These tragic news items tell the story and features the Boffeli surname.

 

 

 

Yester Year Stories, Backed with Today's Research

B*O*F*F*E*L*I

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Tuesday, July 13, 1926

BOY MEETS TRAGIC FATE
Le Vern Boffeli, Aged 17, Killed When Thrown from His Horse
AUTO CAUSES ACCIDENT
Animal and Rider Presumably Struck by Car.

LeVern Boffeli, aged 17, a young farm hand met almost instant death Saturday evening when a horse he was riding was struck by an automobile and Boffeli was thrown several feet into a ditch, sustaining injuries from which he died within an hour.

Boffeli, who was employed at the John Theisen farm in Washington township, was riding home from Brunsville where he had been on an errand.  The accident took place on the road between Brunsville and the Mrs. Mary Bruns farm residence.  The car which occasioned the accident was driven by L. H. Henry, a banker of Sioux City, who was driving west toward the Perry Creek road.

Otto Marienau and family and Ben Marienau were returning to their home west of Brunsville and were at the scene of the accident a few seconds after it happened.  The Sioux City car had just passed them going at a good rate of speed when they heard the crash and on coming up found the Sioux City car in the ditch on the left hand side of the road.  The horse was standing in the road and the body of the boy was found about fifteen feet away.  He was unconscious but still breathing.  He was brought to the Community hospital by R. C. Pease, of Pierson, who is acting as relief agent at the depot in Brunsville and Dr. W. L. Downing was summoned.

Succumbs to Injuries.
Death was due to laceration of a lung, according to diagnosis of the physician who was called to the case.  His chest was crushed and his collar bone broken.  There were marks on the left foreleg and left should of the horse indicating both the youth and the animal had been struck by the car.

Residents of Brunsville, who visited the scene of the accident, stated that the foot prints of the horse was on his die of the road and was loping along about two feet from the edge of the grade.  A woman passenger in the Henry car was slightly injured by broken glass.

To Hold Inquest.
Sheriff Maxwell and deputies went out to the scene of the accident Saturday night and Coroner L. E. Mauer went out to make an investigation. 

A jury was empanelled consisting of H. L. Dambrink, C. A. Mauer and John Featherston and they went out to view the place where the fatality occurred.  The inquest will be held today when a number of witnesses will be called to tell just what they know about the tragedy.

Body Taken Home.
John Boffeli, of Farley, father of the boy, arrived in LeMars Sunday and yesterday morning took the body back with him.  The funeral will be held this morning at St. Joseph’s church in Farley.  The boy was the oldest of a family of nine children and is survived by his parents, four brothers, Merlin, William, Allen and Eldon and four sisters, Katherine, Celia, Marrellto and Pearl.

The boy had worked for Mr. and Mrs. John Theisen when they lived on a farm near Farley for some years, in his school vacations, and when they came recently to Plymouth county he accompanied them.  They regarded him as one of themselves and say he was a most faithful and efficient worker.  Nearly all his earnings he gave to his parents and dependable in every way.

Mr. and Mrs. Thiesen had started on a trip to Emery, S.D., leaving Mrs. Ruden, the mother of Mrs. Theisen, and LeVerne in charge of the farm, at the time of the tragedy.  They returned immediately on receipt of the sad news. 

The boy hardly ever left the farm except in company of members of the Theisen family.  On Saturday evening he went to Brunsville to get some meat for the Sunday meals.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Friday, July 16, 1926

JURY CLEARS AUTO DRIVER.
Inquest Held to Determine Cause of Death of LeVerne Boffeli
NO BLAME IS ATTACHED
Number of Witnesses Testify As to the Facts.

Facts concerning the death of LeVern Boffeli, aged 17, killed in an accident near Brunsville, Saturday evening, as related in the last issue of the Sentinel, were practically corroborated by the testimony of witnesses at the inquest held Monday afternoon by Coroner L. E. Mauer.  The members of the coroner’s jury were H. L. Dambrink, John Featherston and C. A. Mauer.  The coroner and jurors viewed the scene of the accident Sunday and on Monday morning went to Sioux City to look at the car which struck young Boffeli and to the farm to see the horse upon which he was riding.

The inquest was held in the office of the county attorney, Geo. Sturges, who conducted the questioning of the witnesses.  L. H. Henry, of Sioux City, the owner of the car which occasioned the accident, was present with his attorney, Guy T. Struble.  Mr. Struble questioned a number of the witnesses after they had given their testimony to the jury.  Only two or three people were in attendance at the inquest in addition to those summoned in the case and newspaper reporters.

Witnesses Testify.
Dr. W. L. Downing, was the first witness and stated he was called to the Community hospital about a quarter to 10 o’clock Saturday night to attend the injured youth.  He stated the youth died twenty minutes after his arrival of hemorrhage of the lung.  The doctor stated he found a cut at the corner of the mouth, a fracture of the left shoulder, discoloration behind the ear and a fracture of the rib, which caused a puncture of the lung.  Questioned by Mr. Struble, the doctor said no post mortem examination was held.

Otto Marienau of Brunsville testified he was going home from LeMars to Brunsville in a Ford touring car with his wife, two children and a brother.  He stated he was driving about twenty miles an hour and noticed a car coming up behind him as they turned at the Schultz corner into the road west to Brunsville.  Said the car was going pretty fast.  He did not see the horse or boy coming from the west.  There was no car coming from the west.  Heard a crash and saw the car go into the ditch at the left hand side of the road.  He stopped his own car and went to the car in the ditch.  Saw a woman in the car.  The lady said she was hurt and said she did not want to see the man that was hit.  Asked the man his name and where he was going.  He did not answer.  Came to LeMars with the injured boy in the back seat.  Mr. Becker and Mr. Pease were in the front seat.  Found the boy about 25 or 30 feet from the car in the ditch. Did not know the man who helped him put the boy in the auto.  Mr. Pease’s car was the first car from the west to arrive after the accident.  Asked about a post in the ditch, witness said there was a post lying in the ditch about two feet from the car.

Ben Marienau was next called and stated he was riding in the front of the car with his brother.  He heard a crash and saw the boy flying in the air, and the horse walking across the road.  Pease came along and another man I did not know.  Took number of the car, striking a match to do so.  Asked the man if he was going to report the accident and he replied he was.  The witness estimated that the Henry car was going twice as fast as their car.  There were no other cars in sight except the Henry car and the Marienau car.  A post was lying between the car and the boy.  Thought horse might have hit post after it was knocked down.

Otto Marienau was called and stated he saw the horse Sunday morning.  The horse was bleeding from the nose then and witness saw bruises on the left shoulder and left side of the animal.

Henry Was Agitated.
Mrs. Otto Marienau testified she was in the rear seat of the car, which her husband was driving.  Her two children were with her.  She heard glass cracking, saw the boy flying through the air.  He lit on his head in the ditch.  The horse was on its knees, in the act of getting up.  She talked to the lady.  Noticed blood streaming from a cut in the lady’s forehead and noticed blood on her hand.  Asked her if she, the witness, could be of any assistance and offered to take her to a farm near by.  Mr. Henry was walking back and forth.  He got in the car, when the woman said she was hurt.

R. C. Pease, of Pearson, said he was acting as a relief agent at Brunsville and was driving to LeMars on his way to Pierson.  Saw the cars in the road and at first thought he was running into a holdup.  Someone hailed me and I stopped.  Was told there had been an accident.  I was asked to take the boy in my car to a hospital in LeMars and said I would if someone came to show me where the hospital was.  They were strangers to me.  Mr. Marienau and another man put the lad in the back seat.  Mr. Marienau sat with the injured man and I think it was Mr. Becker who rode in front with me.

Floyd McCammond, a LeMars youth, testified to having seen the boy and horse on the road twice that evening.  He and another youth were looking for a spare tire they lost on the road between Brunsville and Dalton.  As they returned from Dalton, the car driven by Henry passed them near the Wagner place.  Witness stated they were going forty miles an hour in a Dodge car.  A Page car and a Cadillac car passed them.  The injured boy was in the car when they arrived at the scene of the accident.  This witness knew nothing of how the accident happened.

V. Thoma testified that he and another man took the number of the car.  Witness said, “I told the man I would report the accident if I were in his place” and the man replied, “What’s the use, you have my number.”

Helmuth Becker told of arriving at the spot after the accident happened.  He came to town in the Pease car after Otto Marienau and Henry had placed the injured lad in the back seat.

Thinks Horse Lunged.
L. H. Henry testifying in his own behalf, said his vision was obscured a second or two as his car ascended the brow of the hill.  Saw no horse until it was within a few feet of him.  There was a car a short distance ahead of him.  To avoid a collision, he turned sharply to the left, was going about thirty miles an hour, could not turn to the right so took the chance and went into the ditch.  Could not tell whether he struck the horse.  Thought the horse might have lunged into the car.  There were marks back on the side of the car and the glass at the sides of the car was broken.  Said he reported the accident to the Sioux City police.  Helped put the boy in the Pease car.  Was cut some and the party with him was cut by glass.  Supposed it was a man when he first saw the horse and rider.

Jury Return Verdict.
The jurors retired for a few minutes after the taking of testimony.  On their return they announced that following verdict:
“That said LeVern Boffeli came to his death as the result of the horse which said LeVern Boffeli was at the time riding, being struck by an automobile driven by L. H. Henry, of Sioux City, Iowa.”
“We do not find any testimony of any felony having been committed by said, L. H. Henry.”
Signed:
H. L. Dambrink
C. A. Mauer
John Featherston.

Mr. Henry shook hands with the jurors after the rendition of the verdict.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Friday, July 23, 1926

MAKING INVESTIGATIONS
Further Inquiries Being Made Into the Death of Le Vern Boffeli
Frank O’Connor, of Dubuque, United States district attorney during the Wilson administration and one time democratic candidate for governor of Iowa, has been in LeMars investigating the death of Le Vern Boffeli, of Farley, Ia., who was killed by a car driven by L. H. Henry, of Sioux City.

Mr. O’Connor said the people of Farley had contributed money to retain him as assistant to prosecute the case.  Mr. O’Connor said he had found new witnesses who had not been called for the inquest.  He will be in LeMars again later to make further investigation.


Dryersville Commercial, July 12, 1926
LAVERNE BOFFELI RETURNING HOME ON HORSE BACK, BRUNSVILLE, IA., HIT BY AUTOMOBILE 
DIED FROM INJURIES WHILE BEING RUSHED TO HOSPITAL AT LEMARS--REMAINS BROUGHT TO FARLEY FOR BURIAL
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Boffeli, residing three miles south of here received word of the death of their son, Laverne was returning home on horseback, when an automobile hit him and he was so badly injured that he passed away shortly afterwards.  He was working for John Theisen, who moved from here to LeMars the first of March, and with whom he had gone out there.  Mr. Boffeli left on the first train Sunday morning and returned with the body Monday afternoon.
Laverne was born at Bankston, Jan. 26, 1909.  He attended St. Joseph's parochial school here and was thought much of by pupil and teachers alike.  He had always lived here until he accompanied Mr. Theisen to LeMars.
He is survived by his parents, five brothers Merlin, Wilmer, Allen, Carl and Eldon, four sisters, Cecilia, Mathilda, Delia and Katherine and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Arlen.
The sudden death of Laverne comes as a shock to his parents and sisters and brothers, and to his many friends.  He was a companionable young fellow, popular among his many friends and his untimely death is greatly regretted.  Sympathy is extended the bereaved family.

FUNERAL AT FARLEY
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church, Rev. P J. Coffey sang requiem mass and officiated at the graveside.  The casket bearers were six school mates of the deceased and are as follows; James O'Meara, Raymond Kelchen, Marion Jarding, Hugh Greenwood, John O'Meara and J. T, McKeever.  Interment was made in St. Joseph's cemetery.
Relatives and friends from away who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Gansen, Mr. and Mrs. Nic Gansen, Mrs. Frances Gansen, of Elma, Nic Ruden of Remsen, Iowa and Mr. and Mrs. John Theisen of LeMars, Iowa. 


Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, Iowa
Monday, July 12, 1926

AUTO TRAGEDY CLEARED UP
Sioux City Man Tells of Fatal Accident Near LeMars.

Details of the accident near Brunsville, Ia., Saturday night that resulted in the death of Laverne Basselli (sic Boffeli) 17-year-old  farm hand, were disclosed when L. H. Henry, vice-president of the First National Bank, of Sioux City, driver of the automobile that figured in the accident, reported it to Sioux City police.

From Mr. Henry’s account of the accident, it appeared that Basselli (sic Boffeli) may not have been struck by the automobile, but may have received the injuries that resulted in his death when he was thrown from his horse.

Mr. Henry’s account was as follows: 
“I was driving west on the Akron highway from LeMars towards Sioux City, and started up a small hill a short distance east of Brunsville, Ia.  Another machine was approaching from the west with bright headlights.
“I did not notice the boy riding on the horse at first, but the occupants of the other car apparently saw him, for they veered to the lefthand side of the road.  They said afterwards that they turned to the left in order to miss the lad.”

Did Not See Boy.
“In an attempt to pass the other machine, and not knowing that the boy was in the center of the road, I swerved also to the left.  The other car was so far on the wrong side of the road that I did not have room to pass it by keeping to my right.
“Just as the cars were about to pass I saw Basselli (sic Boffeli) on his horse.  Unable to turn back to the right on account of the other machine, I turned still further to the left, went off the road into the ditch, and stopped.
“The other machine came to a halt. I got out of my car, and the occupants of the other automobile asked me if anyone was hurt.  I immediately asked what had become of the boy on the horse.  We glanced around and found the horse standing in front of the headlights of the other machine.  A moment later we discovered Basselli (sic Boffeli) lying near the road.
“We examined him and found that he was breathing.  The driver of the other machine, who gave the name of Pease, and said that he lived at Pierson, Ia., stated that he was going to LeMars, and would be glad to rush the injured boy to the hospital.  We did not think that he was seriously hurt.”

Cleared of Blame.
“I do not know whether the boy was injured by striking my car or by being thrown from his horse, but I believe that my machine passed six or eight feet to the left of the horse and rider before going into the ditch.”

An investigation by Sheriff Hugh Maxwell, of Plymouth county, following the accident exonerated both Mr. Henry and Mr. Pease of any blame in the matter.

Funeral services for Basselli (sic Boffeli) will be held Tuesday morning at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at Farley, Ia.  Interment will be in the Catholic cemetery at that place.

Surviving the dead boy are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Basselli (sic Boffeli) four brothers, Merland, Wilmer, Allen and Eldon, and four sisters, Della, Katherine, Celia, Marietta and Pearl.  All reside at Farley.

For three years the young man had been employed as a farm hand by John Theisen, who resides four miles west of LeMars.  The father of the boy arrived in LeMars Sunday, and will return with the body to Farley today.

Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, Iowa
Wednesday, July 14, 1926

S. C. BANKER IS INNOCENT.
Coroner’s Jury Clears Henry of Blame in Fatal Accident.

A coroner’s jury at LeMars, Ia., Tuesday afternoon found that L. H. Henry, vice president of the First National Bank, of Sioux City, was not guilty of criminal negligence in connection with the death there Saturday night of Laverne Baffeli (sic Boffeli), 17-year-old farm hand, who was killed when an automobile driven by Mr. Henry struck a horse young Baffeli (sic Boffeli) was riding.

Mr. Henry appeared at the inquest as a witness in his own behalf.

The accident occurred Saturday night when Henry attempted to meet a machine driven by Otto Marineau of Pearson, Ia., on the Akron highway near Brunsville, Ia.  The two cars met at the point where Baffeli (sic Boffeli) was riding, and the horse plunged in front of the banker’s car.

Attempting to miss the animal and rider, Mr. Henry drove into the ditch.  The coroner’s jury found that the boy met his death as a result of being thrown from the horse.

Sioux City Journal
Friday, January 4, 1929

FORMER S. C.  BANKER KILLS SELF ON COAST
L. H. Henry Takes Own Life—Interment to Be Here.
(Special Dispatch to The Journal.)
Los Angeles, Jan. 3.—Lemuel H. Henry, 57 years of age, retired banker of Sioux City, Ia., committed suicide here yesterday by shooting himself through the head, police reports stated.
The body was found under the street car bridge east of Bimini Baths, near West Moreland avenue, a .32 caliber revolver was lying near the corpse.
Detective Lieutenant Hickey, who investigate the death, reported that Henry had made his home at 189 ½ South Commonwealth avenue, where he resided with is wife, Mrs. Dorothy A. Henry, an employe of the department of psychology and educational research of the city schools.  Mrs. Henry is a graduate of Columbia university.
The couple was married last October and came here in November.  Henry left no note to explain his act, and officers declared his widow could give no reason for the suicide, but police believed that a recent operation and financial reverses probably were the motive.

WELL KNOWN HERE.
Banker Who Took Life Married Former Social Worker.
L. H. Henry, former Sioux City banker, who committed in Los Angeles, was widely known here.  For many years he had been associated with Sioux City banks.
At the time of his retirement last May, Mr. Henry held the position of vice president of the First National Bank.
Upon severing his connection with the Sioux City financial institution, Mr. Henry went to California where two months ago he married Miss Dorothy Anderson, who during 1925 and 1926 was secretary of the Community House here.
Born in Vernon, Ia., in 1871, Mr. Henry started his banking career at Ottumwa, Ia., in 1890, later going to Burlington, Ia., where he was engaged in a banking venture until 1902, when he came to Sioux City to join the staff of the old Iowa State National Bank, where he was employed until 1906.

Became Despondent.
When the Iowa State National bank was involved in a consolidation, Mr. Henry became cashier of the Iowa State Savings bank, serving in that capacity until 1915, when he joined the First National Bank organization here as vice president.  He continued as Vice President of the First National until he retired from active business last May.
About two and one-half years ago he was the driver of an automobile which struck a boy and inflicted fatal injuries on him on the highway between LeMars and Sioux City. That was a couple of months after the death of his mother.  Those two incidents were said by long time friends to have caused Mr. Henry to become despondent.
Mr. Henry was prominent in social activities of the city and was an active member of Sioux City Elks lodge, Abu-Bekr Shrine temple, Knife and Fork Club, Kiwanis Club and Sioux City County Club.
A telegram from Mrs. Henry was received by Mary Tregilia, secretary of the Community house, Thursday night, stating that the body of Mr. Henry will be sent here for interment.  Mrs. Henry will leave Los Angeles this morning for Sioux City.

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