grave import

Obituary

Conrad Blind, aged about seventy years, a resident of Burlington since 1839, but latterly living with his son-in-law at Monmouth, Illinois, died at the home on Tuesday morning. A somewhat singular story of the cause of his death has been told and yesterday afternoon an effort to secure the facts in the case was made. The first place visited was the barbershop of Joe Ober, in the Barnett house block. Ober is a nephew of the deceased. He knew but little beyond the realm of hearsay but had heard through relatives at Monmouth and others that his uncle was returning from Ottumwa to Monmouth one week ago last Sunday, when, for some reason, he alighted here. That evening, he had been informed, his uncle had been found on the street by two policemen, without overcoat, mittens, overshoes, or cane, and was taken to a hotel. Of what transpired late that evening he had heard something but declined to talk further. However, he let drop the statement that the old man had been taken to the Union hotel when found Sunday night, so that was the next place visited. Chas Behrens, the clerk in charge said that Blind was brought to the house by a physician and a billiard hall keeper named Schuman. He knew little about the matter except that Blind had owed the house twenty dollars, and he didn’t think the debt would be paid. However, if the reporter would wait, the doctor might drop in soon. An hour later the doctor, who requests that his name be withheld because he doesn’t desire notoriety in connection with the case, was relating his part in the affair. “On that Sunday evening, I was summoned by telephone to Woelhaff’s bakery and found Conrad Blind suffering from an injury. I told Blind he must be carried to his room, as only a superficial examination could be made at the bakery. Blind said he wanted to go to the Union hotel, and with Schumann, I helped him over there. The clerk said he could not stay there as he had refused to pay his bills heretofore. Blind told me to leave him, that he was all right and didn’t want me to help him. Of course, I couldn’t do anything more for him, but as he was penniless and couldn’t stay at the hotel without money. I gave him two dollars and took his watch for security. Blind then sent for Fred Flachmann, a night sergeant, to the drug store to get twenty-five cents worth of Hoffman’s anodyne. Then the old man was put into bed. I don’t know whether he had any professional care that night or not. The next day a relative came over from Monmouth and handled the old man rather roughly while preparing to take him away. He refused to redeem the watch or pay the old many’s hotel bill, so I retained the watch, determined not to be brow beaten by the fellow. In my examination of Blind, I was unable to go further thank the knee which he said was injured, and I found nothing wrong there.” “Now,” he continued, “the old man’s friends are claiming that his hip was broken and that they will bring suit against the city and also against me, claiming the sidewalk was icy and that my failure to make a thorough examination, notwithstanding the fact that the old man refused to permit one to be made, was an intentional wrong. But it will hardly stick, as the charge is absurd on its face.”
At the police station last evening it was learned that an officer happened to be standing near at the time when it is alleged Blind fell and this officer, assisted a bystander, carried him into the bakery where the physician found him later.
He was born in Baden, Germany, and at the time of his death was 78 years of age and was for many years engaged in farming near Burlington, Iowa, having settled there in 1839. He came to Ottumwa in 1867 and has resided here almost continuously since, until about a year ago, since then he has made his home with some of his children, three of whom survive him. These are Philip and Charles Blind and Mrs. George Conrad, at whose home he died. Conrad Blind was a good, honest man and was well-known and respected in this city, and has many true friends here who will regret to learn of his sudden demise.
He is a member of one of the Burlington, Iowa lodges of IOOF and was always a regular attendant of the meeting to the order while here. Burial will take place in Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington, Iowa.