Sellar - Moreland - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Moreland Sellar, a well known citizen of this county, was found dead in his house at Darlington last Friday. When found he had been dead for, perhaps, three days, and the body was in a most shocking and frightful state of decomposition. He had not been seen by anyone since last Monday, but nothing particularly was thought of this, it being supposed that he was off on a visit or out at his farm. Last Friday a neighbor in passing the house detected an awful stench, and then, for the first time, a suspicion of the old gentleman’s death was entertained. The door was forced and the suspicion was verified in fact. During one of the cold nights some days ago Mr. Sellar had evidently lighted his natural gas and gone to bed. The burner did not work well and he was asphyxiated by the escaping burnt gas. As he lived alone in the house his death was not discovered sooner.

Mr. Sellar was 76 years of age and until a couple of years ago lived on his farm. After his wife died, however, he removed to Darlington and built him a house there. At first a family lived there with him but later moved out. A granddaughter then came to live with him, but September 1, she went to Iowa to teach school. After that Mr. Sellar lived alone. He was an uncle of James M. Sellar, of this city, who went to Darlington last Friday to be present at the funeral, which of necessity was held at once.

Acting Coroner Hanna last Friday found that Moreland Sellar, of Darlington, came to his death by reason of heart disease, and not asphyxiation as was at first supposed. -s