The Washington Democrat
Washington, Washington County, Iowa

Wednesday - March 17, 1897

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

RICHMOND.

The most horribly fatal accident our burg has known was that of Charles Kleopfer's death, Monday, March 8 1897. Kleopfer had been on a sound spree for several days. Saturday, he sold one of his finest teams, in Iowa City, returned in the evening, indulged freely all day Sunday at home, and asked to be called early Monday morning. His hired hand, August Kern aroused him, and went out to do the chores. Upon coming in, he heard groans from the cellar. Going down, he discovered that Kleopfer, in going again for drink to satisfy his insatiate thirst, had fallen down the steps and lay there with three ugly wounds in the skull, from which the blood was flowing freely. Gus helped him up, laid him on a couch in the kitchen, bathed his wounds and did everything possible for the man, but after three hours rapid sinking, he raised his hands as if about to speak and expired. Professional medical aid he positively refused. Mrs. Kleopfer, who is in delicate health, is confined to her bed, and was unable to leave her room. Charles Kloepfer was about 38 years old. He leaves a wife and three small children in good financial circumstances, and three sisters and a brother to grieve over his untimely, awful death. He was buried Wednesday, in the Richmond cemetery. Boys, stop and profit from this living example, which portrays more lucidly than a thousand sermons the beastly effects of drunkenness.

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