Daily Local News
March 13, 1944
John Siple, 62, of Kemblesville, Franklin township, set his home on fire yesterday afternoon about 5 o'clock and then killed himself with a dose of poison, State Police reported today.
They said that Siple appeared at the home of his brother, Edward Siple, about one-quarter mile from his own house, and said, "I set the house on fire and took a dose of poison. I'm going to die."
He then turned round, walked back to his home and poured another dose of the poison (sic). Layton Bird, a boarder at the Edward Siple home, followed the poisoned man, and knocked the second dose out of his hand.
Police say that Siple had soaked the living room furniture with kerosene and ignited it. Miss Lucille Siple, a niece, called the West Grove Fire Company when her uncle said that he had set the house on fire, and the company put out the blaze before it had spread beyond the one room.
Bird and Edward Siple took the poisoned man to the West Grove Hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.
Police and relatives said that Siple was alone in the house when he set it on fire.
Siple, who was employed at Triumph Explosives, Inc., Elkton, Md., is survived by his widow, Mrs. Charlotte Siple; six children, three* brothers and four sisters (sic). The children are: Seaman Samuel E. Siple, 21, Wallace Siple, 17, Miss Aldeth Siple, 19, a student at West Chester State Teachers College; Miss Betty Siple, 15, a student at Avon-Grove High School; Miss Kay Siple, 14, and Miss Goldie Siple, 11.
Coroner Warrington Guthrie, of Kennett Square, said last night that he is investigating the case. Corp. A. R. Diem investigated for the State Police.
SIPLE- In Kemblesville, Pa., on March 12, John F. Siple, in his 64th year. (sic)
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral from the parlors of W. S. Worrall & Son, Kennett Square, Pa., on Wednesday, March 15, at 2 p.m. Interment in New London Presbyterian Cemetery.
Friends may call at the parlors Tuesday evening.
Contributor: Dan Oh (46803017) • [email protected]
Notes by granddaughter Fran:
John was born in Alaska, WV now known as Fort Ashby WV.
At the time of his death John had three living brothers (Preston Cos and Edward) and four living sisters (Mary Simpson, Cora Wagoner, Lena Kimble, and Etta Byrd). John and Charlotte had two sons, both living, Samuel Edward and Wallace Reed. At the time of his death he had four living daughters: Aldeth, Betty Lee, (Marion) Kay, and Goldie Rae. Iris Carder Siple, the youngest child in the family predeceased him. He also had two living half siblings Maud Slavin and William Siple.
Half brother Lee Armstrong Siple predeceased him.
Note that the fire was caught early enough that they family did not have to leave the home.
Other interesting facts:
John Siple was in the US Army in the Spanish American War and WW I. He was at once point a guard at Alcatraz when it was a military prison.
Census 1910
Skagway, Municipality and Borough of Skagway, Alaska, United States
Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944
Name: John F Siple
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 58
Birth Date: 19 Aug 1885
Birth Place: West Virginia
Death Date: 12 Mar 1944
Death Place: West Grove, Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
Father Name: Samuel Siple
Father Birth Place: West Virginia
Mother Name: Sarah A Smith
Mother Birth Place: West Virginia
Spouse Name: Charlotte C Siple
Certificate Number: 22850
March 13, 1944
John Siple, 62, of Kemblesville, Franklin township, set his home on fire yesterday afternoon about 5 o'clock and then killed himself with a dose of poison, State Police reported today.
They said that Siple appeared at the home of his brother, Edward Siple, about one-quarter mile from his own house, and said, "I set the house on fire and took a dose of poison. I'm going to die."
He then turned round, walked back to his home and poured another dose of the poison (sic). Layton Bird, a boarder at the Edward Siple home, followed the poisoned man, and knocked the second dose out of his hand.
Police say that Siple had soaked the living room furniture with kerosene and ignited it. Miss Lucille Siple, a niece, called the West Grove Fire Company when her uncle said that he had set the house on fire, and the company put out the blaze before it had spread beyond the one room.
Bird and Edward Siple took the poisoned man to the West Grove Hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.
Police and relatives said that Siple was alone in the house when he set it on fire.
Siple, who was employed at Triumph Explosives, Inc., Elkton, Md., is survived by his widow, Mrs. Charlotte Siple; six children, three* brothers and four sisters (sic). The children are: Seaman Samuel E. Siple, 21, Wallace Siple, 17, Miss Aldeth Siple, 19, a student at West Chester State Teachers College; Miss Betty Siple, 15, a student at Avon-Grove High School; Miss Kay Siple, 14, and Miss Goldie Siple, 11.
Coroner Warrington Guthrie, of Kennett Square, said last night that he is investigating the case. Corp. A. R. Diem investigated for the State Police.
SIPLE- In Kemblesville, Pa., on March 12, John F. Siple, in his 64th year. (sic)
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral from the parlors of W. S. Worrall & Son, Kennett Square, Pa., on Wednesday, March 15, at 2 p.m. Interment in New London Presbyterian Cemetery.
Friends may call at the parlors Tuesday evening.
Contributor: Dan Oh (46803017) • [email protected]
Notes by granddaughter Fran:
John was born in Alaska, WV now known as Fort Ashby WV.
At the time of his death John had three living brothers (Preston Cos and Edward) and four living sisters (Mary Simpson, Cora Wagoner, Lena Kimble, and Etta Byrd). John and Charlotte had two sons, both living, Samuel Edward and Wallace Reed. At the time of his death he had four living daughters: Aldeth, Betty Lee, (Marion) Kay, and Goldie Rae. Iris Carder Siple, the youngest child in the family predeceased him. He also had two living half siblings Maud Slavin and William Siple.
Half brother Lee Armstrong Siple predeceased him.
Note that the fire was caught early enough that they family did not have to leave the home.
Other interesting facts:
John Siple was in the US Army in the Spanish American War and WW I. He was at once point a guard at Alcatraz when it was a military prison.
Census 1910
Skagway, Municipality and Borough of Skagway, Alaska, United States
Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944
Name: John F Siple
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 58
Birth Date: 19 Aug 1885
Birth Place: West Virginia
Death Date: 12 Mar 1944
Death Place: West Grove, Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
Father Name: Samuel Siple
Father Birth Place: West Virginia
Mother Name: Sarah A Smith
Mother Birth Place: West Virginia
Spouse Name: Charlotte C Siple
Certificate Number: 22850
Daily Local News
March 13, 1944
John Siple, 62, of Kemblesville, Franklin township, set his home on fire yesterday afternoon about 5 o'clock and then killed himself with a dose of poison, State Police reported today.
They said that Siple appeared at the home of his brother, Edward Siple, about one-quarter mile from his own house, and said, "I set the house on fire and took a dose of poison. I'm going to die."
He then turned round, walked back to his home and poured another dose of the poison (sic). Layton Bird, a boarder at the Edward Siple home, followed the poisoned man, and knocked the second dose out of his hand.
Police say that Siple had soaked the living room furniture with kerosene and ignited it. Miss Lucille Siple, a niece, called the West Grove Fire Company when her uncle said that he had set the house on fire, and the company put out the blaze before it had spread beyond the one room.
Bird and Edward Siple took the poisoned man to the West Grove Hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.
Police and relatives said that Siple was alone in the house when he set it on fire.
Siple, who was employed at Triumph Explosives, Inc., Elkton, Md., is survived by his widow, Mrs. Charlotte Siple; six children, three* brothers and four sisters (sic). The children are: Seaman Samuel E. Siple, 21, Wallace Siple, 17, Miss Aldeth Siple, 19, a student at West Chester State Teachers College; Miss Betty Siple, 15, a student at Avon-Grove High School; Miss Kay Siple, 14, and Miss Goldie Siple, 11.
Coroner Warrington Guthrie, of Kennett Square, said last night that he is investigating the case. Corp. A. R. Diem investigated for the State Police.
SIPLE- In Kemblesville, Pa., on March 12, John F. Siple, in his 64th year. (sic)
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral from the parlors of W. S. Worrall & Son, Kennett Square, Pa., on Wednesday, March 15, at 2 p.m. Interment in New London Presbyterian Cemetery.
Friends may call at the parlors Tuesday evening.
Contributor: Dan Oh (46803017) • [email protected]
Notes by granddaughter Fran:
John was born in Alaska, WV now known as Fort Ashby WV.
At the time of his death John had three living brothers (Preston Cos and Edward) and four living sisters (Mary Simpson, Cora Wagoner, Lena Kimble, and Etta Byrd). John and Charlotte had two sons, both living, Samuel Edward and Wallace Reed. At the time of his death he had four living daughters: Aldeth, Betty Lee, (Marion) Kay, and Goldie Rae. Iris Carder Siple, the youngest child in the family predeceased him. He also had two living half siblings Maud Slavin and William Siple.
Half brother Lee Armstrong Siple predeceased him.
Note that the fire was caught early enough that they family did not have to leave the home.
Other interesting facts:
John Siple was in the US Army in the Spanish American War and WW I. He was at once point a guard at Alcatraz when it was a military prison.
Census 1910
Skagway, Municipality and Borough of Skagway, Alaska, United States
Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944
Name: John F Siple
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 58
Birth Date: 19 Aug 1885
Birth Place: West Virginia
Death Date: 12 Mar 1944
Death Place: West Grove, Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
Father Name: Samuel Siple
Father Birth Place: West Virginia
Mother Name: Sarah A Smith
Mother Birth Place: West Virginia
Spouse Name: Charlotte C Siple
Certificate Number: 22850
March 13, 1944
John Siple, 62, of Kemblesville, Franklin township, set his home on fire yesterday afternoon about 5 o'clock and then killed himself with a dose of poison, State Police reported today.
They said that Siple appeared at the home of his brother, Edward Siple, about one-quarter mile from his own house, and said, "I set the house on fire and took a dose of poison. I'm going to die."
He then turned round, walked back to his home and poured another dose of the poison (sic). Layton Bird, a boarder at the Edward Siple home, followed the poisoned man, and knocked the second dose out of his hand.
Police say that Siple had soaked the living room furniture with kerosene and ignited it. Miss Lucille Siple, a niece, called the West Grove Fire Company when her uncle said that he had set the house on fire, and the company put out the blaze before it had spread beyond the one room.
Bird and Edward Siple took the poisoned man to the West Grove Hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.
Police and relatives said that Siple was alone in the house when he set it on fire.
Siple, who was employed at Triumph Explosives, Inc., Elkton, Md., is survived by his widow, Mrs. Charlotte Siple; six children, three* brothers and four sisters (sic). The children are: Seaman Samuel E. Siple, 21, Wallace Siple, 17, Miss Aldeth Siple, 19, a student at West Chester State Teachers College; Miss Betty Siple, 15, a student at Avon-Grove High School; Miss Kay Siple, 14, and Miss Goldie Siple, 11.
Coroner Warrington Guthrie, of Kennett Square, said last night that he is investigating the case. Corp. A. R. Diem investigated for the State Police.
SIPLE- In Kemblesville, Pa., on March 12, John F. Siple, in his 64th year. (sic)
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral from the parlors of W. S. Worrall & Son, Kennett Square, Pa., on Wednesday, March 15, at 2 p.m. Interment in New London Presbyterian Cemetery.
Friends may call at the parlors Tuesday evening.
Contributor: Dan Oh (46803017) • [email protected]
Notes by granddaughter Fran:
John was born in Alaska, WV now known as Fort Ashby WV.
At the time of his death John had three living brothers (Preston Cos and Edward) and four living sisters (Mary Simpson, Cora Wagoner, Lena Kimble, and Etta Byrd). John and Charlotte had two sons, both living, Samuel Edward and Wallace Reed. At the time of his death he had four living daughters: Aldeth, Betty Lee, (Marion) Kay, and Goldie Rae. Iris Carder Siple, the youngest child in the family predeceased him. He also had two living half siblings Maud Slavin and William Siple.
Half brother Lee Armstrong Siple predeceased him.
Note that the fire was caught early enough that they family did not have to leave the home.
Other interesting facts:
John Siple was in the US Army in the Spanish American War and WW I. He was at once point a guard at Alcatraz when it was a military prison.
Census 1910
Skagway, Municipality and Borough of Skagway, Alaska, United States
Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944
Name: John F Siple
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 58
Birth Date: 19 Aug 1885
Birth Place: West Virginia
Death Date: 12 Mar 1944
Death Place: West Grove, Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
Father Name: Samuel Siple
Father Birth Place: West Virginia
Mother Name: Sarah A Smith
Mother Birth Place: West Virginia
Spouse Name: Charlotte C Siple
Certificate Number: 22850
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