Fred G Singleton
Cincinnati Enquirer, Wednesday, 8 July 1908, page 12
DIED
Within a few minutes after learning that the alleged slayers of
his father, Squire R F Singleton, had been taken into custody, Fred G Singleton,
died yesterday at his home, 712 Robert street, Newport Ky. His death is
surrounded by some peculiar circumstances that has caused a difference of
opinion to exist as to the cause. Coroner Digby in inclined to believe that
young Singleton committed suicide, while Dr. L C Wadsworth, who was the
attending physician, says that his death was due to epileptic convulsions.
Yesterday morning the Cincinnati police telephone the Newport police to have an officer notify Fred Singleton that he was wanted at Central Station to sign the necessary papers to secure a requisition for Walter West, alias Evans, who is held in Boston on the charge of having slain Squire Singleton. When Officer Tocher arrived at the house Singleton and his wife were reading the Enquirer's account of the apprehension of the alleged murderers.
Fred Singleton had been worrying considerably within the past few days because of a shortage of $300 in his account as Treasurer of School District No 14. It is supposed that the visit of Officer Tocher excited Singleton considerably. After Officer Tocher had gone Singleton told his wife that he did not feel well enough to go over to Cincinnati and lay down on the bed. He arose within a few minutes and had taken but a few steps when he fell to the floor in a convulsion. This was about 10 am yesterday morning. He died shortly after noon.
Dr. Wadsworth said: "It is my opinion that Singleton's death was due to epileptic convulsions, aggravated by the news of the arrest of his father's murderers, that knowledge that he was short in his accounts and the fact that he had been drinking. I had treated Singleton as far back as 11 years ago for epilepsy. My first impression was that he might have killed himself, but I saw that there was nothing to indicate suicide. Singleton had been out of the house for four or five days because he was not feeling well."
It was decided to hold lodge services over the body at the family residence on Robert street, tonight. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon with services at the residence, and the remains will be interred at Evergreen Cemetery.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, Thursday, 9 July 1908, page 12
Despite the objections made by the wife and other relatives of Fred G Singleton, stationary engineer and son of Squire F Singleton, who died rather suddenly Tuesday morning at the residence, 712 Robert street, Newport, Coroner Dgby held a post mortem on the remains to finally determine beyond a doubt the cause of death.
Coroner Digby threatened to arrest some of the objecting parties and to remove the corpse to the morgue for the purpose of conducting the post mortem, if he were further interfered with. During the argument that ensued, Mrs. Singleton, the wife of the dead man, fainted and one of the physicians was compelled to revive her. After Mrs. Singleton had been revived and several of the women about the casket had offered up a prayer for a proper solution, Mrs. Singleton relented and agreed to allow the post mortem to proceed. Dr. Wadsworth refused to witness it. Dr. Wadsworth insists that the dead was due to natural causes and there was no reason for holding the post mortem.
No lesions were found in the brain and was perfectly healthy. There may be some epilepsy without traces of it showing in the blood vessels.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, Monday, 27 July 1908, page 8
Chemist Simonson, who is analyzing the contents of the stomach of Fred Singleton, whose death occurred rather suddenly about two weeks ago, is winding up his work and is expected he will make his report to Coroner Digby sometime this week.