Found Senseless With Gas Flowing

Camden Courier-Post - October 1, 1918

Found unconscious from gas in a room he occupied at 1875 Mulford street, Lucius Thomas, aged 50 years, colored, was this morning taken to Cooper Hospital where he was revived in a short time. Thomas was on his back in bed when he was found by his brother. He was placed under arrest by Motorcycle Policeman George Clayton as he was leaving the hospital on a charge of attempting suicide.

At police headquarters he told Captain Humes that he had no intention of ending his life.

“In the South where I came from,” he said to the Police Captain, “I always used an oil lamp and when I found gas in my room I was afraid to use it and kept on using an oil lamp.”

It was explained that there was a bad leak in the gas pipe but the occupants of the house were not aware of the fact until Thomas was found unconscious.