Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1905 — AGED WOMAN DIES OF EXPOSURE. [ARTICLE]

AGED WOMAN DIES OF EXPOSURE.

firs. Sarah flarion Wanders Away And Lies Out In Field All Night. Mrs. Sarah Marion, an aged lady who of late had been living in rooms with Mrs. Minerva Hopkins on South Weston street, was found Saturday forenoon lying in the Moody pasture near Kellner’s ice house, in a half frozen, unconscious condition, and on being taken home died on the way. Mr. Kellner and Geo. Platt, it seems, were working about the former’s ice house Saturday morning and shortly after eleven o’clock they observed a pair of women’s shoes near the ice house. Looking about a little they soon saw an old lady lying on the ground in the Moody pasture. Thinking she was probably insane they did not care to approach her but telephoned to the officers and on their arrival it was found that the woman was Mrs. Marion. Her cape lay some distance away and she was shivering and moaning, but did not appear conscious. The field was enclosed by a wire fence, and she bad apparently cut herself on this, and one of her limbs near the knee and one hand was scratched, from which she had bled somewhat. t She was placed in a buss and taken to her home, but when they arrived there life was extinct. She had no doubt died from exposure, having lain out all of the previous night and until found near noon Saturday. It was learned that she had left Mrs. Hopkins’ Friday morning, the latter supposing she had gone to her son’s I. B. Marion’s, or to Charlie Platt’s, where she lived formerly, and it seems she was at the latter place a part of the day. About 4 p. m., Friday she enquired at S. P. Thompson’s residence the way to her son’s and to Mr. Platt’s, which would indicate that she was not right mentally. It is supposed that she became confused and entered the field where she was found and no one happening to see her, lay there all night long. She was 77 years of age and it is said would not make her home with her son, who desired her to do so. She leaves five children, J. W., F. E. and I. B. Marion and Mrs. Mary E. Henkle and Mrs. Eliza Davis.