Shelby  County  Indiana
Obituaries

Malpas


The  Shelbyville  Republican
March 6, 1911
Page 1
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DIES  AT  THRESHOLD
OF  STUBBS  HOME
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Mrs. Harriet A. Malpas, the Judge's Childhood
Playmate, expires Making Farewell Visit.
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LIVED  ON  ADJOINING  FARMS
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Jurist and Lifelong Friend Attended Same School--
Families Were Intimate.
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          Going to look for the last time on the face of the late  George W. Stubbs, her childhood friend and playmate, who was killed by an interurban car Friday, Mrs. Harriet A. Malpas, 231 East St. Joseph street, collapsed as she was about to enter the Stubbs home, 2460 Bellefontaine street, yesterday afternoon and died a few moments later, says the Indianapolis Star.  Mrs. Malpas was caught in the arms of friends at the home who had seen her stagger and died without having spoken.  She was sixty-four years old and was born on a farm in Shelby county, adjoining Judge Stubbs' home, the friendship formed in childhood having been preserved through the subsequent years.
          Although Mrs. Malpas had been in ill health for several years there was no indication of her sickness that presaged a sudden death.  The unaccountable attack from which she died added gloom and sorrow at the Stubbs home, where her body remained several hours yesterday afternoon, lying on a couch in a room adjoining that in which Judge Stubbs's casket has been placed.
          Mrs. Malpas was going to Judge Stubbs' home to look for the last time on the face of her lifelong friend and seemingly had been in quite as good health as usual, intending, after remaining for a few moments at the Stubbs home, to take dinner at the home of a friend.  As she stepped up on the porch, Mrs. Malpas swayed slightly and stumbled forward, falling into the arms of several persons who had opened the door as they saw her coming up the steps.
          She was carried into the house and laid on a couch and a trained nurse who is at the home gave her immediate attention.
          While being taken into the house Mrs. Malpas seemed to be rapidly losing consciousness and it was but a few moments until she was dead.
          Members of the Stubbs family, of whom Mrs. Malpas was an intimate friend for many years, were deeply affected and the added grief and tragedy of the occurrence almost overcame them.  Mrs. Stubbs, who has been severely affected by the nervous shock of her husband's death, is being kept in ignorance of the death of Mrs. Malpas in the home, it being feared that Mrs. Stubbs would be seriously affected if she knew of the death of the family's old friend under such circumstances.
          Mrs. Malpas was born on a farm adjoining the boyhood home of Judge Stubbs in Shelby county in 1850, where her father, Samuel Nail, settled in 1819 and went to school where Judge Stubbs was a teacher when a young man.  Childhood acquaintances of Judge Stubbs and Mrs. Malpas have recalled that he often carried her, when she was a small child across a creek that intervened between their homes and the little school where both received their early education.
          Mrs. Malpas was married August 6, 1867, to  Henry Malpas  of Indianapolis and came here to live at about the same time Judge Stubbs egan the practice of law in Indianapolis.  Throughout their lifetime Judge Stubbs and Mrs. Malpas had continued their early friendship and little more than a week ago Mrs. Malpas had visited at the Judge's home.
          The Nail and Stubbs families are among the oldest in Shelby county, and in Shelbyville and the immediate vicinity several members of each family still reside.
          Henry Malpas formerly was a prominent insurance and real estate agent in Indianapolis.  He died about twelve years ago.  His death was also sudden.  While on a business trip in Philadelphia Mr. Malpas was suddenly stricken, dying there.
          Mrs. Malpas is survived by three sons,  Dr. S. Herbert Malpas, 2102 N. Alabama street;  Charles E. Malpas, of Washington, D. C., and  Rolla M. Malpas, Galveston, Texas.  Charles E. Malpas is foreman of the government book bindery in the Congressional Library at Washington and Rolla M. Malpas January 1st accepted a position as a traveling representative of an insurance company.
          Two brothers and two sisters also survive Mrs. Malpas -- James Nail,  of Shelbyville,  John Nail  of Shelby county,  Mrs. Nan E. Francis  and  Mrs. Rebecca Thomas  of Shelbyville.  No arrangements for Mrs. Malpas's funeral have been made.
          Scores of telegrams and letters of condolence were received at the Stubbs home.  Among them was a message from former  Governor Winfield T. Durbin, who expressed his regret over the tragic death.  Judge Stubbs received his first appointment as Judge in the Juvenile court under form Governor Durbin and the two were close personal friends.
          A large number of beautiful and massive floral designs were received from Indianapolis friends.  All of the various organizations with which Judge Stubbs was affiliated sent floral offerings.  Superintendent Hyland, of the police department, said that as a token of respect his department will present a floral design.
          The funeral will be conducted at the home at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.  The burial at Crown Hill will be private.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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