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Walter L. Coble

Posted 2008-11-15 by Sharon
The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
Oct. 8, 1961

Missing Phoenix Man Found Dead Near Morristown

Walter L. Coble of Phoenix, who had been missing from his home since November 24, was found died in his automobile in the bed of the Hassayampa River approximately 2 ½ miles west of Morristown last Saturday afternoon. A garden hose had been attached to the automobile’s exhaust pipe with the other end inside the car. The ignition was on although the motor had stopped when the supple of gasoline apparently became exhausted.

Judge R. L. Westall, acting as coroner, ruled the death a suicide.

The car was seen by Wilbur Gilbert, 17, of Morristown while he was gathering firewood. Gilbert noticed the hose from the exhaust pipe and went into the Morristown Grocery to report his find.

Deputy sheriffs were notified by telephone and went immediately to the scene. Deputy George Gugel said it appeared that Coble had driven his car as far into the river bed as he could before the car became stuck in the sand. He said that it appeared the 34-year-old man had been dead about seven days. The body was removed to the office of the county medical director in Phoenix.




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