The Malakoff News
Feb. 25, 1932
Jim West Found Dead In Kaufman Hotel Tuesday Morning
----------

The entire citizenship of this city received a shock Tuesday
morning a when the news was received here that James B.
(Jim) West had been found dead in bed at the Kaufman
Hotel in Kaufman. An inquest was held over the body in the
hotel room by Kaufman authorities and a verdict of "accidental
death" was rendered. Two one-ounce bottles of chloroform
found on the dresser, one of which was practically empty, was

thought to have brought death to the victim from
overindulgence.

Mr. West and J. M. Tanner were on the return trip from a
week-end in Dallas and on reaching Kaufman something
went wrong with their car and they decided to put up for the
night they registered at the Kaufman Hotel early in the
evening, but did not retire to their room until about 11
o'clock. Mr. West, on being unable to go to sleep, left the
room and went to the drug store where he purchased the two
bottles of chloroform. After returning to the room he
saturated a handkerchief with the liquid and went to bed.
Soon after he went off into the sleep which he was never to
awake. Mr. Tanner said that when he woke about 7:30
Tuesday morning, that Jim's arm was lying across him and
he told him to move over, but when Jim failed to move, he
raised up to turn his companion, and discovered that he
was dead. Mr. Tanner said that he got out of bed and
dressed hurriedly and went down stairs and called a doctor.
The physician came immediately and after and examination,
told Mr. Tanner that his friend was dead. He said that Jim
had been dead for several hours before he was discovered.
The Kaufman authorities were notified and an inquest was
held over the body.

The remains of the dead man were brought to the home of
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alec West here Tuesday night by
Kaufman funeral directors. Mrs. West and their three
daughters, who reside in Palestine, reached the city Tuesday
afternoon.

Funeral services were held from the home of the parents of
the deceased at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon conducted
by the Rev. E. L. Edgar, pastor of the First Methodist

Church. Interment took place immediately following in the
Malakoff cemetery.

The Malakoff News
Thursday, March 3, 1932
Obituary
James B. West

James B. West, (death cert. says James Robert West) son
of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. West of this city, departed this life in
Kaufman, Texas on February 23, 1932 at the age of 42
years. Although he is gone, his memory will long be
cherished by loved ones and the many friends, who knew
and loved him. His death was premature and accidental,
resulting from an overdose of chloroform, which he used to
induce sleep. He had been accustomed to using chloroform
to relieve pain and on this occasion, while suffering with a
severe case of toothache, he partook too far of this sleep
inducing drug. He was found cold in death the morning of
the 23rd, by his companion, J. M. Tanner, also of this city,
with whom he had spent the week-end in Dallas.

Jim, as he was best known to every one in this community,
was not only a native of "The Lignite City," but with the
exception of 12 years spent in Marshall, while engaged in
railroad work, he lived his entire life in this community. He
was united in marriage in the year 1912 to Miss Zula
Johnson and to this union three children were born, Dorothy,
Doris, and Marian, all of whom survive. He is also survived
by his parents, and two sisters, Mrs. C. C. Day and Miss
Willie West all of this city.

In early life he was converted and united with the Baptist
church of Malakoff and was active in the work of the church

for several years, but was not affiliated with any church at
the time of his death. But, God, in his goodness looketh
upon the heart and not at the outward appearance.

Those who knew Jim best loved him most. He was a kind
father and a loving husband. He was well liked by everyone
who knew him and he was a friend to all mankind. His
passing leaves a vacancy that can never be filled, for there
was but one Jim West.

He will be greatly missed down life's pathway, not only by his
loved ones, but by the great host of friends that he was
privileged to enjoy.

Funeral services were held from the home of his parents on
Wednesday afternoon last at 2:30 after which a large
concourse of loved ones and friends accompanied his
remains to Malakoff's little city of the dead, where they were
tenderly laid to rest to await the resurrection morn.

Death Record:
Name: James Robert West
Death Date: 23 Feb 1932
Death Place: Kaufman, Texas
Gender: Male
Race: White
Death Age: 41 years 5 months 28 days
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 25 Aug 1890
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Zula West
Father's Name: W.A. West
Father's Birthplace: S.C.
Mother's Name: Annie Dodson
Mother's Birthplace: Ark.
Occupation: Brakeman - Rail Road
Place of Residence:
Cemetery:
Burial Place: Malakoff
Burial Date: 25 Feb 1932
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2135794
Digital Film Number: 4163629
Image Number: 1319
Reference Number: Cn 7699 In 1319
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976

Death Certificate

Obituaries Henderson County Texas

Henderson County TXGenWeb Project

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