Son of Smiley Sumner and Rebecca D (Barham) Helton.
The dead body of Clarence C. Sumner, once a well-known telegraph operator in Mattoon, was found in the Mattoon city jail at 7 o'clock this morning after he had spent the night at the prison following an arrest for intoxication. A coroner's jury this morning came in the conclusion that alcoholism was the direct cause of his death, perhaps complemented by a recent attack of malaria in Missouri. The arrest was made about 9 o'clock Tuesday night by patrolman Myers and Jenkins. The man was lying on his back on S. 19th St., apparently in a stupor from whiskey. He was literally carried to the city jail and was so drunk that the officers had to hold him upright while they searched the body for money, guns or other property -a customary safeguard taken in every arrest. Nothing except a few unimportant papers, a membership card of the Order Of Railway Telegraphers and an insurance policy for $300 was found.
In the jail at the time were two other men, both under arrest on similar charges, but both more sobered after longer confinement. These this morning testified that Sumner, who was laid down in the center of the jail too drunk to put into a cell, never moved during the entire night. He moaned almost continuously so that they could not sleep. They called to him but he did not answer and, as they were locked in cells, they could not get to him. This morning about 4 o'clock the moans ceased and it is then they think he died. There was no struggle, no gasping, nothing to indicate violence of the last few respirations which gives room to the belief that his heart failed. Patrolman White found the body cold and notified Deputy Coroner Schilling. The remains were removed to the Schilling morgue, where coroner McClelland held an inquest. The evidence showed that the man had been drinking heavily for more than a week and had been addicted to the habit for years. He came to Mattoon a week ago from Missouri. He worked for about two years ago when the Coles County Telephone and Telegraph Company laid cables, working as a lineman on new improvements. He also worked at local restaurants, once drove a delivery wagon for the Slover grocery store and the like. Word was telegraphed to his parents and to a sister who were located. A brother-in-law, formally was a foreman on construction work at the Mattoon-Charleston interurban line. It is expected that disposition of the body will be received at once.
The deceased, who was born in this city about 27 or 28 years ago, was a railroad telegrapher by occupation and had worked in both the Big Four and Illinois Central railroads in this city. Seven or eight years ago he left the city and with but few exceptions he had not been back here until recently. It is said that he had been roaming over the country working at his trade, always to lose any position through the drink habit, which had gotten a firm held upon him. During the last year the greater portion of which time he had been in a drunken stupor, he had lain around the livery barns, where he was made the subject of course jokes on the part of the employee. Sumner was a son of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Sumner, now living in Zalma, Missouri. While residents of the city, which was until about two years ago, the family resided at **** Ave., the husband and father being employed in the *** Central shops. Besides the parents there survive two sisters: Mrs. James McGaughey, now of Springfield, Illinois and another whose name could not be learned; and a brother, Otis Sumner, whose place of residence also is not known. Sumner also married a young woman, being near Peoria, a few years ago but from her he was soon divorced (see below link). The deceased was insured by the Order of Railway Telegraphers, a policy for $800 having been made out as August 10 last. -The Mattoon Journal Gazette, September 28, 1910.
Clarence's wife, whom he married in 1905, was Minnie L. King. It is unknown if he had any other wives.
The dead body of Clarence C. Sumner, once a well-known telegraph operator in Mattoon, was found in the Mattoon city jail at 7 o'clock this morning after he had spent the night at the prison following an arrest for intoxication. A coroner's jury this morning came in the conclusion that alcoholism was the direct cause of his death, perhaps complemented by a recent attack of malaria in Missouri. The arrest was made about 9 o'clock Tuesday night by patrolman Myers and Jenkins. The man was lying on his back on S. 19th St., apparently in a stupor from whiskey. He was literally carried to the city jail and was so drunk that the officers had to hold him upright while they searched the body for money, guns or other property -a customary safeguard taken in every arrest. Nothing except a few unimportant papers, a membership card of the Order Of Railway Telegraphers and an insurance policy for $300 was found.
In the jail at the time were two other men, both under arrest on similar charges, but both more sobered after longer confinement. These this morning testified that Sumner, who was laid down in the center of the jail too drunk to put into a cell, never moved during the entire night. He moaned almost continuously so that they could not sleep. They called to him but he did not answer and, as they were locked in cells, they could not get to him. This morning about 4 o'clock the moans ceased and it is then they think he died. There was no struggle, no gasping, nothing to indicate violence of the last few respirations which gives room to the belief that his heart failed. Patrolman White found the body cold and notified Deputy Coroner Schilling. The remains were removed to the Schilling morgue, where coroner McClelland held an inquest. The evidence showed that the man had been drinking heavily for more than a week and had been addicted to the habit for years. He came to Mattoon a week ago from Missouri. He worked for about two years ago when the Coles County Telephone and Telegraph Company laid cables, working as a lineman on new improvements. He also worked at local restaurants, once drove a delivery wagon for the Slover grocery store and the like. Word was telegraphed to his parents and to a sister who were located. A brother-in-law, formally was a foreman on construction work at the Mattoon-Charleston interurban line. It is expected that disposition of the body will be received at once.
The deceased, who was born in this city about 27 or 28 years ago, was a railroad telegrapher by occupation and had worked in both the Big Four and Illinois Central railroads in this city. Seven or eight years ago he left the city and with but few exceptions he had not been back here until recently. It is said that he had been roaming over the country working at his trade, always to lose any position through the drink habit, which had gotten a firm held upon him. During the last year the greater portion of which time he had been in a drunken stupor, he had lain around the livery barns, where he was made the subject of course jokes on the part of the employee. Sumner was a son of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Sumner, now living in Zalma, Missouri. While residents of the city, which was until about two years ago, the family resided at **** Ave., the husband and father being employed in the *** Central shops. Besides the parents there survive two sisters: Mrs. James McGaughey, now of Springfield, Illinois and another whose name could not be learned; and a brother, Otis Sumner, whose place of residence also is not known. Sumner also married a young woman, being near Peoria, a few years ago but from her he was soon divorced (see below link). The deceased was insured by the Order of Railway Telegraphers, a policy for $800 having been made out as August 10 last. -The Mattoon Journal Gazette, September 28, 1910.
Clarence's wife, whom he married in 1905, was Minnie L. King. It is unknown if he had any other wives.
Son of Smiley Sumner and Rebecca D (Barham) Helton.
The dead body of Clarence C. Sumner, once a well-known telegraph operator in Mattoon, was found in the Mattoon city jail at 7 o'clock this morning after he had spent the night at the prison following an arrest for intoxication. A coroner's jury this morning came in the conclusion that alcoholism was the direct cause of his death, perhaps complemented by a recent attack of malaria in Missouri. The arrest was made about 9 o'clock Tuesday night by patrolman Myers and Jenkins. The man was lying on his back on S. 19th St., apparently in a stupor from whiskey. He was literally carried to the city jail and was so drunk that the officers had to hold him upright while they searched the body for money, guns or other property -a customary safeguard taken in every arrest. Nothing except a few unimportant papers, a membership card of the Order Of Railway Telegraphers and an insurance policy for $300 was found.
In the jail at the time were two other men, both under arrest on similar charges, but both more sobered after longer confinement. These this morning testified that Sumner, who was laid down in the center of the jail too drunk to put into a cell, never moved during the entire night. He moaned almost continuously so that they could not sleep. They called to him but he did not answer and, as they were locked in cells, they could not get to him. This morning about 4 o'clock the moans ceased and it is then they think he died. There was no struggle, no gasping, nothing to indicate violence of the last few respirations which gives room to the belief that his heart failed. Patrolman White found the body cold and notified Deputy Coroner Schilling. The remains were removed to the Schilling morgue, where coroner McClelland held an inquest. The evidence showed that the man had been drinking heavily for more than a week and had been addicted to the habit for years. He came to Mattoon a week ago from Missouri. He worked for about two years ago when the Coles County Telephone and Telegraph Company laid cables, working as a lineman on new improvements. He also worked at local restaurants, once drove a delivery wagon for the Slover grocery store and the like. Word was telegraphed to his parents and to a sister who were located. A brother-in-law, formally was a foreman on construction work at the Mattoon-Charleston interurban line. It is expected that disposition of the body will be received at once.
The deceased, who was born in this city about 27 or 28 years ago, was a railroad telegrapher by occupation and had worked in both the Big Four and Illinois Central railroads in this city. Seven or eight years ago he left the city and with but few exceptions he had not been back here until recently. It is said that he had been roaming over the country working at his trade, always to lose any position through the drink habit, which had gotten a firm held upon him. During the last year the greater portion of which time he had been in a drunken stupor, he had lain around the livery barns, where he was made the subject of course jokes on the part of the employee. Sumner was a son of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Sumner, now living in Zalma, Missouri. While residents of the city, which was until about two years ago, the family resided at **** Ave., the husband and father being employed in the *** Central shops. Besides the parents there survive two sisters: Mrs. James McGaughey, now of Springfield, Illinois and another whose name could not be learned; and a brother, Otis Sumner, whose place of residence also is not known. Sumner also married a young woman, being near Peoria, a few years ago but from her he was soon divorced (see below link). The deceased was insured by the Order of Railway Telegraphers, a policy for $800 having been made out as August 10 last. -The Mattoon Journal Gazette, September 28, 1910.
Clarence's wife, whom he married in 1905, was Minnie L. King. It is unknown if he had any other wives.
The dead body of Clarence C. Sumner, once a well-known telegraph operator in Mattoon, was found in the Mattoon city jail at 7 o'clock this morning after he had spent the night at the prison following an arrest for intoxication. A coroner's jury this morning came in the conclusion that alcoholism was the direct cause of his death, perhaps complemented by a recent attack of malaria in Missouri. The arrest was made about 9 o'clock Tuesday night by patrolman Myers and Jenkins. The man was lying on his back on S. 19th St., apparently in a stupor from whiskey. He was literally carried to the city jail and was so drunk that the officers had to hold him upright while they searched the body for money, guns or other property -a customary safeguard taken in every arrest. Nothing except a few unimportant papers, a membership card of the Order Of Railway Telegraphers and an insurance policy for $300 was found.
In the jail at the time were two other men, both under arrest on similar charges, but both more sobered after longer confinement. These this morning testified that Sumner, who was laid down in the center of the jail too drunk to put into a cell, never moved during the entire night. He moaned almost continuously so that they could not sleep. They called to him but he did not answer and, as they were locked in cells, they could not get to him. This morning about 4 o'clock the moans ceased and it is then they think he died. There was no struggle, no gasping, nothing to indicate violence of the last few respirations which gives room to the belief that his heart failed. Patrolman White found the body cold and notified Deputy Coroner Schilling. The remains were removed to the Schilling morgue, where coroner McClelland held an inquest. The evidence showed that the man had been drinking heavily for more than a week and had been addicted to the habit for years. He came to Mattoon a week ago from Missouri. He worked for about two years ago when the Coles County Telephone and Telegraph Company laid cables, working as a lineman on new improvements. He also worked at local restaurants, once drove a delivery wagon for the Slover grocery store and the like. Word was telegraphed to his parents and to a sister who were located. A brother-in-law, formally was a foreman on construction work at the Mattoon-Charleston interurban line. It is expected that disposition of the body will be received at once.
The deceased, who was born in this city about 27 or 28 years ago, was a railroad telegrapher by occupation and had worked in both the Big Four and Illinois Central railroads in this city. Seven or eight years ago he left the city and with but few exceptions he had not been back here until recently. It is said that he had been roaming over the country working at his trade, always to lose any position through the drink habit, which had gotten a firm held upon him. During the last year the greater portion of which time he had been in a drunken stupor, he had lain around the livery barns, where he was made the subject of course jokes on the part of the employee. Sumner was a son of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Sumner, now living in Zalma, Missouri. While residents of the city, which was until about two years ago, the family resided at **** Ave., the husband and father being employed in the *** Central shops. Besides the parents there survive two sisters: Mrs. James McGaughey, now of Springfield, Illinois and another whose name could not be learned; and a brother, Otis Sumner, whose place of residence also is not known. Sumner also married a young woman, being near Peoria, a few years ago but from her he was soon divorced (see below link). The deceased was insured by the Order of Railway Telegraphers, a policy for $800 having been made out as August 10 last. -The Mattoon Journal Gazette, September 28, 1910.
Clarence's wife, whom he married in 1905, was Minnie L. King. It is unknown if he had any other wives.
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