Date of birth is from World War I draft registration card. This date is inconsistent with his age at death stated in the obituary. The 1900 U. S. Census records that he was born in September 1878. However, he was age 3 in the 1880 U. S. Census so he may have been born in September 1876 as implied by his age at death (42 years and 8 months).

Published in The Weekly Town Talk (Alexandria, Louisiana) on Saturday 03 May 1919:

MR. D. P. STAPLES IS KILLED BY TRAIN
Was Run Over in L. R. & N. Yards Wednesday Evening
Died at Baptist Sanitarium Thursday Morning at 1:40 o'Clock – Attempted to Crawl Under Standing Train, When It Stated Moving.
One of the most heartrending and harrowing accidents which has ever occurred in Alexandria took place between 7 and 8 o'clock Wednesday evening, resulting in such serious injury to Mr. D. P. Staples, a well-known and highly-esteemed railroad man of this city, that his death occurred at the Baptist Sanitarium at 1:40 o'clock this morning.
The unfortunate occurrence has caused intense excitement and has cast a pall of gloom over the entire city.
Mr. Staples was run over by a train of the Louisiana Railway & Navigation Company, which was on a side track in local yards. He was employed by the Rock Island Railroad Company and it is stated had been in the city, and was on his way back to the office of that company, to look after a train which was scheduled to leave the city at 9:15 o'clock last night. According to information received by the Town Talk there was a long freight train standing on the side track, and in order to avoid consuming time to go around it. Mr. Staples is alleged to have crawled under it, and just as he did, the engine started and moved the cars, with the result he was run over and his body badly mangled.
His right leg was crushed at the hip, his left leg just below the knee and his right arm cut off near the armpit. He was found by two or three negro switchmen, who gave the alarm. The Hixson ambulance was immediately summoned and went to the scene and conveyed him to the sanitarium.
Mrs. Staples states that she was sitting on her front gallery, the corner of Third and Casson streets, when she saw the ambulance pass by, and a few moments afterwards her telephone rang and she was advised that her husband had been injured. She went as fast as she could to the scene of the accident, and although he was so seriously injured, he was conscious and conversed with her.
At the sanitarium the injured man received attention from physicians, who did everything in their power to relieve his sufferings. He was conscious and is alleged to have told one of the physicians how the accident occurred and stated that he had crawled under trains many times previously.
Many friends called at the sanitarium last night to offer assistance and sympathy to the grief-stricken family. The physicians held out very little hope for his recovery. In fact they stated that there was a slight chance for him to survive the shock.
Everything that medical skill, careful nursing and tender ministrations of devoted relatives and friends was done to alleviate his sufferings and to stay the visit of the grim reaper, but his injuries were so serious that it was beyond the power of human hands to accomplish that result, and he succumbed at the hour above mentioned.
Duncan Prentiss Staples was a native of Alexandria, and was 42 years and eight months of age. He was a son of Mr. George A. Staples, a prominent and highly esteemed citizen, who has been a leader in the affairs of Rapides, both socially and politically, for half a century. The elder Mr. Staples is at present probation officer for the Parish of Rapides and is also sergeant-at-arms of the state senate, which positions he held for many years, owing to the fact that he has so faithfully and conscientiously discharged the duties pertaining thereto.
Mr. D. P. Staples held the position of foreman of the mechanical department of the Rock Island Railway Company in this city, which position he had held for the past ten or twelve years. By nature he was possessed of a genial and affable disposition, and always had a kindly word for every one with whom he had contact. Consequently he was personally very popular with his fellow railway works, as well as a large circle of friends throughout the city, by whom he will be sadly missed.
He was a member of the local lodge of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of America.
A number of years ago he married Mrs. Pennie Hodges Grayson, but there were no children born to the union. He is survived by his wife and the following step-children: Mr. Frank Grayson, who has just returned from France, where he saw service for almost two years with a regiment of railroad engineers, Mr. Ashton J. Grayson and Miss Nellie Grayson.
He also leaves. his father, Mr. G. A. Staples, one brother, Dr. S. B. Staples, a prominent veterinarian of this city, and the following nephews and nieces: Messrs. Bruce, Tom and Camden Staples; and Misses Daisy and Shirley Staples.
The funeral will take place at 4:30 o'clock this (Thursday) afternoon. The procession will leave the family residence, 1630 Third street, at that hour, and proceed to St. James Episcopal church, where services will be conducted by the Rector, the Rev. W. S. Slack. Interment will be made in Mt. Olivet cemetery, Pineville, under direction of Hixson Bros.
To the bereaved wife, father, brother, and other relatives, the Town Talk extends its heartfelt condolence, in this their hour of bereavement, and expresses the hope that an All-WIse and Omnipotent God, who rules over the destinies of this great universe, will comfort them in the great affliction which they have been called upon to bear.