Frankfort, Kansas, Index
Thursday, February 28, 1952


A tragedy occurred in Frankfort early on
Saturday morning when it was learned that
two well known men, Charley S. Morton,
62 and Alvah H. Tilley, 60 had lost their
lives by asphyxiation.

The tragedy was not learned until perhaps
a period of twenty hours had elapsed when
friends became alarmed and went to the
Morton home to make an investigation.

The men were last seen at 11:30 p.m. Friday
when Earl Foster closed his Recreation Parlor
and he is said to have bid them a “Goodnight”

The next day at about noon Saturday, Mr.
Foster began to become concerned about the
whereabouts of Mr. Morton and Mr. Tilley
and urged friends to go to the home and
see if everything was all right. Mr. Foster
could not prevail upon anyone to go to the
Morton home until late Saturday evening
when Floyd Smith and Jim McAlexander
agreed to go.

When they arrived at the house and opened
the door they immediately detected the
strong odor of monoxide gas which filled
the house. They saw the two lifeless men,
the body of Mr. Tilley lying on the bed
and Mr. Morton in a sitting position which
indicated that he had attempted to rise when
he sensed the odor of the strong gas fumes.

Mr. Smith and Mr. McAlexander hurried up
town and notified City Marshall Earl Lauer
and his assistant Pete Burke who after going
to the home called Manager Ray Twidwell
of the Kansas Power & Light Co. to turn
off the gas so that it would be possible to
enter the house.

Coroner H.H. Haerle and Under Sheriff
George Branson came from Marysville
when notified and Coroner Haerle who
announced that the men had met their
death b asphyxiation estimated that they
had been dead from twenty to twenty four
hours. It has been reported that the men
were seen alive shortly before midnite on
Friday and that their bodies were discovered
at about 9:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Charley Morton, 62, was born in Frankfort,
Kansas the son of the late Mr. and Mrs.
Alonzo Morton. He attended Marshall County
Schools and grew up in the community.

He spent some time farming but he devoted
most of his life to the carpenter’s trade. He
did some remodeling work on the home of
this writer a few years ago, and we found him
to be a good workman. He took great pride
in doing his work well.

Charley is survived by one sister, Mrs. Ace
Van Nortwick, Frankfort, Kansas; and a
number of other relatives and friends.

Burial was in the Frankfort Cemetery
Frankfort, Kansas.