A. M. Todd, aged 55,
formerly of Goderich and lately assistant editor of the Port Dover Maple
Leaf, was drowned at Port Dover on Sunday.
Two little girls who were
padding, stumbled over the body lying in water two feet deep, almost 20 feet from the shore. Startled by what they had felt under their
feet and feeling sure that it was a body, they hurried to the shore and
told of their fears.
Nothing could be done to revive
Mr. Todd. Upon inquiry it was learned that he went down for his usual
swim about nine o'clock in the morning with Harry Bloxson, aged 8, with
whose parents he boarded. The two swam about for awhile and then the boy
went home. He never thought anything of Mr. Todd's absence, as often
he went to the newspaper office.
Coroner Dr. Cook, after
investigating, came to the conclusion that Mr. Todd suffered a fit of
apoplexy as he was in swimming and fell unconscious as he was trying to
make his way to the beach, and was drowned.
Mr. Todd leaves a wife and four
children.
Suicide at Port
Dover
John McArthur chose to died rather than suffer
John McArthur, aged 63 years, a
well-to-do farmer living about three miles from Port Dover, committed
suicide in a most determined manner last Wednesday. The unfortunate man
almost severed his head from his body with a razor.
The deceased retired to a ford
adjoining the house shortly after 7 o'clock in the morning, and was not
thereafter seen alive. When found he had a razor clenched tightly in his
hand, and his neck was cut literally from ear to ear, severing all the
arteries from the windpipe and almost reaching the vertebrae. Death, of
course, must have been instantaneous.
Coroner Dr. Cook of Port Dover
who was immediately summoned, said he never before saw or heard of such
a self-inflicted cut. After investigating all the circumstances he
regarded an inquest unnecessary.
The deceased man had been ailing
for several months from severe dementia. He had been in a nervous
condition for the past few weeks, so much so that he had to be almost
constantly watched and seemed to worry greatly over trifles.
He leaves a wife and five
daughters, four of whom are married, and two grandchildren.
Popular young man
dead
Frank B. Dedrick passed away at his home in Port Rowan
After an illness of several
months, Mr. Frank B. Dedrick died at the home of his mother, Mrs. Fannie
Dedrick, last Thursday, in his 23rd year.
Mr. Dedrick was the only son and
child of the late James A. Dedrick, and was born in this village and
until his fatal sickness was a young man of much promise.
He was an enthusiastic
militiaman and was one of the few chosen to represent 39th at the
coronation of King George in London. He had occupied positions of trust
with honor in the Bank of Hamilton in Pt. Rowan and Orangeville and also
in the Molsons Bank in Simcoe.
The funeral was held from the
home on Saturday. The Rev. Mr. Bloodsworth and the Rev. Mr. Creighton
officiating.
The large number present gave
some indication of the high esteem in which the family is held. Very
much sympathy is expressed for the bereaved mother on account of her
great and sad loss. Interment was made in the family plot in Bay View
Cemetery.
