SETH STANLEY DEAD

Bethany Clipper, Bethany, Mo Wed March 16, 1921 page 1

MET A TRAGIC DEATH EITHER AT HIS OWN HANDS OR BY FOUL PLAY

Coroner's Jury Unable to Decide-Still a Mystery to All-Funeral Held Saturday.

Seth Stanley, a prominent citizen of this county, large land owner, and Bethany business man, was taken from a well in his own marble shop, dead, last Thursday morning, March 10, after his unusual absence from his home all night.

His family gave the alarm early on Thursday morning that he had come to town as usual the evening before and had not returned, or communicated with them all night. The searchers went to his marble yard and found his Ford car parked across the street and his office unlocked. Further investigation found his overcoat and cap on a chair, and the lid to the well covering open, and on examination found his body at the bottom of the well weighted down with a sack of sand tied with the well rope around his neck and when the body was raised out of about sixteen foot of water, it was seen that his hands were wired together, the right hand slipping out of the wire loop in the process of being taken from the well, but the wrists showed the marks of the wire having been securely fastened. This fact caused the rescuing party to suspect foul play and the county coroner was notified and took charge of the body.

A jury was impanelled and an autopsy held in their presence and after a number of witnesses were examined, rendered a verdict that he came to his death by means unknown to them.

Mr. Stanley was a character that his friends claim would not be one to commit suicide because of financial troubles. He as in good health and no known reason why he would destroy himself. And on the other hand no one is suspected of foul play or nothing has developed that there would be a motive for any one to commit a crime like his tragic death.

On Monday the well was drained but revealed nothing that would throw any light on the mystery.

He visited several places of business during the evening, chatting as usual, and was last seen alive about 9 o'clock. About an hour later James Taylor in making his usual rounds, tried the Stanley marble yard door and found it unlocked and going in, some one whom he recognized as Mr. Stanley's voice called to him from the rear of the shop, that he was there, and the night watch passed on his way.

This was 10 o'clock or after, the night watch says, the watch taken from Mr. Stanley's dead body having stopped at 9:45. The night watch might have been mistaken as to the time of his visit to the marble yard or the watch may have stopped before it went into the well.

Wild rumors of cold-blooded murder have been advanced by persons not familiar with all the details, and before the coroner's jury made their investigation, but so far nothing has developed that would conclusively show foul play. Most of his friends, which are numbered by the hundreds in Bethany, and in his former home in the east part of the county accept the suicide theory, but are ready to consider and investigate anything that might look like murder.

Seth D.Stanley was born in Harrison co., Mo., January 6, 1870, and suddenly came to the end of his earthly life March 9, 1921, aged 51 years, 2 months and 3 days.

He was the son of John E. and Rebecca Stanley, pioneers of Fox Creek township, and one of a family of eleven children. He spent his boyhood on the old homestead together with his parents until his 23d year, when on December 13, 1893, he was united in marriage to Nanny A. Higdon, a neighbor girl he had known from childhood. To this union were born four daughters, all of whom are living: Cora E., wife of Harley Maple, of Akron; Zula A., wife of Israel Chaney, of Melbourne; Eva R. and Grace of Bethany.

Besides his wife and children he leaves three grandchildren, one brother M.E. Stanley of Wichita, Kans., two sisters Mrs. Ellen Grifion (Griftin?) of Spickard, Mo., and Mrs. Hester Hudson of Gilman City, numerous other relatives and many friends.

He was well known throughout the county as an optimistic citizen, a friendly type of a man, four-square in all his relations with fellows.

He was a man of no great religious pretensions, but his every day life revealed a high type of Christian character.

His home life was ideal. A devoted lover of wife and children, impartial in his regard for relatives, congenial and affable to all his friends. He kept open house for all.

About twelve years ago together with his wife, he united with the Baptist Church at Mt. Pleasant No. 1, retaining his membership in that organization until his death.

Some time after his removal to Bethany he received the first degree of Free Masonry in Bethany Lodge No. 97 A.F. & A.M. and as soon there after as time would permit he became Worshipful Master of that lodge. At the time of his death he was High Priest of the

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