LeRoy Mitchell

LITTLE BOY LOSES LIFE IN WATER TANK

Three-Year-old Son of Mr. and Mrs. Vern Mitchell Drowns at Father's Farm Near Node, Sunday.

An unusually sad accident occurred Sunday evening, when little Leroy Mitchell, 3-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Vern Mitchell, lost his life by drowning in a stock tank at his father's farm, about eight miles southeast of Node.

The accident occurred at about 5:45 Sunday evening. From all accounts, it appears that the father, Vern Mitchell, was engaged in handling some seed wheat in one of the outbuildings, and the little fellow was playing around near him, taking delight in throwing some of the wheat out to the chickens.

After a while the boy went out in the barnyard, and his father supposed he was still playing around on the outside. When the father went out to look for a cleavis which he wanted to use, he passed by the tank, but did not notice anything unusual. On his way back by the tank, however, he noticed the form of the little boy in the water.

He hurriedly took the little fellow out and ran to the house, trying to bring him back to life. Failing, he and Mrs. Mitchell went to the Harry Burnham place for help and they worked over the child for quite a while in an effort to bring back a spark of life, but to no avail.

Dr. E.G. Dovey was called from Lusk, but he pronounced life extinct after his arrival at the Burnham home.

After efforts to revive the child had failed, the parents called Coroner Earl Peet, who went immediately to the scene. After taking the sworn testimony and inquiring into the details, Mr. Peet decided that an inquest was not necessary, and pronounced it an accidental death from drowning.

Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell reside on the place known as the Cy Perkins farm, and have many friends in the county who will sympathize with them in the tragedy which befell their little home.

Interment was made in the Van Tassell cemetery with the Earl Peet Mortuary in charge of arrangements. 

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