Smyrna times., 1927-07-27
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
Miss Harriet Clayton COmegys, Aged
81, Daughter of the Late Chief JUS
tice j. p. COmegys, Dies at Dover

y
p. Comegys, former United States
Senator from Delaware and Chief
Justice of the State, died at Dover
Wednesday afternoon following an i'll
ness of several weeks. Chief Justice
Comegys died about 25 years ago.
Miss Comegys' death, despite her i'll
mes, came as a shock to the thous-
ands of persons with whom she has
come into contact during her long and
active life. Up until May of this year
Miss Comegys was the regent of the
Mt. Vernon Ladies Association of the
Union, an association organized many
years ago to take charge of the Mt.
Vernon home of George Washington,
at Mt. Vernon, near Washington, D. c.
The association is national in its scope
and in the Office of regent, Miss Com
eggs was constantly active between
Dover and Washington, looking after
the affairs of the association. Miss
Comegys was elected regent in 1909,
after serving as vice-regent since 1888
Her mother, a niece of John NJ. Clay
ton, one-time United States Senator
from Delaware and a Chief Justice of
the State, was very active in founding
the Mt. Vernon Ladies' Association Of
the Union, serving as regent for many
years. 1t was at her death, in 1888,
that her daughter was made vice-reg-
ent. When Miss Comegys resigned
the office Of regent, due to poor health
she was made honorary regent. In
addition to her activities in connection
with the Mt Vernon Association, Miss
Comegys was a member of the Colon
ial DANES of Delaware, and life
long member of the Colonel Haslet
Chapter of the Daughters of the
American Revolution, at Dover. The
funeral services was conducted Friday
at 1890 o'clock, at the Dover Presby-
terian Church. Interment was made
in the Comegys' and Clayton burial
lot at Dover. Chief Justice Comegys
in 1856 was appointed by Governor
Causey to fill the vacancy in the Unit
ed States Senate, occasioned by the
death of Judge John NJ. Clayton. Miss
Comegys was born at Dover, Septem-
ber 20, 1910, living on Dover Green
throughout her life.
Sudden Death of Raymond Deakyne
Raymond Deakyne, aged %, form
.er Smyrna boy, for number of years
a barber at Dover, was found dead in
the kitchenette of his apartment Mon
DAY morning in Dover. He had been
asphyxiated with illuminating gas, in
the same room in which his wife was
found dead under similar Circumstance
es on May il. Raymond left note
saying he had tried to live but the
task was too much. On the table on
which his body was found leaning was
a picture of his dead wife. Coroner
Minner, who took charge of the body,
said he believed the man had been
dead since early Saturday morning.
Deakyne was last seen about midnight
Friday by his business partner, Edgar
L. Smith. Nothing was thought of his
absence Saturday and Sunday, but
when he failed to appear Monday
morning, Smith began an investiga-
tion. Going to Deakyne's home he
had the jaintor open the door leading
into the apartment. When he came,
to the kitchenette he found the door
secured and the sides around it stuff
ed with towels. After the door had
been pried open the body was found.
All the gas burners in the room were
turned on. The body was claimed by
brother living at Smyrna, who went
to Dover and arranged to have the
body shipped to Smyrna for burial.
Deakyne had at one time resided at
Smyrna. He is survived by his faith
er w. d. Deakyne, one sister and two
brothers, all Of Smyrna and one twin
brother, w. d. Deakyne, Jr., of New
ark, N. J. Worry over the death of
his wife is believed to have been one
of the reasons for his taking his life.
Funeral will take place this Wednes-
day afternoon at o'clock from the
residence Of his father w. ID. Deakyne
and interment will take place at Odd
Fellows Cemetery.
Joshua Richards Dies in Maryland
Joshua C. Richards, aged 80 years,
well known to number in this vicin-
ity, died at his home near Singerly,
Md, on July Is. Services were con-
Quoted at the home of his son, Allen
Richards, at Singerly, by Rev. Harry
Taylor, pastor Red Lion M. E. Church
Interment was made in Newark Gem
etery. Mr.. Richards is survived by
his wife Mrs. Emma Richards; two
daughters, Mrs. James McMullen, Of
Kemblesville, and Mrs. Clara Deputy,
of Wilmington; four sons, Ex-senator
John F. Richards, of Newark; r. Lee
Richards, of Bear; J. Price Richards,
of Columbus, New Jersey; and Alien
D. Richards, of Singerly. He is sur
vived also by one sister and three
brothers: Mrs. Sarah Bender and
George Richards, of Middletown; Will
liam A. Richards, and b. F. Richards,
of Newark, formerly of Smyrna.