Death of Judge Rutherford

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I read in Wikapedia about Joseph F. Rutherford that according to the San Diego coroner's report that he was dead days before that date of death in Jan,1942. He had rat bites on his head and hands. I thought he died in bed but he was found on a flight of stairs. Has anyone heard about that report?

Gopher

I hadn't heard those details before. I went back to look at the source article and couldn't find the "rat bites" reference.

Here's what the article said:

Death
About age 70, he went through several medical treatments for intestinal cancer. He went through more than one operation in 1941, but never fully recovered. He died in San Diego, California on January 8th, 1942 at the age of 72. His funeral was attended by four people, none of whom were related to him. The official coroner's records on file with the State of California state that he had been dead for several days before being discovered at the bottom of a stairwell.

He had a sad and lonely finale to life. That loneliness was well-earned.

RR

I've been saying this for year. As the story goes, the Judge was suppose to give a talk at a local convention, but never showed up, so they went to pay him a visit. They found him in the cellar being eaten by rats. This I was told by old time Bible Students who knew him.

He apparently in an already druken stupor went down to the cellar to get some more booze, tripped and hit his head, the rats had a feast. Now you can't published that God's great Bible expositor and scholar tripped over his own feet and got eaten by rats, so they made up the story that he died peacefully in bed, with Franz, Knorr and MacMillan at his side.

RR

Galileo

He apparently in an already druken stupor went down to the cellar to get some more booze, tripped and hit his head, the rats had a feast. Now you can published that God's great Bible expositor and scholar tripped over his own feet and got eaten by rats, so they made up the story that he died peacefully in bed, with Franz, Knorr and MacMillan at his side.

It would be great if this could be corroborated with some names. Maybe someone has some more info - I've never heard this story before.

Spike Tassel

His certified medical death papers are posted on http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/31098/4/How-could-have-Rutherford-been-a-drunk

Leolaia

As the story goes, the Judge was suppose to give a talk at a local convention, but never showed up, so they went to pay him a visit. They found him in the cellar being eaten by rats.

Wasn't he at Beth Sarim very sick with his cancer (bedridden?) in the last month? If that is true, it wouldn't seem he'd be out making talks at conventions.

Spike Tassel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Sarim includes this following timeline up to Judge Rutherford's death:—

The magazine Consolation (successor to The Golden Age) explained how Beth Sarim served as Rutherford's winter headquarters:
"For twelve winters Judge Rutherford and his office force occupied Beth Sarim. It was not used as a place of ease or vacationing, but was used as a winter workshop; the books from Vindication, Book One down to and including Children were written there, as well as many Watchtower articles and booklets. The executive instructions for branches all over the earth also were transmitted from Beth-Sarim during the Judge's presence there. At Beth Sarim, Judge Rutherford completed the 1942 Yearbook material as his last work before his death. He dictated this material from his dying bed." [ 32 ]
Rutherford's burial
Rutherford died at Beth Sarim on January 8 , 1942 at the age of 72. [ 33 ] [ 34 ]

Marvin Shilmer

RR, and others

I have heard the story for more than twenty years that Rutherford was found dead at the bottom of a staircase with rats eating on him. Nearly every time I hear this story the thought is said to be documented in a coroner's report. But I have never seen any coroner's report. I have seen the death certificate. But no coroner's report.

RR, have you or anyone you know actually seen this document? Anyone else seen this thing firsthand?

Marvin Shilmer

hamsterbait

Arent coroners report available to the public?

Can a resident of San Diego get a copy of said report.

Otherwise this will just be another example of vengeful apostates making things up about Jug Rutherford.

HB

RR

RR, have you or anyone you know actually seen this document? Anyone else seen this thing firsthand?

Hi Marv, can't say that I have. What I would really like to see is Russell's death certificate and coroner's report. It doesn't exist and many have tried.

RR

Death of Judge Rutherford

Rutherford's burial

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