, sin,
sim H.. !ime had devoted most OF b
q. 70 The insurance business. ]
spring Of 1918 Mr.. Pierce =,
andidate for the Republics