Rome Daily Sentinel: July 10, 1915

DEAD BODY OF MAN FOUND IN DITCH
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BY SIDE OF ROAD FOUR MILES WEST OF ROME.
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THAT OF S. C. ARMSTRONG

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Who Lived Alone on the F. B. Lawrence Farm -- Had Suffered With
Heart Trouble and is Believed to Have Had an Attack While
on His Way Home From Coonrod on Thursday Evening.

About 10:30 O'clock this forenoon a telephone message was received at the police station to the effect that a man was lying by the side of the state road about four miles west of this city. Officer Healt and Patrol Driver Bellius went out there in the latter's auto to investigate and found that the body was that of Sidney C. Armstrong. It was lying face downward in the ditch on the west side of the road that leads from the W. Dominick road north to the F. B. Lawrence farm. The body was partly in the water in the ditch, the head, legs and back being out of the water.

The body was discovered by Wassil Buchkoski and Peter Koloposki, both of 235 Henry street. Both men were out of work and this forenoon they took a ride on their bicycles, going west on Dominick street. They stopped opposite the roadway where the body was found to take a smoke, noticed a gallon oil can standing in the center of the road leading to the Lawrence farm. He walked over to where the can stood and he discovered the body lying in the water of the ditch about 30 feet from Dominick street. The men quickly caused a telephone message to be sent to the police station.

A package containing a loaf of bread and some cookies which Mr. Armstrong had purchased at Coonrod 3was found in the water in the ditch. Inquiry at Coonrod was made by Officer Healt and it was learned that Mr. Armstrong had purchased the bread and cookies at the store of F. M. Senn at Coonrod shortly before noon on Thursday and the gallon of oil was purchased at Ferguson's store, Coonrod, on Thursday afternoon. Later in the afternoon Mr. Armstrong was in the hotel at Coonrod but he left there just before dark to go to his home. He lived alone of the Lawrence farm.

Mr. Armstrong had suffered with heart trouble for some time and had received medical treatment of late. it is believed that while on his way home he had an attack and fell into the ditch. The indications are that he did not move after he fell.

Coroner Powers was out of the city at the time the body was discovered and as soon as he arrived here he was notified and ordered the remains sent to the undertaking rooms of J. B. Wiggins & Son.

Mr. Armstrong was 78 years old. he was born in the town of Annsville and for the past eight years had made his home in Rome. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in Company C, 117th Regiment, and served throughout the war. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Jennie C. Armstrong of Rome, and two sons, Jesse Armstrong of West Rome and Benjamin Armstrong of Taberg.

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