From the
Continue Search for Body of River Victim
Search parties continued to drag the Patoka river downstream from the old traction line bridge at Patoka
today in search of the body of Mrs. Hester HUNT, a Patoka resident, who is
believed to have jumped into the icy water of the river late Tuesday morning.
Dragging operations continued until
Investigations of the possible drowning have
disclosed no actual witness to the jump from the bridge. However personal
effects of the woman were found on the bridge after the incident.
Sheriff Maurice Wood stated this morning
that a note written by Ms. HUNT was found and was placed into possession of the
son, Donald, to whom it was addressed. Sheriff Wood stated that the contents of
the note were on personal matters to the son in regard to a savings account and
property transfer. The work "river" appeared on a line by itself in
the letter, he stated.
Rivermen stated that the vicinity where Mrs. HUNT was
believed to have jumped measures from 20 to 25 feet deep due to the flood
conditions.
The scene has been visited by crowds of
curious onlookers.
Reports today indicated that Mrs. HUNT was
generally despondent over lingering bad health and some mention was made of her
son's entering service soon. These things are thought to have brought on a
despondency that led to her action.
Earlier reports stated that possibly she had
been despondent because of being released from her job with a local firm.
However, it was learned that she had other employment available at the time.
Her release was brought about due to her health not permitting her to continue
the type of work engaged in by the firm.
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Obituary in the
Find Body of Mr. HUNT; Services Set for
Saturday
The body of Mrs. Hester Turpin HUNT, 47, was
recovered from the Patoka river late Thursday
afternoon approximately one mile downstream from the old traction line bridge
from which she was reported to have jumped late Tuesday morning.
Dragging operation had continued since
Tuesday afternoon. Late Thursday afternoon two youths, thought the saw a body
floating in the current and told Donald Lee Stone, Patoka, who started a search
in his boat and recovered the body. It was believed that earlier dragging
operations had broken the body loose from its wedge below the surface.
Surviving the deceased are two sons, Charles
HUNT of Oaklawn, Illinois, and Donald at home; four
sisters, Mrs. Eva Mae Ruckman, Princeton, Mrs. Arvel Smith, Patoka, Mrs Kate
Vernon, Tujungu, Calif., and Mrs. Marshall Hugo, Los
Angeles, Calif., and one brother, Robert HUNT, Clayton, New Mexico.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday
morning at
Mrs. HUNT was born in Patoka, on May 10,
1904 and had resided in that community her entire lifetime. She was an employee
of the Hansen manufacturing company.
Friends may call at the Colvin and Son
mortuary after
Note: Hester had worked at Hansen
Manufacturing Corporation. She had taken her coat off, folded it and placed it
beside her shoes and jumped in the river.
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Birth: Book H-10 Page 22
Death: County Book H-46 Page 256 filed
47 years, 9 months, 9 days
Above
contributed by Janet (Elliott)