NEWLYWEDS ASPHYXIATED

Olney – The deaths of Herman DeVere Leathers, 19 and Vera Shroyer Leathers 19, by accidental asphyxiation, occurred in their rented home “on or about” Christmas day, December 25, 1942, after their marriage Christmas Eve—a Richland County Coroner’s jury decided Tuesday afternoon.

The couple were found at 6 p.m. Monday by police who discovered their bodies on a bed when they broke into the place after the Leathers had not reported for work Monday and also had failed to keep several appointments with friends.

Double funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. today in the Porter-Schaub Funeral Home with burial in the Sumner City Cemetery.

Leathers worked at the shoe factory here and his bride was employed by the telephone company.

Police Chief, Perry Chapman and Fire Chief, E.E. Jones went to the young couple’s home and found the doors and windows locked and the lights burning. Jones forced an entrance through a back door and holding his breath, entered the gas-filled rooms. He discovered the young couple dead in bed and attempted to leave the house by the front door. Unable to get the door open, he succeeded in breaking it down and collapsed on the porch where he was quickly revived.

At the time of the investigation, there were three stove fires burning in the house and it is presumed that gas escaping from the stoves into the tightly closed rooms, caused the couples death.

Young Leathers leaves his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Leathers of Claremont, a brother, Chester and a sister, Esther.  His wife leaves her mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Shroyer of Sumner; three brothers, Harvey, in the Army; Hubert, Bridgeport and Harold, Sumner; four sisters, Mrs. Juana Westall and Mrs. Helen Craig, Sumner; Fern, Chicago and Mrs. Verda Boyd of Philadelphia, Pa.

Published in Decatur Herald (IL) – Wednesday, December 30, 1942