RABBIT HUNT TRAGEDY; SON KILLS FATHER
Accidental Shooting Near East Galesburg Sunday Fatal to Thomas Straus, Sr.
Son killed father on a rabbit hunt near here yesterday.
Thomas Straus, Sr., and his boy, Amos, who is 17 years old, were hunting along a ravine in a corn field east of East Galesburg at noon Sunday. A quail flew into a tree between them and the boy, not noticing that his father was directly in line, banged away at the bird. With a moan the older man staggered and fell to the ground. He expired a moment later in the arms of his son.
The screams of the boy attracted Mark Reynolds and Joseph Lynch, who ran across the muddy corn field a half mile to the scene. They found the boy almost crazed. With a handkerchief that he had dampened in the creek, he was endeavoring the resuscitate his father.
Coroner G.S. Bower was notified of the accident and arrived shortly after. He was fully satisfied with the story told by the boy and permitted the body to be removed to the home. From there it was taken to the Dean undertaking parlors, where an inquest will be held at four o’clock this afternoon.
Mr. Straus lived in East Galesburg. He worked for the Purington brick company until the time of the strike. Since then he has been working as a laborer.
Both father and his son were fond of hunting and as they had many times before Straus and his son yesterday afternoon went to Court Creek, near Morgan Corners, which is two and a half miles east of East Galesburg. On one side of the ravine the father was beating the underbrush and as the rabbits scampered out the son shot them.
When the boy fired the shot that killed his father, they were not more than thirty feet apart. Only one of the barren trees that fringe the ravine was between them. With nervous finger on the trigger, the boy saw a quail alight on the limb of a tree. His father could easily have been seen, but Amos for the moment forgot that he was just across the creek. He brought his gun into position and fired.
Then he saw what he had done. He heard his father utter a moan as the crack of the gun reverberated up the hollow. He saw him sink to the ground. Young Straus dropped his gun and leaped across the ravine to where his father lay. He was still breathing and was conscious, but he was unable to utter a word. Amos cried to him that it was an accident. He lifted the head of his father and called for help.
Mark Reynolds and Joseph Lynch, who were fully half a mile away, heard the cries of the young man and knew that there had been an accident. They plowed through the muddy corn field and when they reached the bank of the creek they found the boy the blood-stained face of his father.
Others came and they took the boy, wild with anguish, from the scene. Word was sent to Mrs. Straus in East Galesburg and to Coroner Bower. He questioned the boy and some of the others. He was convinced that the story of the boy was truthful and permitted him to go to his home. The body was taken to the home, but later taken to the undertaking parlors.
Dr. Bower was accompanied to the scene by Dr. J.F. Corbin. They found but two or three small wounds on the face and they felt these were not sufficient to cause death. Pulling away the blanket which had been put over the body they found fully two dozen of the small bird shot had penetrated through the heavy hunting coat, shirt and undershirt worn by Mr. Straus. Some of the shot had imbedded just under the skin and the wounds left by other shot indicated that they had passed through the body. Several of the buttons on his hunting coat had been broken or pierced by the shot.
The boy exhibited a duplicate of the shell with which he had killed his father. It was loaded with No. 5 bird shot. There was no doubt that at a range of thirty feet such a charge would be sufficient to cause death.
In her little home at the edge of East Galesburg today Mrs. Straus is almost prostrated from grief. The tragic death of her husband was a severe blow to her.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
Thomas John Straus was born in a little town 16 miles northwest of Vienna, Austria. He would have been 55 years old on Dec. 29th. He came to this country when 26 years old. He first located in St. Louis but several years afterward he removed to Winnegan, Mo. He was married there on Jan. 15, 1896 to Miss Effie Almond. He came to Galesburg fourteen years ago and was a fireman at the Purington Brick Company, until the strike six years ago. After the strike was over he did not return to the brick yards but has worked as a laborer.
He is survived by his wife and four children: Amos, 17 years old, Thomas Jr., 16 years old, Mary, nine years old and John, seven years old. His parents were both dead and he had not heard from his brother and sister for many years.
Arrangements for the funeral services have not been made.
SON’S SHOOTING OF FATHER WAS AN ACCIDENT
The coroner’s jury which yesterday afternoon inquired into the death of Thomas Straus, Sr., of East Galesburg, who was killed Sunday by his son while the two were hunting, returned a verdict finding that the death purely accidental, and that blame should be attached to no one.
The inquest was held at the Dean undertaking parlors at four o’clock yesterday afternoon. Coroner G.S. Bower presided and the jurors were Rev. G.W. Irons, foreman; H.W. Humphrey, George R.C. Palmer, Paul Roberts, J.R. Bradshaw and George Applegren.
Dr. J.F. Corbin told of having been notified of the death and visiting the scene together with Coroner Bower. An examination of the body made later revealed 60 shot wounds on the body, he testified. Dr. Corbin gave it as his opinion that death was caused by internal hemorrhage.
Joseph Lynch told of arriving soon after the boy had shot his father. Amos Straus, the son, was then called and told the story of the shooting. He and his father left home in the morning for a hunting trip. They had often been hunting together. It was between 12 and 1 o’clock when he shot his father. He was standing on one side of a little ravine and his father on the other. A moment before he had seen his father on the other side, but some distance back. He saw a quail fly into a tree and blazed away at it. He heard his father moan at almost the same time. Running across the ravine he caught his father in his arms as he fell to the ground. He died within a minute.
GALESBURG EVENING-MAIL: NOVEMBER 28, 1916
FUNERAL OF TOM STRAUS
East Galesburg, Ill, Dec. 1 – Funeral services over the remains of Tom Straus who was killed last Sunday while hunting were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Fred Dean’s undertaking rooms, conducted by Rev. G.W. Irons of East Galesburg. “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere,” “Nearer My God to Thee,” and “Face to Face,” were sung by Mrs. Lyman Moon, Mrs. Chloe Grimm and O.L. McCann. The pallbearers were Frank Parkins, Frank Nichols, John Sherard, Art Pierson, Emil Sackey, Mike Murray. Many neighbors and friends were in attendance. The floral offerings were beautiful.
GALESBURG EVENING-MAIL: DECEMBER 1, 1916
Contributor: Talbot Fisher
Accidental Shooting Near East Galesburg Sunday Fatal to Thomas Straus, Sr.
Son killed father on a rabbit hunt near here yesterday.
Thomas Straus, Sr., and his boy, Amos, who is 17 years old, were hunting along a ravine in a corn field east of East Galesburg at noon Sunday. A quail flew into a tree between them and the boy, not noticing that his father was directly in line, banged away at the bird. With a moan the older man staggered and fell to the ground. He expired a moment later in the arms of his son.
The screams of the boy attracted Mark Reynolds and Joseph Lynch, who ran across the muddy corn field a half mile to the scene. They found the boy almost crazed. With a handkerchief that he had dampened in the creek, he was endeavoring the resuscitate his father.
Coroner G.S. Bower was notified of the accident and arrived shortly after. He was fully satisfied with the story told by the boy and permitted the body to be removed to the home. From there it was taken to the Dean undertaking parlors, where an inquest will be held at four o’clock this afternoon.
Mr. Straus lived in East Galesburg. He worked for the Purington brick company until the time of the strike. Since then he has been working as a laborer.
Both father and his son were fond of hunting and as they had many times before Straus and his son yesterday afternoon went to Court Creek, near Morgan Corners, which is two and a half miles east of East Galesburg. On one side of the ravine the father was beating the underbrush and as the rabbits scampered out the son shot them.
When the boy fired the shot that killed his father, they were not more than thirty feet apart. Only one of the barren trees that fringe the ravine was between them. With nervous finger on the trigger, the boy saw a quail alight on the limb of a tree. His father could easily have been seen, but Amos for the moment forgot that he was just across the creek. He brought his gun into position and fired.
Then he saw what he had done. He heard his father utter a moan as the crack of the gun reverberated up the hollow. He saw him sink to the ground. Young Straus dropped his gun and leaped across the ravine to where his father lay. He was still breathing and was conscious, but he was unable to utter a word. Amos cried to him that it was an accident. He lifted the head of his father and called for help.
Mark Reynolds and Joseph Lynch, who were fully half a mile away, heard the cries of the young man and knew that there had been an accident. They plowed through the muddy corn field and when they reached the bank of the creek they found the boy the blood-stained face of his father.
Others came and they took the boy, wild with anguish, from the scene. Word was sent to Mrs. Straus in East Galesburg and to Coroner Bower. He questioned the boy and some of the others. He was convinced that the story of the boy was truthful and permitted him to go to his home. The body was taken to the home, but later taken to the undertaking parlors.
Dr. Bower was accompanied to the scene by Dr. J.F. Corbin. They found but two or three small wounds on the face and they felt these were not sufficient to cause death. Pulling away the blanket which had been put over the body they found fully two dozen of the small bird shot had penetrated through the heavy hunting coat, shirt and undershirt worn by Mr. Straus. Some of the shot had imbedded just under the skin and the wounds left by other shot indicated that they had passed through the body. Several of the buttons on his hunting coat had been broken or pierced by the shot.
The boy exhibited a duplicate of the shell with which he had killed his father. It was loaded with No. 5 bird shot. There was no doubt that at a range of thirty feet such a charge would be sufficient to cause death.
In her little home at the edge of East Galesburg today Mrs. Straus is almost prostrated from grief. The tragic death of her husband was a severe blow to her.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
Thomas John Straus was born in a little town 16 miles northwest of Vienna, Austria. He would have been 55 years old on Dec. 29th. He came to this country when 26 years old. He first located in St. Louis but several years afterward he removed to Winnegan, Mo. He was married there on Jan. 15, 1896 to Miss Effie Almond. He came to Galesburg fourteen years ago and was a fireman at the Purington Brick Company, until the strike six years ago. After the strike was over he did not return to the brick yards but has worked as a laborer.
He is survived by his wife and four children: Amos, 17 years old, Thomas Jr., 16 years old, Mary, nine years old and John, seven years old. His parents were both dead and he had not heard from his brother and sister for many years.
Arrangements for the funeral services have not been made.
SON’S SHOOTING OF FATHER WAS AN ACCIDENT
The coroner’s jury which yesterday afternoon inquired into the death of Thomas Straus, Sr., of East Galesburg, who was killed Sunday by his son while the two were hunting, returned a verdict finding that the death purely accidental, and that blame should be attached to no one.
The inquest was held at the Dean undertaking parlors at four o’clock yesterday afternoon. Coroner G.S. Bower presided and the jurors were Rev. G.W. Irons, foreman; H.W. Humphrey, George R.C. Palmer, Paul Roberts, J.R. Bradshaw and George Applegren.
Dr. J.F. Corbin told of having been notified of the death and visiting the scene together with Coroner Bower. An examination of the body made later revealed 60 shot wounds on the body, he testified. Dr. Corbin gave it as his opinion that death was caused by internal hemorrhage.
Joseph Lynch told of arriving soon after the boy had shot his father. Amos Straus, the son, was then called and told the story of the shooting. He and his father left home in the morning for a hunting trip. They had often been hunting together. It was between 12 and 1 o’clock when he shot his father. He was standing on one side of a little ravine and his father on the other. A moment before he had seen his father on the other side, but some distance back. He saw a quail fly into a tree and blazed away at it. He heard his father moan at almost the same time. Running across the ravine he caught his father in his arms as he fell to the ground. He died within a minute.
GALESBURG EVENING-MAIL: NOVEMBER 28, 1916
FUNERAL OF TOM STRAUS
East Galesburg, Ill, Dec. 1 – Funeral services over the remains of Tom Straus who was killed last Sunday while hunting were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Fred Dean’s undertaking rooms, conducted by Rev. G.W. Irons of East Galesburg. “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere,” “Nearer My God to Thee,” and “Face to Face,” were sung by Mrs. Lyman Moon, Mrs. Chloe Grimm and O.L. McCann. The pallbearers were Frank Parkins, Frank Nichols, John Sherard, Art Pierson, Emil Sackey, Mike Murray. Many neighbors and friends were in attendance. The floral offerings were beautiful.
GALESBURG EVENING-MAIL: DECEMBER 1, 1916
Contributor: Talbot Fisher
RABBIT HUNT TRAGEDY; SON KILLS FATHER
Accidental Shooting Near East Galesburg Sunday Fatal to Thomas Straus, Sr.
Son killed father on a rabbit hunt near here yesterday.
Thomas Straus, Sr., and his boy, Amos, who is 17 years old, were hunting along a ravine in a corn field east of East Galesburg at noon Sunday. A quail flew into a tree between them and the boy, not noticing that his father was directly in line, banged away at the bird. With a moan the older man staggered and fell to the ground. He expired a moment later in the arms of his son.
The screams of the boy attracted Mark Reynolds and Joseph Lynch, who ran across the muddy corn field a half mile to the scene. They found the boy almost crazed. With a handkerchief that he had dampened in the creek, he was endeavoring the resuscitate his father.
Coroner G.S. Bower was notified of the accident and arrived shortly after. He was fully satisfied with the story told by the boy and permitted the body to be removed to the home. From there it was taken to the Dean undertaking parlors, where an inquest will be held at four o’clock this afternoon.
Mr. Straus lived in East Galesburg. He worked for the Purington brick company until the time of the strike. Since then he has been working as a laborer.
Both father and his son were fond of hunting and as they had many times before Straus and his son yesterday afternoon went to Court Creek, near Morgan Corners, which is two and a half miles east of East Galesburg. On one side of the ravine the father was beating the underbrush and as the rabbits scampered out the son shot them.
When the boy fired the shot that killed his father, they were not more than thirty feet apart. Only one of the barren trees that fringe the ravine was between them. With nervous finger on the trigger, the boy saw a quail alight on the limb of a tree. His father could easily have been seen, but Amos for the moment forgot that he was just across the creek. He brought his gun into position and fired.
Then he saw what he had done. He heard his father utter a moan as the crack of the gun reverberated up the hollow. He saw him sink to the ground. Young Straus dropped his gun and leaped across the ravine to where his father lay. He was still breathing and was conscious, but he was unable to utter a word. Amos cried to him that it was an accident. He lifted the head of his father and called for help.
Mark Reynolds and Joseph Lynch, who were fully half a mile away, heard the cries of the young man and knew that there had been an accident. They plowed through the muddy corn field and when they reached the bank of the creek they found the boy the blood-stained face of his father.
Others came and they took the boy, wild with anguish, from the scene. Word was sent to Mrs. Straus in East Galesburg and to Coroner Bower. He questioned the boy and some of the others. He was convinced that the story of the boy was truthful and permitted him to go to his home. The body was taken to the home, but later taken to the undertaking parlors.
Dr. Bower was accompanied to the scene by Dr. J.F. Corbin. They found but two or three small wounds on the face and they felt these were not sufficient to cause death. Pulling away the blanket which had been put over the body they found fully two dozen of the small bird shot had penetrated through the heavy hunting coat, shirt and undershirt worn by Mr. Straus. Some of the shot had imbedded just under the skin and the wounds left by other shot indicated that they had passed through the body. Several of the buttons on his hunting coat had been broken or pierced by the shot.
The boy exhibited a duplicate of the shell with which he had killed his father. It was loaded with No. 5 bird shot. There was no doubt that at a range of thirty feet such a charge would be sufficient to cause death.
In her little home at the edge of East Galesburg today Mrs. Straus is almost prostrated from grief. The tragic death of her husband was a severe blow to her.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
Thomas John Straus was born in a little town 16 miles northwest of Vienna, Austria. He would have been 55 years old on Dec. 29th. He came to this country when 26 years old. He first located in St. Louis but several years afterward he removed to Winnegan, Mo. He was married there on Jan. 15, 1896 to Miss Effie Almond. He came to Galesburg fourteen years ago and was a fireman at the Purington Brick Company, until the strike six years ago. After the strike was over he did not return to the brick yards but has worked as a laborer.
He is survived by his wife and four children: Amos, 17 years old, Thomas Jr., 16 years old, Mary, nine years old and John, seven years old. His parents were both dead and he had not heard from his brother and sister for many years.
Arrangements for the funeral services have not been made.
SON’S SHOOTING OF FATHER WAS AN ACCIDENT
The coroner’s jury which yesterday afternoon inquired into the death of Thomas Straus, Sr., of East Galesburg, who was killed Sunday by his son while the two were hunting, returned a verdict finding that the death purely accidental, and that blame should be attached to no one.
The inquest was held at the Dean undertaking parlors at four o’clock yesterday afternoon. Coroner G.S. Bower presided and the jurors were Rev. G.W. Irons, foreman; H.W. Humphrey, George R.C. Palmer, Paul Roberts, J.R. Bradshaw and George Applegren.
Dr. J.F. Corbin told of having been notified of the death and visiting the scene together with Coroner Bower. An examination of the body made later revealed 60 shot wounds on the body, he testified. Dr. Corbin gave it as his opinion that death was caused by internal hemorrhage.
Joseph Lynch told of arriving soon after the boy had shot his father. Amos Straus, the son, was then called and told the story of the shooting. He and his father left home in the morning for a hunting trip. They had often been hunting together. It was between 12 and 1 o’clock when he shot his father. He was standing on one side of a little ravine and his father on the other. A moment before he had seen his father on the other side, but some distance back. He saw a quail fly into a tree and blazed away at it. He heard his father moan at almost the same time. Running across the ravine he caught his father in his arms as he fell to the ground. He died within a minute.
GALESBURG EVENING-MAIL: NOVEMBER 28, 1916
FUNERAL OF TOM STRAUS
East Galesburg, Ill, Dec. 1 – Funeral services over the remains of Tom Straus who was killed last Sunday while hunting were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Fred Dean’s undertaking rooms, conducted by Rev. G.W. Irons of East Galesburg. “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere,” “Nearer My God to Thee,” and “Face to Face,” were sung by Mrs. Lyman Moon, Mrs. Chloe Grimm and O.L. McCann. The pallbearers were Frank Parkins, Frank Nichols, John Sherard, Art Pierson, Emil Sackey, Mike Murray. Many neighbors and friends were in attendance. The floral offerings were beautiful.
GALESBURG EVENING-MAIL: DECEMBER 1, 1916
Contributor: Talbot Fisher
Accidental Shooting Near East Galesburg Sunday Fatal to Thomas Straus, Sr.
Son killed father on a rabbit hunt near here yesterday.
Thomas Straus, Sr., and his boy, Amos, who is 17 years old, were hunting along a ravine in a corn field east of East Galesburg at noon Sunday. A quail flew into a tree between them and the boy, not noticing that his father was directly in line, banged away at the bird. With a moan the older man staggered and fell to the ground. He expired a moment later in the arms of his son.
The screams of the boy attracted Mark Reynolds and Joseph Lynch, who ran across the muddy corn field a half mile to the scene. They found the boy almost crazed. With a handkerchief that he had dampened in the creek, he was endeavoring the resuscitate his father.
Coroner G.S. Bower was notified of the accident and arrived shortly after. He was fully satisfied with the story told by the boy and permitted the body to be removed to the home. From there it was taken to the Dean undertaking parlors, where an inquest will be held at four o’clock this afternoon.
Mr. Straus lived in East Galesburg. He worked for the Purington brick company until the time of the strike. Since then he has been working as a laborer.
Both father and his son were fond of hunting and as they had many times before Straus and his son yesterday afternoon went to Court Creek, near Morgan Corners, which is two and a half miles east of East Galesburg. On one side of the ravine the father was beating the underbrush and as the rabbits scampered out the son shot them.
When the boy fired the shot that killed his father, they were not more than thirty feet apart. Only one of the barren trees that fringe the ravine was between them. With nervous finger on the trigger, the boy saw a quail alight on the limb of a tree. His father could easily have been seen, but Amos for the moment forgot that he was just across the creek. He brought his gun into position and fired.
Then he saw what he had done. He heard his father utter a moan as the crack of the gun reverberated up the hollow. He saw him sink to the ground. Young Straus dropped his gun and leaped across the ravine to where his father lay. He was still breathing and was conscious, but he was unable to utter a word. Amos cried to him that it was an accident. He lifted the head of his father and called for help.
Mark Reynolds and Joseph Lynch, who were fully half a mile away, heard the cries of the young man and knew that there had been an accident. They plowed through the muddy corn field and when they reached the bank of the creek they found the boy the blood-stained face of his father.
Others came and they took the boy, wild with anguish, from the scene. Word was sent to Mrs. Straus in East Galesburg and to Coroner Bower. He questioned the boy and some of the others. He was convinced that the story of the boy was truthful and permitted him to go to his home. The body was taken to the home, but later taken to the undertaking parlors.
Dr. Bower was accompanied to the scene by Dr. J.F. Corbin. They found but two or three small wounds on the face and they felt these were not sufficient to cause death. Pulling away the blanket which had been put over the body they found fully two dozen of the small bird shot had penetrated through the heavy hunting coat, shirt and undershirt worn by Mr. Straus. Some of the shot had imbedded just under the skin and the wounds left by other shot indicated that they had passed through the body. Several of the buttons on his hunting coat had been broken or pierced by the shot.
The boy exhibited a duplicate of the shell with which he had killed his father. It was loaded with No. 5 bird shot. There was no doubt that at a range of thirty feet such a charge would be sufficient to cause death.
In her little home at the edge of East Galesburg today Mrs. Straus is almost prostrated from grief. The tragic death of her husband was a severe blow to her.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
Thomas John Straus was born in a little town 16 miles northwest of Vienna, Austria. He would have been 55 years old on Dec. 29th. He came to this country when 26 years old. He first located in St. Louis but several years afterward he removed to Winnegan, Mo. He was married there on Jan. 15, 1896 to Miss Effie Almond. He came to Galesburg fourteen years ago and was a fireman at the Purington Brick Company, until the strike six years ago. After the strike was over he did not return to the brick yards but has worked as a laborer.
He is survived by his wife and four children: Amos, 17 years old, Thomas Jr., 16 years old, Mary, nine years old and John, seven years old. His parents were both dead and he had not heard from his brother and sister for many years.
Arrangements for the funeral services have not been made.
SON’S SHOOTING OF FATHER WAS AN ACCIDENT
The coroner’s jury which yesterday afternoon inquired into the death of Thomas Straus, Sr., of East Galesburg, who was killed Sunday by his son while the two were hunting, returned a verdict finding that the death purely accidental, and that blame should be attached to no one.
The inquest was held at the Dean undertaking parlors at four o’clock yesterday afternoon. Coroner G.S. Bower presided and the jurors were Rev. G.W. Irons, foreman; H.W. Humphrey, George R.C. Palmer, Paul Roberts, J.R. Bradshaw and George Applegren.
Dr. J.F. Corbin told of having been notified of the death and visiting the scene together with Coroner Bower. An examination of the body made later revealed 60 shot wounds on the body, he testified. Dr. Corbin gave it as his opinion that death was caused by internal hemorrhage.
Joseph Lynch told of arriving soon after the boy had shot his father. Amos Straus, the son, was then called and told the story of the shooting. He and his father left home in the morning for a hunting trip. They had often been hunting together. It was between 12 and 1 o’clock when he shot his father. He was standing on one side of a little ravine and his father on the other. A moment before he had seen his father on the other side, but some distance back. He saw a quail fly into a tree and blazed away at it. He heard his father moan at almost the same time. Running across the ravine he caught his father in his arms as he fell to the ground. He died within a minute.
GALESBURG EVENING-MAIL: NOVEMBER 28, 1916
FUNERAL OF TOM STRAUS
East Galesburg, Ill, Dec. 1 – Funeral services over the remains of Tom Straus who was killed last Sunday while hunting were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Fred Dean’s undertaking rooms, conducted by Rev. G.W. Irons of East Galesburg. “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere,” “Nearer My God to Thee,” and “Face to Face,” were sung by Mrs. Lyman Moon, Mrs. Chloe Grimm and O.L. McCann. The pallbearers were Frank Parkins, Frank Nichols, John Sherard, Art Pierson, Emil Sackey, Mike Murray. Many neighbors and friends were in attendance. The floral offerings were beautiful.
GALESBURG EVENING-MAIL: DECEMBER 1, 1916
Contributor: Talbot Fisher
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