| Notes |
- The Sleep of Death
Asphyxiation of Laurence Tee, Kingston Groceryman
Left the gas turned on at the McCutchen house Saturday morning, in a tightly closed room and went to bed – found Saturday evening – a shocking case.
Lawrence Tee, a farmer and country groceryman residing about a half mile west of Kingston, drove into Burlington for the last time Friday afternoon. How he spent the evening is not known, but about one o’clock Saturday morning he went to the McCutcheon house and secured lodging for himself and team. He was slightly intoxicated, and when he went to his room the clerk asked him if he understood how to manage the gas. He said he did. He locked the door of his room and put the key on the dresser. It is supposed that he turned the gas on and was either without matches or unable to find the gas fixture readily and concluded to undress without a light, which he did and went to bed. The transom was closed tightly and the room held the gas so effectually that the situation was not discovered until Saturday evening about 6 o’clock, the hotel clerk supposing that Mr. Tee was very weary and would prefer to sleep. Supper-time arriving, however, it was thought best to arouse him. Repeated knocking on the door brought no response and the transom was broken open. The gas then rushed out and revealed the cause of the sleeper’s prolonged rest. It was the rest of death. The body was rigid, showing that life had been extinct for many hours.
The body was given in charge of Coroner Fred Unterkircher, who held an inquest this morning and the jury ascribed the death to accidental asphyxiation. On the dead person was found $80 in money and a gold watch. One pocket of his coat was bull of broken cigars.
Deceased was about 50 years of age and a well preserved strong man. He was highly respected by his neighbors, and his sad death has shocked everyone in the vicinity of Kingston, where he was well know. He leaves a widow and several married children.
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1845 - 1892 (46 years)
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