John E. Wentworth

The Messenger Drummond, Garfield Co., OK

July 15, 1915 page 1, column 1

Submitted by: Emily Jordan

© Ann Archer

Sad and Sudden Death

The strongest temperance sermon we ever heard was not preached, but acted out to the death, last Saturday and Sunday at Hillsdale, where the Editor has been working for the past nearly three years.

J. Wentworth, 27 years old, and his brothers, recently came there with his parents from Oilton, Okla., for the harvest. They moved into the house just across the street from the Congregational Church and parsonage, where we have had our temporary home. Last Saturday, P.M., he came back from the harvest field, staggering under a load of cheap boot-leg booze, it is alleged, too heavy for him to carry, and went to bed in the wagon box where he, with his younger brother slept. Sunday morning his brother could not waken him, and medical aid was summoned, when it was found he had been dead for some hours, from heart failure due to the affect of that which he had taken into his system. It was too late to do anything for him except the last sad rites of the interment. These were arranged for Sunday P.M. and friends in town did everything possible to assist the heartbroken parents, and to make it as easy for them as possible. Rev. J.W. Naylor, who is favorably known here at Drummond, officiated at the services, which were held at the Congregational Church.