Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1906 — SUDDEN DEATH AT THE COLLEGE. [ARTICLE]

SUDDEN DEATH AT THE COLLEGE.

Class Valedictorian Dies Tuesday Evening After Brief Illness. The commencement festivities at St. Joseph’s College were saddened by the sudden death Tuesday night of Edward J. Prior, the class valedictorian and the most popular student of the College, after a brief illness. A post mortem revealed the fact that the young man had been in bad health for some time, and no doubt only his nerve kept him up and determined him to go through with the commencement instead of taking to his bed. Numerous ulcers were found on the lower bowels and the abdominal and chest cavities were filled with fluid and it was evident that he had been in a serious condition for some time. He was forced to give up Monday but it was not thought he was so bad off until next day, when a physician was called. Nothing could be done to save him and he died that night. The remains were shipped to a sister in Philadelphia, the young man’s home.