Matt Clement Hung Himself-1937

CLEMENT, JOHNSON, TURNIS, TIMMER, CONNELLY

Posted By: CHERYL MOONEN (email)
Date: 1/12/2022 at 19:45:37

The Monticello Express, Monticello, Iowa, January 2, 1937, Page 1

Matt Clement
Hung Himself
At Sand Spring
~
He Had Been Worrying
Over Kidnapping
Of Mattson Boy
~
Matt Clement of Sand Spring is dead as the result of hanging himself lats Tuesday morning, the man was found at 6:30 Tuesday morning by Ralph Johnson.

Clement had used a new rope which he had thrown over a rafter in the horse barn. The rope was short and he hung about 18 inches from the rafter when found. His feet cleared the floor of the barn by about two feet. Apparently he had climbed up on a box, fashioned the noose and then jumped off. His death was caused by strangulation.

Worry Caused Act

It is thought that worry caused the rash act of the young man. He had been reading details of the Mattson kidnapping case at Tacoma, Washington and had listened with unusual interest to the radio broad cast about the affair. Worry about this matter caused him to be very much unsettled. It is said that several days before his death he had listened to a group of people talk about hanging and what and how easy a death it was. Undoubtedly the whole set of circumstances preyed upon the young man’s mind.

Clement was in the employ of George Turnis living near Sand Springs. He had gotten up early to do the family chores. The Turnis family presumed he was feeding the horses. He was called several times to come in for breakfast and when he did not answer, Ralph Jonson, another hired man on the Turnis farm, went out in search of him. He was soon faced with the stark tragedy of finding Clement’s lifeless body hanging from the rafter. The Delaware County Coroner was called.

Born at Sand Spring

Matt Clement was 26 years of age, and was born February 23, 1911. He was a son of Mrs. Sophia Clement of Sand Spring. He is survived by four sister and four brothers, viz., Mrs. Bill Connelly (Katherine), Mrs. Elmer Timmer of Dyersville, Marcella of Monticello, Anna, Michael and Joseph who are employed near Monticello, and Nicholas and Edwin who live at home.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73754984/matthew-clement
 

Delaware Obituaries maintained by Constance Diamond.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen