The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-06
DEATH COMES
SUDDENLY TO
". B. WHEELER
Heart Disorder Takes Life
of Prohibition Leader in
Battle Creek.
FUNERAL ON THURSDAY
Friends Talk With Dry Chief
Only Few Minutes
Before End.
yrNT4.s wheeler life life story on Page 81

6g Untted Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 6.-The
body of Wayne B. Wheeler. general
counsel of the Anti-Saloon League.
arrived in Columbus at 1.29 o'clock
this afteroon, accompanied by his
son, Robert Wheeler, DR.. Howard
Russell, founder of the Anti-Saloon
League, and DR.. Francis Mcbride
general manager of the league.
The body will lie in state at the
home Of relatives here until the
funeral service Thursday afternoon
at 2 o'clock.
Wheeler died yesterday after
noon at Battle Greek Sanitarium Of
heart disorder, only a few hours
after his physician had pronounced
him out Of immediate danger.
Death came suddenly as the gen.
eral counsel of the Anti-Saloon
League was sitting in a chair read
ing. He had been brought here
from his summer home in Shelby
Mich, suffering from kidney
complaint. The heart affliction
which caused his death, was en-
tirely unexpected according to DR..
Lloyd E. Verify. who attended him.
Series Of Tragedies
Wheeler's death was the culn1ina-
ton OF summer of tragedy for his
family. His wife was burned to
death by explosion of an oil stove
at their summer home. Mrs.
Wheeler's father saw the accident
which caused her death and died of
the shock.
Wheeler had returned to Shelby
after the funerals in Columbus.
when he was stricken with the kid
ney ailment. He was brought here
in an ambulance, seriously i'll, but
his condition improved considerably
and was thought most favorable at
the time of his death.
The dry leaders two sons talked
with their father at the sanitarium
little more than an hour before
his death and complimented him
on his appearance. His physician
also called at that time and then
all three left. Only a male nurse
and DR.. John Held of the SANTA
rum staff were present when the
end came.
Talks Of Future
Howard Hyde Russell, founder of
the Anti-Saloon League and present
assistant general superintendent,
talked with Wheeler ten minutes
before his death.
He appeared optimistic" Russell
said, "and we talked of plans for
the future. He seemed to be re-
covered from the tragic events of
this summer and confident he would
get we'll"
Russell announced that funeral
services would be held from the
Central Methodist Church in Co.
lumbus Thursday. The dry leader
will be buried beside his wife in a
Columbus cemetery.
Executives of the Anti-saloon
League from all parts of the coun-
try, leading politicians, philanthro-
pists, clergymen and lesser friends
OF the man who was regarded as
the power" of prohibition we're ex-
pected to meet the body in Colum-
bus.
Friends to Laud Him
State superintendent of the
League will act as pallbearers, Rus
sell announced. Francis Scott Nc
Bride, Ernest H. Cherrington and
Russell, Wheeler's principal lieuten-
ants in the work of obtaining en-
actment of dry legislation, will be
among those to eulogize Wheeler at
the funeral.
"Wheeler's connection with some
OF the most important work of the
league for more than thirty-three
years makes his loss not only per-
sonal, but it will be a severe blow to
the work ITSELF" Russell said in a
statement issued in Battle Creek.
1t is probable Wheeler's successor
will be chosen at the next biennial
election of the league in December,
Russell said. He would offer no sug-
gestion as to whom the body would
choose to fulfill the important duties
OF dry lobbyist in Washington.