Alward - Lew - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Wallace Feb 11 -- Lew Alward, aged 73 years was found dead this

afternoon in his barn where he had hanged himself by means of a holdback

strap after securing a halter to the ceiling.  He had apparently climbed

upon a step ladder and then jumped off, leaving his feet removed from

the ground by only two inches.  He was found shortly after he had died

for his body was scarcely cold when it was discovered by John McElwee, a

neighbor.

Mr. Alward had suffered a stroke of paralysis which had affected his

talking and walking.  He is said to have intimated that he might as well

be dead as in that condition and it is thought his mind had become

unbalanced by his suffering.  A few days ago he had attempted to fix a

place on the house from which he could hang himself and his family had

been keeping him under close surveillance since that time.

Today he said he was going to see a neighbor, but when it was found he

had not gone there a search for him was instituted which resulted in the

finding of his body suspended in the barn.  Monroe Gooding, Hiram Allen

and his two sons, Byron and Bernard, carried the body into the house to

which the deputy coroner from Veedersburg was called.

Mr. Alward is survived by the widow, three sons: Arthur at home; Elmer of

Starnes   -- typed by kbz