Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1937-07-01
FRED WHITE, p, DROWNS
SUNDAY AT RCkEBY LOCK

Fred White, alias Fred Watkins,
27, was drowned Sunday after
noon, at Rokeby Lock. The rea-
son for his drowning may never be
known Two fishermen who were on
the opposite side of the river saw
the man walking along the top of
the lock wall, in which it appeared
that he was casually noting the rise
in the river, and while at the upper
end of the lock wall, and partly
clothed, he plunged into the muddy
swollen waters of the river. 1t Is
stated that he was good swimmer,
and he swan to almost the middle
of the river and then turned and
started to swim back to the east
side, and then back toward tina
middle of the stream, and was then
swept over the dam. After going
over the dam he was seen, and he
screamed for help, and then sank
when about 100 feet below the dam.
The local fire department was
called and quickly responding,
heroically endeavored to recover
the body. The current in the river
was so strong that rope was
stretched across the river for the
boatmen to cling to while trying to
recover the body with graphing
hooks. After working several hours
it was decided, because of the high
stage of water and swift current, to
discontinue the search, and await
the lowering of the stage OF water
before going on with trying to re-
cover the body.
Not much is known Of White,
about Rokeby Lock. About three
months ago he came to the F. D.
Davis home, Rokeby Lock, which is
on the same location as the old We
Der home, of Civil war fame, in
connection with Morgan's raid. He
worked at odd jobs about the Davis
farm, and it is stated that he told
Davis he had worked at the irish
Rock coal tipple, and that he had
worked several years at Buckeye
Lake. He had also worked in Zanes-
Vile as a trucker. He gave his name
as Fred Watkins and was known as
such. Mr.. Davis with whom he re-
sided states that he was of very
quiet, retiring, disposition. and IL
was with difficulty that he could
learn anything Of him, and in the
face of what has developed since his
death, he had misled Mr.. Davis and
his associates. But Davis does not
believe that he took his life pur-
posely. He states that Sunday af-
ternoon White sat on the front porch
with him reading the Sunday news
paper, and about two o'clock said he
was going to the river where their
boat was tied and get it out on the
shore, and next day would calk 1t,
and asked Davis to go along. But
the latter replied that he preferred
to stay at home. White went to
the boat and there undressed, put
ting his pocketboOk, pipe and oth-
er belongings in his shirt pocket,
all neatly arranged. He then put
on his trousers, and from tracks
on the river bank it was seen that
he went down to the lock. and to
near the home of Locktender H. G.
Wilson and called for Mr. Wilson's
son Cecil to go swimming with him.
The boy said that he would go down
presently to the river, but did not
care to swim. In just few minutes
they learned of the drowning. Mr..
Davis reports that White was a hard
worker, and that in time he had
grown to like him very much. He
found in his belongings a $1,000
life insurance policy made out to
his aunt, Annie White.
Not being able to locate any OF
his relatives Monday, Sheriff l.. ..
Adrean started out to investigate.
He found letter which was in the
room where White staid, sent from
woman whose name was signed
Janice Ferrell, Of Hebron. When
questioned, she stated they were
engaged to be married. Sheriff
Adrean later contacted Raymond
Mckay, carpenter at the park, who
had worked with White. 1t was not
until after the sheriff informed Nc
Kay that White was drowned in the
river, that he would tell the officer
the facts. He stated that White had
been convicted of stealing an auto
mobile, and was sent to work
house from Meigs county, in 1886,
and the same year escaped from
prison. Further investigation show